Why will the backup camera stop working in your Ram 1500 after battery replacement? Well, the battery needs to be programmed after it's changed. Fortunately, it can reprogram itself without any professional help. So, don't worry, just leave your truck for an hour and you will most likely find every function working well after that.
Dead car battery replacement highlights
- Critical voltage:less than 10 volts
- Average battery age:4-5 years
- Tools needed:set of wrenches
- Timeneeded:15 minutes
- If done incorrectly:electronic glitches, frying ECU, no crank-no start
- DIY fix:possible
- How much to fix?$150 - $250
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What functions may stop working after you replace the battery in your Ram 1500?
Basically, all functions may stop working. I've seen Ram 1500 just glitching heavily and not even starting after the new battery is installed. Immediately, the owner will start panicking, trying to reinstall the battery, call the dealership, and even call the tow truck to get the car to the shop.
Stop worrying! Things will obviously go better without your help in just an hour.
Here's what may stop working:
- backup camera and entire safety system (collision prevention);
- radio - but the infotainment screen will most likely work;
- shifter - it will turn and the lights will change but the gears won't be engaged;
- lights - you may find your lights not working properly or glitching;
- other electric and electronic units.
Why does it happen in your Ram truck?
I believe, there is some trick in this feature. There is nothing that would make your radio, camera, and other infotainment features work poorly after the new battery is connected. I believe, there is some kind of software bug that maybe even specially was made by Ram to make owners change batteries only in the dealership.
The thing is that if the dealer changes the battery in your truck, they will obviously reboot the system after they connect the new battery. The process is called battery coding or programming. But there is as much programming as in me playing the cards on my office computer while my boss doesn't see it.
They basically press two buttons in the scanner and the battery is reprogrammed, all systems are reset and now the truck works fine.
If you don't do that, some functions of your truck are disabled after the new battery is connected. But here's the trick: if you park your car and wait for some time, you won't need to pay for that, everything will "reboot" by itself. Unfortunately, in some cases you will need to wait more than just 1 hour - reportedly, it can take 6 to 24 hours for all systems to come back to normal.
Does this only happen with the new battery?
No, this unpleasant issue can also happen when you disconnect your battery for some repairs or to reset a certain error message and then reconnect it. Your truck will obviously develop several glitches after this and will need some time to come back to normal.
Again, I strongly advise against any professional services, roadside assistance, calling the dealership, or whatever. You may be charged several hundred dollars just for some wise guy to press two buttons on a scanner. Waiting is free, so you may try this.
Can you reprogram the battery on your own?
Well, there are several manuals on how to relearn the battery and the infotainment system in such cases. But I would stay away from them.
Your Ram truck has pretty smart electronics and you may hurt it if you do something wrong. Also, a cheap EML scanner will not help you with this. You will need a pretty expensive code scanner with some special software. Also, you will need to know how to reset the system correctly.
What if waiting doesn't help?
Waiting will help in the majority of cases and this is the free method, so you should try it first of all. If eventually it doesn't help, you should consider asking for professional help. There is a chance that some control unit or electronic module is turned off to avoid being damaged. Unfortunately, there is almost no way you can diagnose this problem on your own. So, a good dealership inspection is needed.
About the authors
The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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