"No Bus" message

[Saintaholic]

99' Dakota V-6 Auto....

It drives ok while cold, but after a while, I can be driving and all of the sudden, I lose total power (rpm's go to an idal) there is no throttle response at all, all power steering goes out and I have not other choice but to coast over to the shoulder. The ODO changes from showing the mileage, to a display saying "NO BUS".

Any suggestions? Either respond in here, or email: [e-mail]

Thanks in Advanced,
Ron

[Jeffrey Adkins]

My '99 Dakota (5.2L V8) just developed the same problem, and I've been unable to figure it out. The local dealership basically told me that they would just start replacing parts until they found the problem. Did you ever figure this one out? If so, please drop me a line...
Jeffrey M. Adkins
Ripley, West Virginia
[e-mail]

Saintaholic wrote:

99' Dakota V-6 Auto....
It drives ok while cold, but after a while, I can be driving and all of the sudden, I lose total power (rpm's go to an idal) there is no throttle response at all, all power steering goes out and I have not other choice but to coast over to the shoulder. The ODO changes from showing the mileage, to a display saying "NO BUS".
Any suggestions? Either respond in here, or email: [e-mail]
Thanks in Advanced,
Ron

[Lupe]

I also have the same exact problem with my 99 dakota.I have replaced coil,relays and even fuel pump assy since I have 116,000 miles on it.I took the instrument panel off and cleaned contacts and still have same problem.Ron,have you had any luck?

[Lupe]

I ment 216,000 miles.

[UDM]

The "NO BUS" points to PCM communication failure. Disconnect the battery negative then unplug and plug back in the PCM connectors. Reconnect battery and run engine. Try pulling DTCs with a code scanner. If the PCM won't communicate, it's probably fried. I just put a reman PCM on my '02 (DTC P0601- internal controller failure) Bought it from ecudirect.com @$400. Installed it in about a half hour.

[UDM]

I just found this on another site. It appears that part of a wiring harness may be frayed by the parking brake ratchet lever. Check out this link: http://www.dodgedakotas.com/boards/gen/26202....

[Lupe]

I finally took it to dealer.they charged me $95.00 to tell me I needed to replace the PCM at $995.00 plus labor.yea right!
I found a company that on the internet that specializes in repairing PCM's.It cost me $300.00 for the repair and it warrantied till life.I have since drove over 4000 miles without a problem.
[e-mail]

[Lupe]

internet site is www.enginecontrolunits.com

[Mewildman]

I just bought a 1999 Dodge Dakota with 82000 miles the Truck runs fine, but just after buying it the gauges started going crazy and the odometer flashes then says “no bus.” I took a look under the hood and under the dash and suspect that the previous owner of the vehicle had an alarm and high performance sound system that he removed before selling the truck. Anyway I have been reading posts about possible malfunctioning PCM’s and loose connections and was curious if the PCM was dead would the truck start and run fine? Does anyone think it might be a chafed or grounded wire problem and any suggestions?

[chris sampson]

i have a 2001 full size 1500 with a v-6 engine. it to would display a no bus message also with gauges going dead one at a time , a simple shuting down the truck and a restart would reset everything again for a while , the truck would run fine all the time . i took it to the dealer and they put in a new pcm , i drove it 10 miles and it started the same messages again. the dealer has now has had the truck for 4 weeks
[e-mail]

[Mewildman]

I have been doing some more research and have been told it is most likely not the PCM. A co-worker who used to be a mechanic said the gauges going crazy is a classic sign of improper grounding. Could be caused by a bad connection, chafed wire, or improperly installed (or uninstalled) component. The difficult thing is finding the problem. The good new for me is that the dealership I bought my truck from is going to look for the cause. Hopefully this will be the end of this problem. I’ll post my results…

[Mewildman]

Update: Well the local dealership (General Motors) could not diagnose the problem with my Dakota using their equipment. The service manager suggested it would be best if the truck were taken to a Dodge dealership, as they would have the proper equipment to diagnose the problem and make any programing changes. It also appears the PCM was replaced a few months ago by another Dealership after the same problems were reported with the insturment cluster. again the dealership I bought the truck from has stated that they will take it to a Dodge dealership to have it repaired. Now here is the crazy part, the problems have all disappered. I have had no issues with the insturment cluster or "no bus" code in a week and a half. I dont understand it, and was wondering if wet weather could be the cause? When I bought the truck it was extreamly rainy and the problem seemed to end after the weather dried out a bit. I a just afraid that when my dealership takes it to the dodge dealership they will say thay can find a thing wrong. Anyway, if anyne has any insites or suggestions let me know.

