After extensive research and pricing, I found my 05 Dodge Ram Lariat loaded to the gills w/NAV, Leather,Infinity, 4WD, etc... totally loaded ready to tow for the next few years while building my business in the off-road motorsports industry. Oo.
I had the best experience ever with a Dealer that I've ever had in 25 years of buying new cars. Absolutely no B. S. and no games. I'm in the motorsports industry and let the Dealer know that from the beginning so there were no games. Oo.
After several visits to the same dealer and a few different test drives... (a yes I'm a test drive *****... no wiggles, no wobbles and all is good) I made an appointment to purchase my truck on this Sunday morning. With the appointment at 11:15 a. m. with the dealer having plenty of time to suck down his weekend strong brewed coffee I arrived with check in hand ready to do the deal.
An hour later I was out of the front doors of this 5 Star Dealer driving my new 05 Dodge Ram CTD 4WD 3500... . but then :--)
only 6. 3 miles from the dealer a warning bell began to chime as I adjusted the stereo... ah f*** I said... . looking at the gauges and the water temp was pegged at 245 degrees in the RED :--) :{
Jeeeezzzussssssssssss I thought... you got to be kidding me.
I exited the freeway immediately stopping and shutting the new 2005 CTD down. I popped the hood and the engine coolant bottle was completely EMPTY :--) I slowly turned the radiator cap and she was hot... doh!
No fluid at all in the bottle.
The Dealer sent a tow truck and the salesman to me 6. 3 miles away apologizing explaining they'll look at it tomorrow on Monday... The salesman says "The General Manager has been contacted and some idiot in service really screwed this up. "
Questions I have to the consensus of CTD professionals.
With no load and heating up for only a short time do you think pistons were scorched, heads were cracked etc?
I viewed the head gasket and it seemed to be Okay... . visually speaking.
No paint was peeled from the valve cover and that cover over the valve cover seemed to be Okay... ... but that's far from any significant determination.
I'm under the assumption the dealer cannot do anything unless they tear down the motor to inspect the pistons or their is a cracked head or blown head gasket...
I'm afraid they'll merely fill it with fluid in the morning, call me and tell me that it's ready to go... know what I mean?
I'm open to all suggestions and I'm listening to you all. I've been a TDR reader since late 1998 back in the day... Me and my friends are diesel nutz but I've never come across this problem before... probably got to make a decision in the next few days on whether to take a new truck most likely with less options since I grinded these guys to the hilt on this truck and got away with what I think is an opposite version of Dealers Scamming... I worked them hard for this deal... and when I drove away I was feeling good... now I'm wondering if I should take a whole new truck or... . keep this one???? Depends on what YOU guys really think... I'll decide but would like you opinions. . good, bad or ugly!
Thanks in advance.
Tim Sanchez
aka "Desertbull"
I had the best experience ever with a Dealer that I've ever had in 25 years of buying new cars. Absolutely no B. S. and no games. I'm in the motorsports industry and let the Dealer know that from the beginning so there were no games. Oo.
After several visits to the same dealer and a few different test drives... (a yes I'm a test drive *****... no wiggles, no wobbles and all is good) I made an appointment to purchase my truck on this Sunday morning. With the appointment at 11:15 a. m. with the dealer having plenty of time to suck down his weekend strong brewed coffee I arrived with check in hand ready to do the deal.
An hour later I was out of the front doors of this 5 Star Dealer driving my new 05 Dodge Ram CTD 4WD 3500... . but then :--)
only 6. 3 miles from the dealer a warning bell began to chime as I adjusted the stereo... ah f*** I said... . looking at the gauges and the water temp was pegged at 245 degrees in the RED :--) :{
Jeeeezzzussssssssssss I thought... you got to be kidding me.
I exited the freeway immediately stopping and shutting the new 2005 CTD down. I popped the hood and the engine coolant bottle was completely EMPTY :--) I slowly turned the radiator cap and she was hot... doh!
No fluid at all in the bottle.
The Dealer sent a tow truck and the salesman to me 6. 3 miles away apologizing explaining they'll look at it tomorrow on Monday... The salesman says "The General Manager has been contacted and some idiot in service really screwed this up. "
Questions I have to the consensus of CTD professionals.
With no load and heating up for only a short time do you think pistons were scorched, heads were cracked etc?
I viewed the head gasket and it seemed to be Okay... . visually speaking.
No paint was peeled from the valve cover and that cover over the valve cover seemed to be Okay... ... but that's far from any significant determination.
I'm under the assumption the dealer cannot do anything unless they tear down the motor to inspect the pistons or their is a cracked head or blown head gasket...
I'm afraid they'll merely fill it with fluid in the morning, call me and tell me that it's ready to go... know what I mean?
I'm open to all suggestions and I'm listening to you all. I've been a TDR reader since late 1998 back in the day... Me and my friends are diesel nutz but I've never come across this problem before... probably got to make a decision in the next few days on whether to take a new truck most likely with less options since I grinded these guys to the hilt on this truck and got away with what I think is an opposite version of Dealers Scamming... I worked them hard for this deal... and when I drove away I was feeling good... now I'm wondering if I should take a whole new truck or... . keep this one???? Depends on what YOU guys really think... I'll decide but would like you opinions. . good, bad or ugly!
Thanks in advance.
Tim Sanchez
aka "Desertbull"