Hey, friends. It’s Sam here from KIT Auto. Today, we’ve got a Gen 4 Ram in our bay, and we want to go over some of the top problems that we found with this truck. Let’s get started. But before we get started, make sure you bookmark this website. That way there you’ll be kept up with all of our latest content.
Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI)
The first thing I wanna talk about is the brake transmission shift interlock.
Okay. So, let’s say you just got to where you’re trying to go. You put your vehicle in park. You want to push down on the emergency brake. And then at that point, you can release the brake and turn off the vehicle and get out.
Unfortunately, a lot of times when people have an automatic transmission, they don’t necessarily think about using that emergency brake/parking brake. It’s very important to use it, especially in this situation.
Inside these vehicles, the ones that have the column shifter—this one actually has a little switch shifter—but the ones that have the column shifter, inside of the column there, there’s a little mechanism. When you step on the brake, it releases a little lock pin and makes it so you should be able to shift.
The problem is that pin can get stuck in the open position, making the steering column believe your foot’s on the brake. That means you can shift from park to reverse or neutral without pressing the brake. Obviously, that’s unsafe.
Fixes for this would be to check the operation of that BTSI and ensure the pins aren’t sticking. There’s also a reprogram you can do for the BCM on the vehicle. But if the pin itself is sticking, you’ll likely need to clean or replace it.
Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM)
The second thing I want to talk about is the TIPM—Totally Integrated Power Module. This is very common in almost all Chrysler vehicles, not just the Ram 1500.
If you look inside the TIPM, you’ll see fuses, relays, and plenty of electrical components. It controls almost everything electrical—wipers, blower motor, fuel pump, towing power brakes, power windows, heated seats, and more.
Unfortunately, this box is not well-sealed. Moisture can easily get inside through the loose cover and open areas underneath. That can cause strange electrical problems—fuel pump running after the engine is off, wipers switching on randomly, or windows rolling down by themselves.
Fixes? You might try pulling fuses and cleaning corrosion, but that’s usually temporary. If there’s corrosion on visible areas, it’s probably also inside the circuitry you can’t see. The real solution is to replace the TIPM unit.
Cam and Lifter Failure
The third thing is cam and lifter failure, which happens inside the engine.
Symptoms include engine ticking while driving or idling, stalling when coming to a stop, or stalling when shifting between gears. A common cause is incorrect oil level—either too low or overfilled.
Overfilled oil gets aerated, meaning it doesn’t lubricate properly. That leads to overheating, ticking, and engine wear.
If you only hear light ticking, do an oil change and get the level right. If the noise goes away, you’re fine—just monitor it. But if the engine is stalling and noisy for a while, you may be looking at an engine overhaul or replacement.
Cooling System Problems
This Ram has common problems with water pumps leaking. Radiator caps also fail over time. Radiators often leak at the seam where aluminum meets plastic, leaving green crusty residue. Heater core hoses along the firewall can also leak, and if coolant disappears without visible leaks, the heater core may be the culprit.
Clamps on radiator hoses can rust, weaken, or loosen, causing leaks. To fix, pressurize the system, find the leak, replace the faulty part, and retest.
Tailgate Latch Issues
Finally, let’s talk about the tailgate.
Sometimes the actuators don’t latch properly. You might think the tailgate is secure, but a small internal tab can fail, preventing it from locking correctly. That means the tailgate can jiggle loose while driving, potentially spilling your cargo.
Okay, friends, so I had a lot of fun making this video as always, and I hope you had a little bit of fun too. Maybe you learned something along the way, and you want to leave it in the comments section below—that will be appreciated.
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