Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) A tale of Woe

[dewdo]

I am on my way from Seattle to the East coast via Yuma, AZ. I was between Eugene, OR and Cottage Grove, Or when my boost dropped to near zero, the exhaust temp went to 1,300, lost power and was coughing out a cloud of black smoke. First thing to come to mind was a boost hose coming loose or leaking. It was pouring rain as I pulled into the five star dealership in Cottage Grove. I thought I would just have them replace the hose and I would be on my way. NOT



They took the truck and camper back into the bowels of theri facility and shortly came out and told me I had a bad lift pump and it was going to cost me $600. 00 to replace. Ihad no choice other than to tell them to go ahead. I failed to remove the VA box and boost module, but since I had stopped at other dealerships that sold the devices figured it would be OK. NOT



A short time later the service manager came out and said I had extensive modifications, and he would not replace the pump under warranty. (stick with me because it gets even stickier).



I got the number of the customer relations at DCM and talked to a fellow there. He said the dealership had already called them informing them of the modifications and therefore my warranty was now null & void.



I had no choice since I was anxious to get under way, so I told them to replace the pump. This they did in about an hour.



They drove the truck around and said I was now ready for the road again. NOT



As soon as I hit the freeway on ramp I discovered the problem was not solved. I quickly turned around returned to the dealership.



When I got there I was told they could not get the truck in until the next day. (Friday)



I was at the dealership at opening, and the truck was taken in the shop. About an hour later the service manager (oxymoron) came to me and informed me that since I had so many modificaqtions he could not diagnose the problem aand had arranged to have the Cummins shop in Eugene look at it.



I got to the Cummin's shop and they began trying to diagnose the problem. They said everything was OK, b ut the turbo fan did not turn freely and was probably bad. I asked if they had one in stock and I was told they had never replaced one and didn't stock them. The nearest one was in the rebuild shop in Mexico and they couldn't get one until 10:30 AM Monday.



I spent the weekend in their parking lot and am now using their phone line for e-mail. They still won't assure me replacing the turbo will solve my problem.



Now to my question: Has anyone else experienced the problem of their turbo fan not turning freely. I can only get about 10 pounds of boost and the exhaust rises very quickly on acceleration and hill climbing. Sorry about the long post, but I tried to condensce it as much as possible. HELP!

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

Hopefully they refunded the $600 after replacing your fully functional lift pump?? at least they could cover their FU under warranty.



If that's major mods I'm SCREWED. I have a few recent unlisted mods myself

 

[MikeR]

I replied on your "Love Hate" thread. Now the answer comes out... "1300deg egt's and no accelleration power". I am very sure your exhaust brake is sticking closed.

 

[dewdo]

The 1,300 degrees was under acceleration. It looks like the Cummin's shop here in Eugene is going to stick me with a HY35 and keep my 14 cm unit. He said there would be a $900. 00 core charge if I wanted it back. WHA!



Dewdo in the other Washington

 

[MikeR]

Don't do it!!!! Have you tried working your exhaust brake linkage yet??? Your problem points to an exhaust brake.



Check the area with the Travel Companion section for TDR members that can help.

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

i agree with mike it's either youe e-brake stuck shut or your airbox has something in it, maybe a collapsed filter? these are things you can check yourself.



jim

 

[Mopar-muscle]

how can they put an HY on your truck when it was delievered with an HX ????



is it possible to put the front half of that hy on the 14 housing ?



also major mods ??? a VA , can't believe that they consider the VA a major mod .



i would go back there , nothing wrong with your lift pump , tell them you want your old on back on and your money , i hope you paid wit ha CC , call the company and dispute the claim .

 

[bigbrassmonkey]

turbo

see if the fan spins freely, if not get in touch with piers diiesel, in BC, he may be able to help, at least you can sleep in your camper, wall-mart is traveler friendly, amd you can buy tools there also good luck Oo.

 

[pwr2tow]

I conclude with everyone else that I beleave your problem is a air restrictive problem, air filter, exhaust brake sticking, rubber boots leaking, loose clamps on boots, gasket on air horn, hole in intercooler. Have cummins do a pressure check of the intercooler from the turbo to the air horn.



I lean more towards the exhaust brake sticking on though. .



Get your money back from that screw job dealer, $600 for a lift pump and an hours work.



Ron

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

the more I read the #@$%! #@$%! er I get. The dealers look for anything they can to void a warrantee. They only get half of what we would pay from DC so if they make you pay they double profitability while screwing you#@$%! #@$%! A$$$%^&s!! I hate people that take advantage of folks that are in a bind!!!

