2003 Tranmission Rusted through!!!

[rscurtis]

When I saw how easily one of these trucks can pull a 30,000# resistance sled, and then be driven home, it's going to take a lot more than that to break one of those transmissions. I suspect we don't have all the information here.

 

[frank1]

I will take pictures of the transmission and try to post them. Need to bring down a check for $490. 00 for removal of transmission and another for a flatbed. I was wondering two things : One do we get a dicount if we are TDR MEMBERS? (at Standard Transmission), and two will Standard except my transmission as a core unit now that the case is cracked? I guess I'll find out tomorrow when I call them. Thanks to all for all your knowledge and support. Frank

 

[HBarlow]

I am not certain now, it's been four years, but I believe Standard did give me a TDR discount. They are a TDR advertiser and want our business. Give them a call tomorrow.

I can't speak for Standard, you'll have to ask them about using your case and maybe wait until they have inspected it. If the case is in fact cracked I would guess it will have to be welded or discarded.

Someone correct me if I am wrong here, but I think a good specialty welder can weld a crack in a thick iron case.

 

[rbattelle]

According to the rep. the crack found on the trans was due to rust "eating" through trans. case.

You know, the beauty of cast iron is that it will usually rust only to a shallow depth, then the underlying metal is "choked off" from oxygen and the rust stops.



That's why you can often take bits of iron machinery that have been out rusting in a field for 50 or 100 years, abrade away the rust, and everything looks shiny and new underneath.



My transmission wasn't painted from the factory, and I've never bothered to paint it myself. It doesn't look so pretty with a layer of rust all over it, but I figure it's not hurting anything.



Amsoilman - your NV5600 was painted black from the factory?



Ryan

 

[Prairie Dog]

I remember crawling under my 03 when it was new and finding the trans was already covered in surface rust, as was the driveline.

 

[JMetzger]

My 02 has had surface rust since day one but that is all it is surface rust.

 

[frank1]

Well guys what a long day! Went down to the dealership this morning along with a towing company to pick up my 03' dually and transmission. First had to wait 20 minutes for the service manager to finish up the "paper work", even though I had called him earlier and gave him the approx. time of my arrival. He finally comes out of his office w/ three pieces paper stapled together. He hands them to me and said I'll "walk" you over to the cashiers office. As we were walking over, I flipped to the last page, the total cost for their " services" was $632. 37 !!! Not the $490. 00 he had quoted me back on July 2,2010 ! When I questioned him on the added cost, he said a few extra hours were needed to "open" the transmission to investigate the cause of the leaking. I could not believe what I was hearing! I told how angry and upset I was right there in front of approx. 5-8 people waiting on there cars!!! He told me there's nothing he can do !!! I paid the bill, took my 92' pickup, backed into there shop picked up a box of bolts,nuts and other "parts", I hope all but dought it! Then went over to the bench where my trans. was located and asked to see the "crack" in it. Guess what guy's there is no crack!!! I could not beleive my eyes!!! Yes, there is rust all over the trans. and most of it you can peel off and get down to where the cast iron is solid again! The service mgr. quickly response was "I never told you there was a crack, it's just very porous ". I told him you better get someone over here quick to help me with loading this transmission because this situation is going to get bad real quick!!! Before I knew it literally 7-8 so called "service techs" showed up! Loaded the trans. transfer case,cross member,drive shaft. " Hooked up the pickup and we were out of there! As far as the extra money for the extra time to "open" the transmission, the only thing they "opened" --- they simply removed the fast coolers!!! Sorry for such a long story! Just a few more comments, I spoke to Standard Transmission in Texas (thanks Harvey) and told them the trans. is coming their way. Noey at Standard said he will tear down the trans. and see what is going on, three days and they should have it. Total money spent as of today, $632. 37 (dealer),$150. 00 towing charge, $290. 42 for transmission shipping, grand total thus far $1072. 79 and still I have no truck!!! I should have stayed in bed today! I did take pictures of the transmission, I will load them once my kids get home to show me how! Thanks again- Frank

 

[JApol]

SO, if there is no crack why did the Dodge rep deny the transmission for "rust induced crack"

You definatly did the right thing by getting your truck out of that dealership.

