OK, it's official...

[KLauber]

I've put 20K on this clutch since APril and it now has 60K on it. Works great and pulls the 14-16K trailer like a champ. You got a lemon thats all. Let us know how the SB works out.



PS. Just changed the fluid in the transmission at 61K and boy does new fluid make it smoother.



Ken

 

[BHiggins]

The problem as I see it is the 12 month 12k mile warranty on supposed "wear items". I feel that certain "wear items" such as brakes and the clutch should be covered for longer than 12/12. I certainly feel wronged that my clutch only got 21k miles and the dealer did nothing for me. Now I'm going to be out of pocket almost $2000. 00 to repair a truck that's still under warranty... It's not right, and Dodge just lost a customer who's been brand loyal for decades.

 

[Wingate]

The last time I was at the dealership... (its been awhile I FIRED them!!) there was a guy in there arguing basically the same thing... He mentioned having an aftermarket clutch installed by the dealership and I will never forget the service managers response. . I almost fell out when the service manager told him it would void his warranty on his transmission... . he stood there and basically admitted the factory stuff was crap, but if you try and fix it where we can't rob you every 20K miles, we're gonna void your warranty!!. . go figure!

 

[BHiggins]

The only bright part of my day was wasting 2 hours of the salesman's time, getting him to offer me a really sweet deal on a new truck. We put it all on paper, all I had to do was sign my name. It felt good to just walk out. As angry as he was, I think he understood that I was even MORE angry.

 

[Cosmo]

The problem as I see it is the 12 month 12k mile warranty on supposed "wear items". I feel that certain "wear items" such as brakes and the clutch should be covered for longer than 12/12. I certainly feel wronged that my clutch only got 21k miles and the dealer did nothing for me. Now I'm going to be out of pocket almost $2000. 00 to repair a truck that's still under warranty... It's not right, and Dodge just lost a customer who's been brand loyal for decades.

You want the manufacturer to warrant brakes and clutches for more than 12/12 - how long would you request? 24? 36? 96? 150k?



Surely you jest. Back in 1991 my folks bought a new Miata - both my sister and I learned how to drive in that thing. Is it fair to ask Mazda to put a new clutch in it after the abuse we put it through? BTW, it IS possible to start from a dead stop in a 1991 Miata using only 5th gear. IIRC we got 20k out of the tires and 40k out of the clutch.



I've owned a host of manual vehicles since and haven't had to do a single clutch, but I'm also a lot easier on vehicles now.







Now obviously I would be frustrated if I was staring at a $2k bill for a problem I didn't cause, so I empathize with you here. I don't think they should cover the clutch for more than 12k, however I do think they should own up to their design flaw.

 

[BHiggins]

If you go through a set of brakes on a new car, ANY new car, in 12,000 miles, there's a problem. Same if you go through a set in 21,000 miles. I went through a clutch in 21,000 miles, THAT'S A PROBLEM. I've gotten hundreds of thousands of miles out of original clutches before, so it's not the way I'm driving... The clutch was defective in some way that was beyond my control, Dodge should replace it.

 

[befrazier]

I understand your frustration. I bought a new chevy gasser back in 92. It did not have that many miles on it when we had a huge snow storm. The truck would not come out of gear or go into gear when pushing in the clutch. The clutch was very stiff. I drove the truck with out clutching to the dealer and they tore it apart. They came back to me and said that the clutch was full of snow and the throwout bearing and some other parts were needing replacing. Chevy would not cover this under warranty, even though the dealer backed the story. I even called someone in Michigan and got nowhere but they did get a piece of my mind. I have not bought a chevy since. It's a battle that probably can't be won and it's BS. The stress and frustration is not worth it. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and just move on with what you can live with. Good Luck!

 

[HBarlow]

BHiggins,

We are sympathetic to your concern and understand your need to vent your anger and frustration but ultimately, I doubt Dodge is going to replace the assembly under warranty. Dodge has no way of knowing how skilled you or any other owner is with use of the clutch, what you tow, or how you might use or abuse the truck.

You will have to make one of about three choices. Replace the clutch with an OEM dmf pos from Dodge, replace the clutch with a conversion to solid flywheel from SouthBend Clutch, or trade the truck. It's none of my business but I hope you don't decide to trade your Ram for an inferior product with an automatic transmission because you are mad at Dodge.

Some of you fellow TDR members love the driving control a manual six speed provides. I understand that as I put 325k miles on one and loved it, but a casual reading on the TDR website will provide ample evidence that the dual mass flywheel and clutch assembly is simply not a durable product. Many members have reported failures and with miles and usage, I would expect most of them to fail fairly early.

The problem is not careless engineering or bad supplier choices by Dodge. The problem is that in order to reduce NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) and protect the aluminum case transmission from severe shock loading, the only alternative is apparently a dual mass flywheel.

I would take a deep breath, set aside my anger, and call Peter @ SBC for a conversion flywheel and clutch assembly. Then you'll have a reliable truck.

 

[RVTRKN]

I understand your frustration. I bought a new chevy gasser back in 92. It did not have that many miles on it when we had a huge snow storm. The truck would not come out of gear or go into gear when pushing in the clutch. The clutch was very stiff. I drove the truck with out clutching to the dealer and they tore it apart. They came back to me and said that the clutch was full of snow and the throwout bearing and some other parts were needing replacing. Chevy would not cover this under warranty, even though the dealer backed the story. I even called someone in Michigan and got nowhere but they did get a piece of my mind. I have not bought a chevy since. It's a battle that probably can't be won and it's BS. The stress and frustration is not worth it. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and just move on with what you can live with. Good Luck!

