Why Does My RAM Say "Battery Saver Mode"? Our Explanation

RAM trucks are pretty tough and good vehicles for any person who needs to tow or haul something. But unfortunately, owners quite often report some error messages they can see on the dash screens of their trucks. So, it's a cold morning and you've just got into the truck and started it to see the "Battery Saver Mode" message. What does it mean?

Today, we'll explain to you what the "Battery Saver Mode" message may mean in your RAM truck and will give you some ideas on how to diagnose and repair the vehicle quickly. Please note that there are several issues that may trigger this error message and we'll try to cover them all, so make sure you read the full article before you make any decisions.

Here's what we are going to talk about:

• What does it mean when you see the "Battery Saver Mode" message in the RAM truck?
• How long can you drive with this message on your dash?
• How to reset the error and keep driving the vehicle?
• What can cause the "Battery Saver Mode" error message to come up on the dash?
• Diagnosing and fixing the problem to get rid of the message.

Let's get started!

I see the "Battery Saver Mode" error message - what does it mean?

It means that there is a problem with your battery. The first thing you may consider is the alternator because why would a truck that was already started send you any battery-connected error messages? But no, the alternator issue would send you something like a "Charging problem" message. So, it's completely about the battery.

In your modern RAM truck, the battery is fitted with some electronics that can control the voltage and the way your battery is used. Once something goes wrong and the system deducts that you may get problems when starting the truck the next time, it sends this error message on the dash.

But the message is not the only change in the way your truck works. Here are some more:

• first of all, in the saver mode, the battery will get more current from the alternator to charge faster;
• also, the ECU will try to avoid all kinds of battery drains when you drive the truck, so some functions may not work;
• you may find that even the engine power was limited when the message first popped up due to some changes in the electronics;
• the vehicle may also start sending other messages on your dash asking you to not turn off the engine, for example;
• in most cases, this message is shown in cold weather when the battery is having a hard time trying to stay alive.

So, the main idea is that once the "Battery Saver Mode" message appears on the dash of your RAM truck, the system will obviously shut off some non-essential components like music and the AC so that there were no additional drains and the battery could get some charge. It doesn't mean this will help solve the problem, especially during a short ride.

You shouldn't expect that the message will just disappear the next time you start your RAM truck. In fact, the worst thing you can do in this case is to turn off the engine, wait for some time and try to start it again to see if the error is gone. No, this is not going to work and you basically can fail to start the engine the second time because of the dead or extremely weak battery.

How long will your RAM truck drive with this error message on?

First of all, you should understand that when you see the "Battery Saver Mode" message, it means the truck is in a kind of limp mode. Some functions won't work. So, driving your vehicle in this condition may not be too enjoyable. What you need to do is to check what the problem is and try to resolve this problem to not torture yourself with all those limitations.

It differs much from one case to another, so in some cases, you can drive a couple of days until the battery is completely dead, in other cases, you won't be able to start your truck the next time after you first see this annoying message. Let's figure out what exactly you need to do.

How to reset the error and clean the message off the dashboard?

Well, this is the last thing you want to think about when you see the "Battery Saver Mode" message. Reacting correctly can save you money and time in the end. But if you just want to use a code scanner to clean that error code, turn off the limp mode and use your truck like you've used it before, you will eventually find yourself unable to start the engine very soon. And this will be really depressing.

So, resetting won't work. The best thing you can do is to solve the initial problem. And then the error will disappear without any additional effort on your side.

What could cause the "Battery Saver Mode" message in RAM?

There are quite a lot of things that could directly or indirectly cause this message to appear on the dash of your truck. You should explore them all and see if your truck has some other problems that could trigger this issue.

Here are some of the most common causes for the saver mode to activate in your RAM:

1. Old batteries

RAM trucks now have two batteries and they both age with some effects on the vehicle's performance. It's not even about the mileage, but exactly about the age. If your batteries are over 5 years, you should get ready to pay some bucks and replace them.

It's always better to replace both batteries at once because otherwise, the error message may reappear very soon.

2. Cold weather

We've already told you that a cold morning could be the reason for the issue. Of course, the cold weather will only affect the battery that has already had some problems. But if your truck experiences hard starting, the best way to deal with it is to replace the battery until it dies and sends different kinds of messages.

3. Dying battery

The battery doesn't always need to be old to die. If you use your truck only in the city and have very short rides, batteries will not be able to get the needed charge. After some time, they will be destroyed and won't be able to take any charge at all. This is the time when you see the message on your dash. The only way to deal with the problem is to replace both batteries.

4. Bad alternator

Although the alternator itself can't be the direct reason why the "Battery Saver Mode" message appears on the RAM's dash, it can malfunction and undercharge batteries. This will gradually kill the batteries and eventually, they will be dead when the charge is too low and the voltage drops once you try to start the truck.

5. Bad connections

Before you go to the shop and buy new batteries, you should check whether the connection on the terminals is OK. Take the cables off the terminals, clean the terminals and make sure the connection is good when you put the cables back. If the message disappeared after such manipulations, you are lucky and you can keep driving the vehicle without replacing your batteries.

6. Wiring or ECU problems

Also, the "Battery Saver Mode" message can pop up when there is a problem with the wiring. This is the worst thing because, without a professional diagnosis, you can't do anything with it. Also, ECU problems are hard to repair without going to a professional. So, if nothing else works for you, just have your vehicle diagnosed by professional tools and then repaired.

How can you solve the problem with your RAM truck?

In most cases, the only good way to deal with this problem is to replace both batteries in your RAM truck. This will help you forget about the problem. Also, you'll be able to drive the truck for another 5 years with no battery issues.

But before you spend about $400 on batteries, let us offer some other things you may try:

• charge your batteries with a proper charger and see if it helps;
• check the connections, especially make sure that cables are tightly fastened to the terminals;
• clean the terminals on both batteries - they can sometimes develop salt deposits and block current from flowing;
• check whether the charging system works correctly;
• check the batteries under some load and measure their voltage.

These actions will help you make sure that the batteries are dead or dying and you should buy new ones. But sometimes, simple cleaning of terminals helps truck owners avoid extra costs.

So, we recommend checking everything thoroughly and only then making a certain decision on how to deal with the problem. But in most cases, you will still need new batteries to get your vehicle running.