 

[JMetzger]

I think I would talk to a lawyer. That just isn't right. I think you have a good case against that dealer. Lying to people is not good.

 

[HBarlow]

The sorry lowlife's of that dealership took advantage of you because you were working and couldn't be there to inspect it yourself. They lied to you, attempted to scam you into an overpriced rebuilt transmission, probably deceived you about a Dodge rep showing up to inspect it and decline warranty repairs, and then ripped you off with an outrageous bill when you declined their solution.

I would take revenge on that dealer and that service manager in whatever way is available.

I'll bet the paperwork was carefully prepared to avoid writing any facts that you can use in court.

Your experience is the reason I don't patronize dealerships. Not all are like that one, probably not even many, but some are and you often don't find out how crooked they are until they've already trapped you.

Standard Transmission will make up for it but nobody with the exception of a court can get you your money back.

 

[KIKER]

A friend of mine had a problem with his '98 V-10 transmission. It lurched forward when he started it and it was in 1st gear, and his foot was on the clutch pedal. He finally got it started, drove it about 200 miles home, and took it in to the local dealer. After having it 3 days, the dealer called with the diagnosis. They said he needed a new "rebuilt" transmission installed for $5700. He told them it was shifting and running right, just that one time he started it, he couldn't stop it with the clutch pushed in. I suspect he lost prime on the hydraulics and eventually got it pumped back up, working to get it out of gear when he killed it with the brakes. He took it home and they charged him $70 for a diagnostic fee. He drove it about 3 more years without any more trouble.

 

[frank1]

Harvey - that will be the last time I ever step foot in that dealership!!! The only reason I went back was I was hoping that the leaking trans oil had to do with internal damage and that the 70,000 mile/ 7 year warranty would be valid.

The second reason I did business w/ this dealership is the fact that they are open "24" hours Mon- Thurs, and usually within a couple of days at most I would have any two of my 03's back on the job.

A couple of nights ago I went through all the invoices from this dealership,just to add up all the costs for repairs for both of my two 03's. In past seven years the costs where well over $15,000. 00. Thank god for extended service contracts, because I only had to pay the $100. 00 deductible! I guess that's what you get when you give all your business to one companny! Live and learn.

I also, did call the case manager that was assigned to my truck and I told her of my findings regarding "the missing crack in my transmission",and the added costs that I just payed, all the aggravation over this past month. Her response, is that I go back and talk to the service manager and see what he "can do for me". My response back to her is the next time I go back is with my lawyer!!! I also questioned her regarding what exactly where the District manager's findings, she read back to me the report. It stated that the rust had weakened the casing enough to become porous and that's why I had oil leaking out of the trans. She also stated that the D. M. had reported that the truck is used for plowing and based on lack of maintenace and "environmental conditions" (i. e. salt) that the truck was subject to caused the failure and not mechicanical malfuction. I told her I have three other trucks one of which is on old 92" (18 years of plowing) that are all subject to the same "environmental conditions" and are in fine working order! I asked for a copy of the D. M. 'S report and she told me she could not foward any paper work to me and that again I should call the service manager and maybe he could get the D. M. on a conference call and I could ask him any question I liked. I told her a lot of good that's going to for me now!! So much for contacting Dodge four weeks ago, they did absoultly NOTHING!

Once Standard Trans. receives my transmission, I authorized them to really "open up" the trans. and see what happened. I did warn them that there is a lot of rust on the case and if it is truely worn through don't waste there time with it, just ship me up a freshly rebuilt unit.

Like you stated Harvey they are a trust worthy company, a freshly rebuilt unit with there "power lube package" would cost me $3200. 00 plus two hundred in shipping costs.