[dakota]

Saintaholic wrote:

99' Dakota V-6 Auto....
It drives ok while cold, but after a while, I can be driving and all of the sudden, I lose total power (rpm's go to an idal) there is no throttle response at all, all power steering goes out and I have not other choice but to coast over to the shoulder. The ODO changes from showing the mileage, to a display saying "NO BUS".
Any suggestions? Either respond in here, or email: [e-mail]
Thanks in Advanced,
Ron

Our Dakota had the same problems with the addition of flickering interrior lights. We checked the ground wire from the battery to the engine. The nut for the ground had rattled loose but not fallen off. With the ground tightened, all our problems were resolved.

[Dakotamecrazy]

"NO BUS" wtf I spent the better part of yeaterday peeling back wires and replacing ground points only to find my truck still won't start... seems I don't get power to the little coil thingy that goes to the top of the distributor

[Nate]

My 1999 Dodge Dakota has just developed the same "no bus" problem. This started shortly after I had gotten a new cd player installed. Going tomorrow to see if they had installed it correctly. The truck stopped running on me 3 times in a row, would turn over but wouldn't fire up. Also, not sure if it matters, noticed that the fuel indicator was reading on E instead of going to where it should have been with the key to the on position. And yes I had almost a full tank of gas when this was happening to me. After the third time the fuel indicator was giving me a miss reading on the tank of gas, was reading full when it should have been a quarter under full, this has since corrected itself when I had gotten it at home and shut if off and restarted. I have also check alot of the grounding wires that were stated in the previous post and they are all checking out okay. Just tonight the check engine light has popped on, just my luck, and has again stalled and telling me "no bus". This "no bus" message is driving me nuts, has anyone figured out extacly what causes this and what it is that I can do to fix this problem, or is there a recall out for this issue? Thank You in advance, and this is going to be the last dodge I ever own, I swear.

[Atlanta driver]

My brother's '99 Dakota started having the "no bus" message. All the gauges quit working, but the engine and lights seem to work OK. He wants me to buy the truck and I need one, but I'm afraid this problem could get worse and anyway, I want it fixed, I hope someone posts more information about this issue. Also, the A/C in truck only works sporadically and lately not at all. Here in Atlanta, A/C is really necessary.... Sometimes it blows cool and works fine but then it quits blowing cold air and just blows hot/warm air. Any ideas?

[Logan]

I dont know if you are still having the same "no bus" issue as I had...
Basically after 15 to 20 miles of driving, truck would shut off and display "no bus" on the odo. As this would go away after a while, I figured it was a heat issue. I ordered a new PCM from a company I found on Ebay. So far, it appears that has fixed the problem for me. I also installed a new IACV (idle air control valve)- which the PCM had thrown a code. If all else fails, go with the PCM but order it from Auto Computer Exchange - call them direct and you can get it ordered.

[Justin]

I was hauling a pool table today, when my truck stalled, everything went dead but still had power such as motor turning over, radio working, instrament cluster didnt move read wrong fuel, Please help my fiance and i are having extreme financial issues, need to kinda fix this myself

[Nate]

*update*

got tired of the no buss message and broke down and took it to the dealership, which cost me $80. But had found out that it was a bad pcm that was causing the problem. Not a very cheap fix, but very easy to replace it yourself. Been running great for the past 3 months now. My advise would be to just spend the money at the dealership to find out excatly is causeing the problem and then fix it yourself if it's easy to do.

[Jesse]

I have a 2001 Dodge 1500 Pick up truck,it reads no bus,the guages are not working the abs light is on .