'04.5 Freeze Plug Issue, why now?

[CStansbury]

Hey guys,

I remember last year when we were having all the hub-bub about freeze plugs popping out and getting your truck tested ect... I went to the http://www.dodge.com/webselfservice...recall&country=us&emailUrl=goToEmailForm('R') form, put in my numbers and it came up with nothing. I forgot all about it. Last week, I get a letter from my dealer stating that I may have an issue with my freeze plugs and need to come in and have it tested. I went back to the above Dodge site and still nothing shows up for my truck. Why would my dealer just now be doing this and why would they inlcude me in the testing if my engine was not effected by the TSB? Have the parameters of the TSB been expanded to include more engines? If mine hasn't failed in 18,000 miles I don't think it is going to fail, but I don't want to expose myself to any liabilities if I don't go get it tested. Any thoughts? Anyone else just get a letter? Thanks.

Chris

 

[rbattelle]

There could be a lot of reasons why you got a letter. It's possible that your dealer sent letters to all the area people to whom they sold a truck of the same model year as the TSB. Maybe they're trying to check whether other trucks are also having the problem so they can tell Dodge they need to expand the TSB. I assume they're offering the test free? If not, then maybe it's just a scam to get you to come in and pay for some work.



If they're offering the test free, I'd consider going in... what have you got to lose? If they're charging for it, or if you're not comfortable letting anyone else touch your baby, then don't bother.



-Ryan

 

[jwduke]

Humm... ..... Does this apply to all 2004. 5's? I haven't received anything from my dealer, yet.

 

[WCPoe]

Freeze plug test

Hey Guys before you decide to get the freeze plug test, I had better tell you what the test is. First the truck must be stone cold, mine had to sit overnight at the dealer. Then they pressurize the coolant system to simulate operating pressure, start the engine and as soon as the oil pressure comes up they mash the go pedal to the floor and hold it for three minutes at redline. I one freeze plug blows, they stop and replace that plug. Let cool completely and repeat the procedure. I believe if more than one plug blows they replace the engine. I was horrified when I found out they did this to mine. However, none of my freeze plugs blew and it seems to run fine. I contacted the Cummins folks, (powermaster@cummins.com), and got the following response:



-----Original Message-----

From: -- email address removed -- [mailtoowermaster@cummins.com]

Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 8:51 AM

To: Poe, William C

Subject: Re: RQST00000293911



Summary: 60983 2004. 5 Dodge 2500 Cummins freeze plugs



Solution:



Thanks for your Email message.



This is not what we tell customers to do and it is not what any engine

manufacture tells their customers to do but as long as the engine has

full oil pressure no damage will happen to your engine. This test will

put max pressure on the cup plug seals and that is the reason for

testing in this way.



Please let us know if you have other questions and if away from your

computer or have a time-critical request that needs more urgent

attention, feel free to call us toll-free (from North America) at

1-800-DIESELS (343-7357).



Email direct: -- email address removed --



Regards,

--

Powermaster

Customer Assistance Center

Cummins, Inc.

Columbus, Indiana, USA





Free QuickServe Online for Consumers at - http://quickserve.cummins.com







Details:

New truck with 1300 miles. Defective freeze plug recall. Is full rpm

test cold bad for engine? I'm in total shock, this is not a good

experience.

Counter # : 60983

Subject : 2004. 5 Dodge 2500 Cummins freeze plugs





PS - In a conversation with a Cummins Rep when this was all taking place, I was told that most of the failures were happening on the first few engine heat cycles, most before the trucks got off the dealer's lot.



PS - Sorry for the long post, just wanted you to know.

 

[rbattelle]

Give me a break. I wouldn't want them doing that to my engine, no matter what Cummins says about it not causing any harm.



Why can't they just pressurize the cooling system up to 25 or 30 psi and see if things hold together? Such a test would need to be done with the engine hot (as after a highway drive) to be sure the relative dimensions of the block and plugs are right.



-Ryan

 

[CTD 600]

I got a call from the dealership immediately after the TSB went out. They did pressurize the cooling system to test it. That's all they did. I think the overall figures were... only 9 engines built between those dates for the TSB were affected with bad plugs.