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maxwell11's avatar
maxwell11
Explorer
May 13, 2013

Interesting travel day

A few lessons learned:

What a day, 2005 Dodge quad cab 2500 diesel

Turned out ok, but could have been much worst.
We stopped along the interstate to change drivers, as my wife took her trailer keys to open the trailer, she left her set of truck keys in the truck. I left the truck running with lights on, got out and when around to her side as we were going to change drivers. When I got around to the other side the doors had locked.
I thought we were up the creek, both sets of keys in the truck and it running and doors locked.
Then I remembered my old trusty door key that I keep in my billfold, so we got back in and were on our way,
Question: why did the doors lock when I got out, does it have some type safety circuit to lock the doors if the truck is left running with lights on, when you get out? It had to be something I did as she did not have her keys with her, she uses the automatic door lock device, I only use a key to open the truck (I am old school).???????????????????????????


Later in the day we were about out of fuel, stopped at one place and they were closed. Started the truck up, the following lights came on: low fuel, brake light, and service engine. I drove the truck about 2 miles until we found fuel, it ran fine, but all electrical would not work, auto door locks, window would not go up/down, ac would not work, etc:

filled up about ½ tank.
Started the truck up after fueling and all was well, no lights, all systems worked properly.
So what gives with that, on our trip out I drove until the low fuel light came on, then filled the truck, no problems, no other lights came on, that time.
Has this happen to any of you guys that drive an old dodge?????????????

next trip out I will take an extra fuel tank, truck has 34 gal tank, but that appears to be too small for me. Also will insure one of us has a door key in hand before we get out.

but day ended well, home with no problems,

16 Replies

  • I have an '05 3500. Regarding getting locked out, I'll hazard a guess and say one of you hit the lock button on an armrest with the door(s) open without realizing it.....until you closed the door(s) and couldn't get in (been there, done that). The only automatic locking that takes place as you probably know, is when the truck is in motion and if unlocked, the doors will lock automatically at about 15 mph.

    The second issue, sounds like a potential problem with the under hood power center (where all the fuses/relays are), they have been known to fail, or if the Ram uses it, a body control module, which controls 12v power distribution to everything inside the cab. Either way, merits further investigation (could also be the source of your lockout problem if no one hit the lock buttons, too).
  • Two WAGS from me.

    #1 would be some kind of grounding issue/s.

    #2 would be something wrong with the body module.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    I did this with my 01 about a year ago or so, was putting the 5er back into the storage yard. I had just backed in, hopped out to check position and found both doors locked when I went to hop back in.
    Best I can figure for my case is I brushed the door lock latch, at the rear of the window as I was getting out, and pushed it down. The passenger door was auto locked during the drive to the yard.
    I had to call DW to come with spare key, yes it was raining, and the truck was running.
  • WOW I'm surprised the truck would lock with nobody inside. Thought they all had safety features that didn't allow that. We always keep an extra truck key in the trailer and an extra trailer key in the truck but even that wouldn't help in this situation.
  • Those keypad doors are great in a situation like that. I hide a spare key inside the truck since I know that I can get in.