I MIGHT have explanation of protection mode base on my experience with Mercedes air suspension.
As we all should know- air compressor is a piece of machinery that wears out with the time and drops the performance.
Let's say your suspension need 100 psi to raise empty truck, but 150 psi to raise it loaded.
You drive it empty for a year, so don't even notice that compressor no longer can deliver 150 psi.
So you load the truck and compressor work and work and work and will never raise the truck. That would lead to compressor motor burn out and other problems, so computer will shut off the compressor after about 2 minutes and keep it off for few minutes to cool down.
Than makes another attempt and another. After few attempts computer assumes something is badly wrong with the system and puts it in protect mode.
Again, this is how it work on Mercedes, so might loosely apply do Dodge.
Aftermarket compressor ring for rebuild sells for $17, so it is not big cost for DIY, but dealers want to put whole new unit for about $700 total.
