Long rant:

My Jeep finally came in, so I went to pick it up yesterday. Before I could leave, they had to trouble shoot the radio not turning on. They tell me I'm good to go. I pull out of the dealership and the truck won't shift or rev over 3k. The autostick didn't even work. I pull over and shut the truck off and restart it. It's fine, I figured that it must have been in a limp mode for some reason. I drive about 5 miles. Then the dash says service 4wd system accompanied by a check engine light. I figure that I'll put a few miles on, then take the Jeep back tomorrow (today). I pull out hard from a stop light and the thing just fries the rear tires (no front wheel pull). So, I stop to test it in a parking lot. I power brake and the truck does a burnout just like the One Lap SRT - NO 4WD! At this point, I decide to take it back immediately. I'm driving along and I hit the high-beams and I lose all lights and electronics. Blind as a bat 'cause its dark and I'm on a back road, I manage to pull to the side of the road. I shut the truck off and restarted. Not only do I still not have any lighting, but the dash proceeds to warn me to service suspension, 4wd system, transmission overheat, and park sense. Also, the radio and gauges don't work and neither does the keyless entry.

I called the dealer and they came and got it from the side of the road with only 33 miles on it.

So...today, they call and say that a plug was loose in the dash, but now it's fixed.

Does it make sense that a loose plug in the dash could completely disable the lighting and throw those kinds of trouble codes?

... sounds Like HAL has taken up residence in your truck

All kidding aside, I have not heard of anything like what you describe on this site ... hopefully it was a loose cable

They could have meant a loose cable to the ECM (engine) or TCM (tranny) or BCM (body). If any of those are lose, the networking between them goes haywire and could cause all of those problems. Those modules are likely all under/behind the dash somewhere.

Sorry to hear about the problems.

Long rant:


Does it make sense that a loose plug in the dash could completely disable the lighting and throw those kinds of trouble codes?

Yes, Absolutely!!! If you look at the fuse panel under the driver's side dash, there is a large (3"x2" or so) quick disconnect latching plug at the bottom of it. If the latch isn't fully seated, it can come loose and pretty much shut the whole thing down.

Yes if it is the HCU connector you will get ever light on the dash illuminate, I know because I have disconnected it and a few more while doing work to mine. Hope its ok now.