2006 engine 50+ day affair conclusion

[JonathanBurk]

After 50+ days of going through all of that mess with Dodge, I paid the $5200 (when it would have only cost me $3800 if they didn't mis-diagnose the first time), picked my truck up, and drove straight to the Toyota dealer the next morning.



I said here's a $15K check, you're gonna take this truck, and I want that one. So I'm now the owner of a 2006 Tacoma QC 4x4 TRD w/ 100K mile bumper to bumper.



Dodge fixed my truck for $1100, mis-diagnosed it, it broke the next day, they wanted to charge me for those same repairs again, plus $2700 more despite the fact that afterwards they said they knew this was a good possibility it would break. DC was rude & uncaring towards my situation, and it took them over 50 days to resolve it all. DC said they would warranty it for the rest of the period, but their word meant squat to me because they wouldn't even warranty the first repairs after less than 24 hours of driving it, when I was told they would.



So after buying a new Dodge every year for the past 4 years, good-bye DC.



These Cummins are awesome trucks. My argument isn't the warranty voiding, I'm fine with that and never whined a bit, it's the terrible customer service throughout my 50+ days of this, and after $5200 in repairs, I couldn't take the risk that in one day it could break all over again and DC would want another $5200 + more to fix it. Just not worth it.



So hopefully I'll see you in the diesel world again one day, but for now I'm back to a gasser. =)

 

[Diesel Power]

thats a sad story! you will be back, one day soon :-laf

 

[fkovalski]

... I paid the $5200...

You are an upstanding man, JB... I still would have disputed the charges since you used your credit card to pay for the repairs. I have disputred charges in the past. It would have put THEM on the offensive to get the money! You still may be able to do it unless you already paid on the statement to which it was posted.



Good luck with the Toy.

 

[machinemover]

I don't know exactly what happened in your situation but I have been caught in my own dilemas with Dodge. I don't really think one company is any better then the other as far as warrentees are concerned. I have apsolutly no fair in Dealers word or warrentees and I will only use there services in dier need. Even cummins prices and warrantees aren't any better. I pull a 40' cargo trailer around the country for a living and must use a deisel or I would have probably done the same as you at one point. I no longer count on warrantee and expect to get denyed. For this reason I have no problem with aftermarket add-ons. I feel you just have to be senceable and realistic about there usage and don't try and make a rocket out of a firecracker, somethings going to give if you do. Good luck with your Toyota, last one I had was a company Toy and we got over 300,000 on all five viehicles with very few problems.

 

[DPKetchum]

There ALL the same. Have a friend with a Toy go through issues with oil usage poor mileage etc. . Same deal. He traded it in on a Dodge with Cummins.

 

[BHolm]

You went from a full size truck to a Tacoma What about the Tundra? You can get a four door in that with a V8 at least. I just can't do the Toyota "sit on the floor" seating, the trucks are too short for me :-laf



Sorry to hear about the hassle. I agree that it is EVERYWHERE. I hassled with GM long enough to get me into a Dodge immediately after they agreed to fix my truck. At least they did that much I guess. I've had problems with all of the big three, Mercedes, Volvo and BMW. The ONLY brand I have owned that went above and beyond EVERYTIME has been Porsche. Of course that is no help here.



Good Luck with the Toyota.

 

[klenger]

Are you going to bomb the Toyota? Let us know how that goes.

 

[JRG]

Factory approved bombs!!!

Are you going to bomb the Toyota? Let us know how that goes.

Ya- TRD is factory backed. A supercharger is COVERED under the factory warranty!!!!! You can get TRD injectors, throttle body, transmission cooler, polished stainless exhaust, ect. ect. ect. factory backed!



JRG

 

[AK RAM]

TRD is factory backed. A supercharger is COVERED under the factory warranty!!!!! You can get TRD injectors, throttle body, transmission cooler, polished stainless exhaust, ect. ect. ect. factory backed!

Anyone want to buy a slightly abused..... I mean slightly used 03 Dodge?

 

[WoodT]

so you paid $15k + traded your 06 in for a Toyota Tacoma?

 

[kowaliga]

Did you buy the Toyota from Landers?