They however would like to see what happened to my trans since I only have 36,583 miles on it. The costs would be much less then the 3200. 00. Let's see what they find, I still think the case was made with poor metal just by looking at it.

 

[frank1]

Pictures of the 2003 DRW Transmission

Guys, my daughter finally got home and helped me upload these pictures to the forum! As promised, here are a few shots I took today for your reviews and comments. I took pictures of the left and right side, underside, and the back and front end. I also took one of it ready for shipment to Standard Transmission in Fort Worth, TX! It starts its journey tomorrow. Frank

 

[frank1]

More Pictures!

Here are a few more pictures for your viewing pleasure! Frank

 

[Motorhead]

God, Frank!!! What a fluster cluck the dealer put through! Even if you had rust scale on the trans, the casting shouldn't have been porous. If there is any kind of thickness left to the case casting and it is porous... . DEFECTIVE casting in my book!
Like Harvey, I CRINGE at the thought of going to the dealer for ANY warranty work on my truck. So far, three years and 37,000 miles later, I haven't had to go back to them. I do have issues with BOTH back seatbelts in that they ratchet down on you and won't work passively. Before I have to go in for them, I am going to put some kind of LOCK on my OBDII port so they can't do any UN-WANTED flashes to my truck.

 

[MAshley]

Well first off . . The dealer bent you over in terms of saying it needed to be pulled from the truck... There is plenty of space and plenty of delaminating metal there for all to see... The dodge rep didnt' need it out to see it.



I have seen trucks in New york look this bad for excess amounts of salt, but the Q I have is the metal so pourous that it leaks fluid like a spoung? Thats the thing I don't understand Im no metal expert but I would say this trans is well eaten from Salt, but I woulnd't expect it to be leaking eithor. I agree with motorhead if it is really over an inch think then the trans has a manufacturing defect in my opinion.



Please keep us updated with what Standard Transmission come up with.

 

[HBarlow]

I've never seen one rusted like that. I'm no metallurgist and don't know if severe rust could in fact lead to seepage but perhaps it could.

Like was posted above, it would seem to me also that a visual inspection on a lift would have been sufficient to determine the case was badly rusted and could be leaking and not covered under warranty.

I think that dealer took advantage. I would take my business elsewhere in the future.

 

[amsoilman]

Amsoilman - your NV5600 was painted black from the factory?



Ryan

Yes Ryan, it was painted black from the factory. I ordered the truck from Hinckley Dodge in Ogden Utah, and then "tracked" it during its assembly and shipping processes.



I Love my truck!

 

[rbattelle]

I don't think that case looks bad at all. Looks fairly normal given the age.

I'll be very curious what Standard thinks.

Ryan

 

[SMorneau]

The sorry lowlife's of that dealership took advantage of you because you were working and couldn't be there to inspect it yourself. They lied to you, attempted to scam you into an overpriced rebuilt transmission, probably deceived you about a Dodge rep showing up to inspect it and decline warranty repairs, and then ripped you off with an outrageous bill when you declined their solution.



I would take revenge on that dealer and that service manager in whatever way is available.



I'll bet the paperwork was carefully prepared to avoid writing any facts that you can use in court.



Your experience is the reason I don't patronize dealerships. Not all are like that one, probably not even many, but some are and you often don't find out how crooked they are until they've already trapped you.



Standard Transmission will make up for it but nobody with the exception of a court can get you your money back.

Harvey,



I did not mean to speak for you or anybody else. It's obvious you have a great deal of respect for the entire Chrysler corporation top to bottom. I am sorry I said anything so negative and offensive as they don't deserve our business. Perhaps I would have sounded more rational had I blamed everything on all the bad independent dealerships (that Chrysler did not close when they had the chance) and suggested revenge on specific individuals at those dealerships? Yah, that would have been better.



Frank,



As we now know, I can only speak for myself when I say Standard Trans deserves my business and I will be interested to get their view on the situation. Good luck.



Scott