Well you don't have to worry about the GM DMAX they don't offer a manual trans. They think the Alison is the BOMB (two meanings with my point of view) and proudly proclaims manuals are not needed.



BHiggins, where was your truck built? My 07 C&C has been flawless, except for the flash it got back in 09, now I have to baby it through the gears or it will take off on me past the 2K RPM range while shifting, during the regen process. It was built in Mexico.

 

[BHiggins]

Just ordered the South Bend kit, I should have it next week sometime... I also spoke to a friend today who has a 2006 Ram/Cummins 2500 with 30,000 miles. His clutch is slipping too. Junk.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Are you joking?



Go and buy a Furd or GM because your clutch needs replacing?



Just think of the reliability issues one of those brands will provide.

The Chevy diesel motor is not a piece of junk one or two of the people we go camping with have the chevy and their just as strong as ours. Until the owners start adding a bunch of HP that they more than likely dont need. For the most part our motors are strong ( I think the best ) but like the rest look at the guys that complain about the Cummins or Chevy most not ALL have taken a great feat of engineering and made trash out of it. If you need that kind of power then buy it so you dont have to modify something that its not but as always TJMO

 

[EricBu12]

WTG brian. ! B. O. M. B. that baby! Had the SB on my 01 and it worked great. !.

I have an 09 with the auto. Have towed a couple times heavy and so far at 16k no problems. Best of luck that your problems are behind you

 

[TCDiesel]

The D-max has proved to be a successful Power plant,the downward side is the cost of repairs when it does fail,Example: the GM dealers want (Retail) $154 for each side of the engine injector return lines it consist of 10 plastic elbows and some 1/8 fuel hose,they also want $28. 00 a piece for the Clips,Thats right $28. 00 so don't lose them.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Is the cummins that much different I dont know I have a friend that works at cummins in town so I dont pay as much for things as some do

 

[TCDiesel]

O Yeah,Book time on the Water Pump for D-Max 8hrs,Retail cost of the Pump $287. 00, I have a couple of tips on the pump to shorten it down to 4hrs,but its still PITA.

 

[TCDiesel]

The CP3 is Double the cost and 4hrs R/R. Do studs and head gaskets on the D-Max $3000. 00 to do it right. Turbo double the cost add 4hrs to R/R if you don't snap any exhaust bolts,Injectors are 10% more and 2 more ,I could go on and on,its not unusual for engine repairs to average $5000. 00 on the D-max for injectors if its LB7.

 

[Cosmo]

The duramax is a light duty engine, the cummins is a medium duty. That's all I need to know.

 

[Cosmo]

I've gotten hundreds of thousands of miles out of original clutches before, so it's not the way I'm driving...

You know that, and I believe you, but Dodge doesn't know that. They don't know you from some pimplefaced 16 year old playing FastAndTheFurious with your $50k truck.



Dodge shouldn't cover a clutch or brakes under warranty for some kid who doesn't know what they're doing, so why should they cover it for someone who they don't know?

 

[DonFitzwater]

The clutch is generally considered a wear item like brake pads. I will be surprised if your dealer will warranty the clutch.



Perhaps it is the lousy dual mass flywheel assembly that is failing and I think that should not be considered a wear item. Dodge surely knows the dmf is a pos and failure prone but I've not heard of one failing with so few miles.



My '08 has 93k trouble free miles on it. It has only been back to a dealer for a software reflash.

Our local dealer bought one of the newer trucks with dmf and it failed on his first trip home!

 

[HHhuntitall]

You know that, and I believe you, but Dodge doesn't know that. They don't know you from some pimplefaced 16 year old playing FastAndTheFurious with your $50k truck.



Dodge shouldn't cover a clutch or brakes under warranty for some kid who doesn't know what they're doing, so why should they cover it for someone who they don't know?

Because it costs $50k, is supposed to be the most "durable" truck on the market, they make way more than 20% on these trucks, and they shouldn't build a POS and pass it off on the public, that's why. No, they don't know your driving habits, but with all the tattle-tales in the computer, it wouldn't be hard for a tech to look at it and see if it's been driven like it was stolen, or if it's been driven responsibly. Yes, there are a few that take advantage of the warranty, but most do not. Most are responsible for themselves and a truck that costs way more than it should. The manufacturer is the one being irresponsible, trying to pass an inferior product off on the public, using an established name and reputation. It is not uncommon to see an old 1st gen and many earlier 2nd gens with over 1/4 million miles on them and never touched except for maintanance. It is uncommon to see a 3rd gen do that. Between fuel lift pumps, computer ghosts, piston rings, DMFs, wheel bearings, and injector failures, very few trucks in the 3rd gen, as a percentage, make the cut. None of mine have. You can count that as emission requirements, technology advances, failure under higher power, or whatever the heck you want, but I count that as poor engineering. And people still keep buying them. The people that actually need them, can't make a living without them, and the people that keep driving the price up, don't care. And the people that keep bailing them out of a deserved bloody nose deserve to be whipped with a peppered cane pole. And the people that voted them in deserve what they get.



"The floggings will continue until morale improves... " or, "Don't worry, we'll print more!" :{