 

[badinfluence]

air problem

dew, I too belive it is an air restiction problem somewhere, had an international S-series with 350 cummins that collapsed an air cleaner once, lots of smoke no turbo spool, no power, the others have covered about everything. Just my 2 cents, hope it turns out good for ya.

Brett

 

[Bill Kondolay]

Hey ,



If you can read this call me i am at the shop right now,if not call me in the morning. Its 6:15 pm , 1-866-504-4002. I dont think its your turbo, dont become a victim of a bunch of parts changers, i have a turbo in my shop you can borrow, no charge . I will ship it overnight so you dont have to give them a core. Its one of Piers super turbos and is off stefan's truck and we can sort it out when you get back from your trip.



At least this way you wont be out a bunch of money if its not your turbo. Diagnosing from this distance is difficult but i too would have the exhaust brake checked. All they have to do is put a pressure gauge on the exhaust brake outlet . Step on the throttle if you have back pressure you know you have an exhaust brake problem.



Please call me & let me know where you are at.

 

[Rogue Ram]

There should be an outfit there in Eugene called DIESEL INJECTION SERVICE(?)... . they are/were at the past TDR gatherings up in Portland at Timberline Dodge in recent years. I have no clue about them, but they might have someone there with brains... .



DC has to prove your mods caused the malfunction. That doesn't help you at the moment, I understand that. However, when you get your immediate problem resolved, and want to fight those rat-tailed sewer dwellers, there is an attorney in Portland named JOHN COSGRAVE (Yellow Pages) that specializes in vehicle related issues.



Once again, more evidence of why Rammers speak so highly of Bill K. I hope my trans doesn't break, but if it does, guess who I'm calling.....



Hang in there bro, keep us updated!



Very Rogue on your behalf... ...

 

[JLinder]

I'm out of town...

I live only a 3 hour drive from Eugene, and I would love to help... But, right now I'm in a hotel room in Hanford, CA on a business trip. I can tell you if Cummins in Coberg can't get you going, try Oregon Fuel Injection in Eugene. They do a lot of work on our CTD'd Rams and can help you out. Wish I could help more.

 

[B. Gill]

what a class act by Bill K. if there were more like him maybe this world can be a better place than it is.

Bill thanks for being there .

 

[willyslover]

Bill K. . you da man !!

sometimes I wish I had the auto just to make use of your services...

 

[Sled Puller]

NOW THAT, IS CUSTOMER SERVICE.

Go Bill!



Eat yer heart out D-C. Oo. And take a few lessons.

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

dewdo,

Did you ever get up and running? what ended up being the problem?

 

[MCummings]

Originally posted by willyslover

Bill K. . you da man !!

sometimes I wish I had the auto just to make use of your services...

ahhh,, but you can,, he does sell injectors, chips, and turbo's.



One thing he doesn't sell,,,,, Advice, Friendliness, Deals, and smiles.

These are all free, and a direct result of the Kondolays/DTT's excellent customer service, and top of the line products.



I bought a PE Comp from them,, and they installed it for me in my truck while I was examining one of the little jumpers to hold onto the Fuse to power the COMP. I Didn't even ask them to install,and didn't expect it to be installed (especially with the deal they gave me LOL) and they did it for me in about 15 minutes,, and then I went on a test drive and If I remember correctly somebody asked me if I wanted to take it off,, I was like, Have you Lost your mind ??!!? LOL,,, That was the day I started down the slippery slope of BOMBing. Now I've called them again about upgrading,, I wanted to go all out,, and they were going to be happy to accomodate me,, but they told me something nobody else did. That with Supermentals, and my PE COMP,, I had a very high risk of breaking something,, especially with the way I drive (I get about 10K out of my rear tires,, I like the smoke),, so He suggested going with DD3's, and Nitrous. (Instead of what I wanted,,, BD5's and Propane) So now I'm working with Stefan K. about what would be the best thing to do with my driving style and wants for power.



Well, this is just one of the many similar stories DTT has done with their customers,, THANKS DTT



Merrick Cummings



BTW I Did give DTT permission to install my PE COMP,, they didn't really doit "Behind my back"



P. S. Dewdo,, Hope you get it fixed! It really does sound like an exhaust or intake restriction.

 

[bigbrassmonkey]

I second the upfront style of bill, more important to him is the customer, not the sale, this is said from experience in him telling me that I would be crazy to buy $1,000 injectors from him, to get 40 more HP