Experiencing a check engine light in your 2019 Ram 1500 can be frustrating, and sometimes the culprit is the active air dam. While these systems are designed to improve fuel efficiency, they can become problematic, leading to warning lights and even disabling features like remote start. If you’re facing this issue, you might be considering a DIY repair. This guide shares the experience of a fellow Ram 1500 owner who tackled this repair, offering valuable insights and relating it to diagnostic procedures using your 2019 Ram 1500 Obd2 Port.
DIY Repair Experience: Key Observations
One Ram 1500 owner recently undertook the repair of their active air dam to resolve a persistent check engine light. Here are their key takeaways from the process, which can be helpful if you’re planning a similar DIY approach.
Faceplate Removal Challenges
The first hurdle encountered was removing the white plastic faceplate covering the air dam mechanism. It appears to be压 fit tightly, making removal surprisingly difficult. Despite careful prying with various tools, the faceplate proved incredibly stubborn. In fact, it was so tightly secured that attempts to remove it resulted in cracking in a couple of spots, suggesting it was almost “glued” on. After a considerable struggle, and with a “nothing to lose” approach, enough force was applied to finally pop it loose. Upon reinstallation, silicone sealant was used to ensure a watertight seal, addressing the original tight fit while allowing for future access if needed.
Sealing and Grease Application
Inside the air dam mechanism, several components benefit from proper lubrication and sealing, especially given their exposure to the elements. Silicone grease was liberally applied to all internal parts, including the printed circuit board (PCB), to protect against potential water ingress in the future. The original brown seals were reused, and they were found to be a perfect fit. Silicone grease was used to bed these seals into the motor chassis and also applied to the shaft to facilitate smooth insertion and prevent seal damage during reassembly. It’s important to note that these seals are rubber or synthetic rubber based and compatible with silicone grease. However, if silicone seals are used in the future, silicone grease should be avoided as it could degrade silicone-based seals.
Alignment Issues
Reassembling the air dam mechanism presented another challenge: aligning the dam plate correctly when reinstalling the shaft and motor assembly. This step proved to be quite finicky, requiring multiple attempts (four times in this case) to get it right. To avoid this frustration, it’s recommended to use a grease pencil or similar marker to create alignment marks on the shaft before disassembly. While the alignment was eventually achieved and visually confirmed as “pretty good,” perfect alignment can be difficult to ascertain with certainty during reinstallation.
Check Engine Light and Diagnostic Codes
The primary motivation for this repair was to eliminate a check engine light. Before starting the repair, the owner noted a pending code related to the air dam, similar to codes previously identified online as common for this issue. While erasing the pending code temporarily, a permanent code of the same type persisted. Unplugging the air dam unit only removed the pending code, leaving the permanent code active. After completing the air dam rebuild and reinstalling the unit, both the pending and permanent codes disappeared. This suggests the repair successfully addressed the underlying issue causing the check engine light.
This experience highlights the importance of diagnostic codes in troubleshooting car problems. When a check engine light illuminates, your 2019 Ram 1500 OBD2 port becomes your gateway to understanding the issue. Using an OBD2 scanner plugged into this port allows you to read diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). These codes provide valuable information about the system experiencing a problem, which can guide your repair efforts. In this case, the codes pointed towards the air dam system.
Is the Air Dam Worth Repairing?
The owner questioned the actual fuel savings provided by the active air dam, suggesting they might not justify the cost of a complete replacement unit. However, a significant downside of a malfunctioning air dam and the resulting check engine light is the disabling of the remote start feature, which is a considerable inconvenience, especially in colder climates. For this owner, regaining the remote start functionality was a key driver for the repair.
Water Damage and Longevity Concerns
During the repair, it was observed that water tends to pool around the air dam’s gear and worm gear. This water accumulation had caused significant corrosion and damage to the gear, with visible chunks missing. This observation raises concerns about the long-term durability of the air dam mechanism, especially in regions with harsh weather conditions. The owner also expressed interest in finding a way to permanently remove the air dam without triggering any check engine lights, indicating a desire to avoid future issues with this system altogether.
Conclusion
Repairing the 2019 Ram 1500 active air dam can be a challenging DIY project, as highlighted by this firsthand account. However, it can be a viable solution to resolve check engine lights and restore features like remote start. Understanding the potential difficulties in faceplate removal, the importance of proper sealing and lubrication, and the alignment intricacies can significantly aid anyone attempting this repair. Furthermore, utilizing your 2019 Ram 1500 OBD2 port to read and understand diagnostic codes is a crucial step in pinpointing the source of check engine lights and guiding effective repairs. If you are experiencing similar issues with your Ram 1500’s air dam and a check engine light, consider using an OBD2 scanner to check for related codes and assess if a DIY repair is the right path for you.
