'07 Dodge CTD w/ TIPM, electrical problems

[Wyohab]

After a year of learning here, and finally finding the base vehicle I was looking for, I’m now well along on the buildup of a 2007 Dodge Reg Cab CTD. Completed so far:

Carli Dominator 3.0; plus front end upgrade, track bars, and steering box brace
King One 12k electric winch in front, behind a custom aluminum bumper
Mile Marker 12k hydraulic winch in the rear
Caravan Camper; 12in higher than cab, with a heavy duty Bed Slide
N-fab sliders (being replaced with custom units welded to the frame)

I’m now in the process of installing an on-board air system, correctly rewiring the lights and fan in the camper, and installing additional front lighting.

And the fun and games have started. What began as simply intermittent instances of having to fiddle with the headlight switch to get the headlights to turn off, has now morphed into full on electrical gremlin hell. Reverse lights not going off at all, seat belt chimes not stopping, and a failure to start altogether.

Which led me do a bit of internet sleuthing. During which I discovered that frequent and recurring problems with the TIPM (integrated power module that replaces a fuse block) are common in ’06-’08 Dodge trucks. And worse, I’m not discovering any solutions offered.

I’m now horrified I’ve sunk a bunch of money into a vehicle that I will never be able to make as dead reliable as I need. Highest practical reliability was/is my number one objective for this project!

The only thing I can think of is to install another 2 batteries, and run absolutely everything that is not stock off of ‘a supplemental power supply’. And buy a spare TIPM, have it ‘flashed’ for my exact vehicle, and carry as a spare.

Any suggestions/advice/encouragement would be greatly welcomed!

 

[Saiyan66]

First off, it sounds like you know how to pick your build parts very well. You are off to a great start. Is the truck an 07 5.9L, or an 07.5 6.7L? It sounds like you have a bad TIPM module, so try replacing that and if you still have problems, then I would go the route you already suggested of isolating everything on a separate circuit. Also you might look at the body control module as well. All of the computers talk to each other so if one of them is on crack then it can screw up the function of another. The body control module has been giving me problems on my truck and its only 3 weeks old. It controls things like the cruise control, the ESP system and so forth. Just always remember to take a larger perspective when it comes to electronics these days. Oh and don't start worrying too much. Anything is fixable, it just takes time to track down and repair. You will get it sorted out. Do you have a device to allow you to plug into the OBD port and read problem codes?

 

[Regcabguy]

Motorhead,a TDR member manufactured a TIPM Saver which he sold for awhile. It functions as an intermediary fusebox that will take the hit in the event of a short. You can be a trial member over there if you're not already one and pm him for info. He's a retired electrical engineer.

The multifunction switch on the steering column is covered under a TSB on the '06's.

No issues on mine with a 12 yr. old Northstar on it's back.

 

[Wyohab]

The truck is the earlier 5.9l version. I don't yet have an OBD tool, but will soon.

Is the body control module completely separate from the TIPM? Did the '07 have the TSP on the steering column multifunction switch also?