brdima
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2018
- Messages
- 95
- Reaction score
- 65
- Points
- 18
2019 Bighorn.
Have 12v power running directly from battery for some ham radio in the truck. Been running it for 5 years, no issue. Hooked up a second radio, just to receive, draws less than 1 amp. The + wire goes directly to battery via a relay, and the - goes to the chassis, not the battery (since it has the BMS). Cleaned the battery posts and terminals, all tightened up.
Few days later very strange behavior out of the blue - power steering turns off while driving, then turns back on, the computer shows voltage varying between 13.5 and 15 volts. This happened several times, then the transmission shifts into Neutral while driving, w/o my input. I put it back into drive and limped it home. While operating the windows, the voltage would fall to 12-13v, which it never does. I disconnected the radio. The truck started behaving correctly. Than weeks later the power steering issue occurred again. Now we’re getting snowy weather in New England, and I wanted to make sure my 4WD was in good shape. Truck won’t shift into any 4WD mode, shows me the service 4WD warning. I’ve been watching the voltage while driving, varies between 13.5v and 15v. I expected truck to make more consistent power.
This seems to be more electrical issue than 4WD or power steering problem. But what am I realistically looking at here? I will be making an appt with the dealer, but want to be prepared.
Alternator? Computer? Battery?
Have 12v power running directly from battery for some ham radio in the truck. Been running it for 5 years, no issue. Hooked up a second radio, just to receive, draws less than 1 amp. The + wire goes directly to battery via a relay, and the - goes to the chassis, not the battery (since it has the BMS). Cleaned the battery posts and terminals, all tightened up.
Few days later very strange behavior out of the blue - power steering turns off while driving, then turns back on, the computer shows voltage varying between 13.5 and 15 volts. This happened several times, then the transmission shifts into Neutral while driving, w/o my input. I put it back into drive and limped it home. While operating the windows, the voltage would fall to 12-13v, which it never does. I disconnected the radio. The truck started behaving correctly. Than weeks later the power steering issue occurred again. Now we’re getting snowy weather in New England, and I wanted to make sure my 4WD was in good shape. Truck won’t shift into any 4WD mode, shows me the service 4WD warning. I’ve been watching the voltage while driving, varies between 13.5v and 15v. I expected truck to make more consistent power.
This seems to be more electrical issue than 4WD or power steering problem. But what am I realistically looking at here? I will be making an appt with the dealer, but want to be prepared.
Alternator? Computer? Battery?
He told me about some big wig idiot at the factory changing to the wrong bolt, without engineering approval, sometime in the 2019 model year, to not have to have two bolts the same size. I don't know what the difference was, but yes they actually engineer bolts, and it made a difference. He said it effected the power steering. I thought he said they were recalled, but your truck may have gotten the wrong bolt, but be outside the date they thought those were used.
