2005 - 3500 Issues - Is It Time To Trade??

[BMiller7]

I have a 2005 3500DRW Club Cab with an auto transmission that I bought new with 0 miles.



I now have 98,700 miles on it and since August, I have put more than $3,500 in injector/injector lines, throttle body/linkage replacement, 2 sensors, and air evaporator/heater coils replacement.



Yesterday, I stopped to get fuel and when I put the transmission in reverse, I had none. By the way, the transmission was completely rebuilt and the torque converter was replaced at 56,000 miles. Thank heavens, that was under warranty!



Tonight, I got the bad news from the dealer. The price to repair the trans would be $2,650. 00, and that was with a 10% discount! The reverse band is broken and it needs another torque converter.



The problem is that I really love the truck and have added a few items to really personalize it. It has a 4. 10 rear, but I have 19. 5" Rickson wheels/tires and a bully dog. I keep it on performance mode, but my only use for the truck is to go to and from work (50 miles). I do pull a car trailer sometimes on weekends but the car only weighs 2,100 lbs and the trailer is a 20' enclosed, all aluminum trailer.



I know that this may be a loaded question, but am I expecting too much to think this truck shouldn't be having these kind of problems at under 100,000 miles?



Is it time to move on and get a new one?

My rule on buying another vehicle has always been: When the repair costs match the cost of a payment, it's time to trade.



My problem with that type of thinking is that I own the truck outright and have no payments. With this next fix though, the repairs this year are more than a $500 payment for an entire year.



I've bee a member of this forum since my 1997 Dodge. I'd really appreciate your thoughts...



Bruce

 

[Motorhead]

It looks to me that both of your breakdown woes were accelerated with the bullydog. If the bullydog is adding rail pressure then that alone is hard on the injectors. The automatics, IF STOCK, don't want much more HP added to them than stock.
You have already done the injectors so why not have a GOOD PERFORMANCE trans built instead of letting the dealer take your money.
IN MY OPINION, get rid of the bullydog and go with a Smarty instead. No added rail pressure.
KEEP the truck!

 

[AH64ID]

Your injectors, unless warranty was deined for the tuner, should have been under warranty, the 05's have a 7/100 on the motor.



If you decide to keep it be sure to increase your fuel filtration and put a built transmission in it.

 

[sag2]

You might want to re-think the transmission repair. You said the reverse band is broken. If that is the only problem, the strut, adjuster, or actual band broke, why does it need a torque converter? If broke means broke, there should not be any metal in the converter, and even if it did wear out, the metal/debris that can get into the converter is limited to what can make it through the filter.

With 56,000 miles and regular service you should still be able to read the part numbers on the clutches. I would find me a repair shop that will fix what's broken, and leave the rest alone. At $100+ per hour here, you are looking at a $1200 repair on the high side. Parts required are the band, and a pump gasket assuming nothing else is damaged.

 

[SRadke]

It does sound like the dealer is taking you for a ride.....

 

[Grizzly]

Get a second opinion by an independent reliable transmission shop.

 

[macdaddy]

It looks to me that both of your breakdown woes were accelerated with the bullydog. If the bullydog is adding rail pressure then that alone is hard on the injectors. The automatics, IF STOCK, don't want much more HP added to them than stock.

You have already done the injectors so why not have a GOOD PERFORMANCE trans built instead of letting the dealer take your money.

IN MY OPINION, get rid of the bullydog and go with a Smarty instead. No added rail pressure.

KEEP the truck!

I agree with this 100 percent... ... .

The 19. 5's accelerated the transmission's early death IMHO. I would get a performance trans as well and KEEP THE TRUCK!!!



Remember truck payments are for the poor!



Mac

 

[HBarlow]

Ordinary unmolested Dodge Rams like yours will normally run several hundred thousand miles without issues. I think your problems are self-inflicted by the magic black box you have added and by paying a dealership with limited skills or an intent to deceive to take advantage of you.

 

[MChrist]

If you like the truck, keep it and get the trans built up by a company to handle extra power, like Goerend. If I remember correctly, my trans, with all billet parts, beefed up, triple disc converter, r&r, all labor was less than $4000. It also comes with an unlimited mileage warranty.
I would strongly recommend calling them and talking to Dave. He can send the parts needed to a reputable trans shop and they can install the parts to his specs if you can't get the truck to his shop.

 

[BMiller7]

Thanks guys for all the comments and suggestions.



The rearend is a 4. 10 and the tire size brought the rearend down to about the equivelent to a 3. 90.



As a whole though, I think you are all correct. Overall, the Bully Dog, and larger/heavier tires, didn't help.



Since the transmission was already torn down by the dealer, they will be fixing it this time too. I'm still waiting for the phone call from the dealer to pick it up, but ultimately, I'm going to cut my losses with this one and upgrade to an 08' or 09' model. Oh, and it will be stock... at least until I can't remember why.



Bruce