 

[RKerner]

Ya- TRD is factory backed. A supercharger is COVERED under the factory warranty!!!!! You can get TRD injectors, throttle body, transmission cooler, polished stainless exhaust, ect. ect. ect. factory backed!



JRG

The caveat for warranty is that the dealer installs the TRD stuff. About $4500 for the V8 charger if I remember right. Other than TRD, it's really hard to find performance goodies that really make a difference in power or mileage, that's one of the reasons I left 'Yota. It may get interesting next time I buy as my Dodge and Toyota dealer are one in the same.

 

[klenger]

so you paid $15k + traded your 06 in for a Toyota Tacoma?

Don't forget the $5200 for the repairs.



$15,000 + $5200 + 2006 CTD RAM = 1 really expensive Toyota Tacoma.

 

[2Gen3Gen]

Don't forget the $5200 for the repairs.



$15,000 + $5200 + 2006 CTD RAM = 1 really expensive Toyota Tacoma.

My son bought an 06 Tacoma Crew Cab TRD 4x4 fully loaded for $29,795. 6 months ago. There were no other factory options available. The sticker was somewhere around $33k. They don't discount them much but I see they must not give much for your trade in :--)

 

[FATCAT]

Boy, the report of bad Dodge trucks is starting to sound like a broken record around here. Is it me or are these new trucks bottom of the barrel in quality?

These seems to be a LOT of engine failures ... and not just on modified trucks.



I think I'd be very warry of purchasing a new Dodge anything these days.

 

[Gifford]

These reports of engine failure ARE alarming- but note the common denominator in most of these stories: EDGE/TST/BANKS power adders. (MOSTLY Edge products owners are crying... )



Many of us added stuff to our 180-215HP 2nd and early 3rd gen trucks- going from 185/440 to 300/600 is one thing- going from 300/600 stock to 400/750 is ANOTHER all together... The older trucks were "de-tuned" from the factory- adding some power didnt really exceed the design parameters of the engine. These new CR fuel systems are running right at the ragged edge- (IMO) boosting them further is a RECIPE FOR DISASTER.



And its OBVIOUS to me that the thread starter is suffering from sour grapes syndrome due his own foolishness. I wonder how toyatoa would handle this whiner's warranty claims if he changed the injectors, advanced the timing, increased the rail pressure and added nitrous to the toyota engine? hmmmm?

 

[JRG]

Know The Whole Story

And its OBVIOUS to me that the thread starter is suffering from sour grapes syndrome due his own foolishness. I wonder how toyatoa would handle this whiner's warranty claims if he changed the injectors, advanced the timing, increased the rail pressure and added nitrous to the toyota engine? hmmmm?

NOT TO FLAME HE DIDN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT WARRANTY BUT THE 50+ DAYS AND CHARGING TWICE FOR THE SAME JOB!!!

JRG

 

[MCrossley]

I agree that he has been very reasonable as to things I think he should have faught for the moeny back though if the repair was not right then it was not right; i know plenty with yota problmes so I don't think that it answers anyproblems but good luck hope it all goes well.

 

[JonathanBurk]

JRG,



LOL! Thanks for very clearly laying that out for the newcomers to my issue. A lot of people just assume it's the warranty issue I'm whining about, but as you very clearly stated, I never complained about that at all.



And to answer the above questions...

Yes, I paid $15K down to get the Tacoma because:

#1 Refinancing with that $15K down on the Ram would still have been more expensive as I owed $36K not to mention with fuel

#2 I couldn't take the risk that my Ram would break again, and DC would turn right around and charge me another $5200 + x to fix it with no guarantee it'd last.

#3 Between note & fuel, I'm saving $400/month with the Tacoma

#4 I have 100K mile warranty on the Taco vs. (technically) none on my Ram



So while I would have LOVED to keep that sweet black beast, I just couldn't keep paying for repairs if it broke again, dealing with DC, and I needed my own vehicle, after 50+ days it's already been way too long.



Thanks all for the support, TRD doesn't have the 4. 0L Supercharger out yet, but it's in the works as I understand it as they already have the X-runner SC prototype out there. I'll let ya know how she turns out.

 

[ohnoitsyu]

JB, I think you did the right thing. I'd do close to the exact same thing (except I'd probably get a Ridgeline, if I didn't need the load capacity). However, did you take the suspension and wheels off your truck before you got rid of it?