Advice? runs poorly!

[rmknizner]

My truck is back at the dealer for the third time this week for the same problem: the engine runs smoothly up to about 1800 rpm-then between 1800 and about 2300 rpm it changes the way it sounds, like it is missing-then from 2300 rpm on up it pulls smoothly. In the 1800 to 2300 rpm zone the power goes flat. This is so noticable that when it passes 2300 rpm there is a noticable surge in power.



The dealer put a lift pump on yesterday... no change.



I had a 0500 (speed sensor malfunction) code this morning on the way to the dealer. They said it was not a real code and that the manual trans trucks will sometimes set this phantom code. (?)



I have had these codes (0500 and the 1693 comanion code) since I started looking for them last month. It was my hope that they indicated a problem that could be fixed... ... .



Is this as good as this truck will ever run? Note that the "Dead Zone" is right where the truck operates at highway speed. This truck has about 15k miles on it, and has done this since it was new. I optimistically thought it would smooth out after break-in. It may be worse now.



Any suggestions on what I can try rather than just live with it?



Thanks!



Bob

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Been through this one on a couple of different trucks... Fuel pressure is ok, and everything else is good, except for a slight miss around 1800-2300 RPM. The fix is always an injection pump. Typically, this symptom of "missing" will not trigger a DTC, which is why the dealers usually can't find the problem. *LOL*



What year is your truck?

 

[rmknizner]

Thanks, Evan... I was leaning towards the injection pump, too.



What can I do to "assist" the dealer in finding/fixing the problem with this pump?



The truck is a 2001. 5.





Bob

 

[DBlaze]

I just this week had a new injector pump put in my '99 3500 5 speed. My truck started with a slight hesitation which progressed to a "flat spot" which wound up as no power at all when I stepped on the go pedal. The dealer changed the fuel filter, put in the fast idle TSB and then found the relay for the intake heater bad. According to them on Wednesday this had fixed my problem. I told them that there was no way that had fixed it. I asked them what fuel pressure the lift pump made at idle..... ?????, if there was a code indicating trouble with the APPS... ... ?????, I also explained that the grid heater circuit is disabled at speeds over 15 or 20 MPH. Well on Thursday morning I got a call from the service manager that they had determined the pump was bad and that they would have another on Friday morning.



To answer the question, do your homework, do not get emotional or you will put the service manager on the defensive, make it seem like you are helping him rather than pointing out his shortcomings. To also give the guy a break, many Dodge dealers do not sell a lot of diesel trucks, the techs are not well trained and they don't see lots of diesels with problems to where they build up an experience base. As the owner sometimes you need to do their homework and guide them, just like you would with your own kids learning something new.

 

[rmknizner]

The information I got from the dealer yesterday was partly contradictory and partly stupid. First I was told that the 0500 code was nothing, then that they didn't know what could cause it, then that it didn't show up on their scanner, then that since it shows a fault only with the speedometer it cannot contribute to my problem



The shop foreman is a great guy (owns a Cummins-powered Ram) and offered to drive the truck with me. It is unclear if he agreed that there is a problem. He then told me I should use a lower gear to spin the motor faster so it would operate out of the effected rpm band. This is not what I want to do... drive around in 5th gear at 70+mph!!!



After we got back to the dealer, there was nothing else to do but pick up my paperwork (marked "unable to duplicate problem") and leave with my tail between my legs.



I was told over and over "if there is a problem, it will set a code".



No code... No problem... No dealer responsibility.



My truck runs poorly, and I am stuck with it.



I am just sick thinking about my options: live with it and be disgusted, or sell/trade it and take a financial beating.



This is ironic because I specifically shied away from buying trucks from the competition because each brand seemed to have a number trucks with unsolvable driveablity quirks. I thought I would be safer with a proven Cummins engine. What I didn't realize is that the ENGINE is proven, but the electronic engine controls are not.



Sorry for the long post.





Bob

 

[BFC]

Take it to another dealer that is willing to work with you. Don't give up on your truck 'cause of the dealer is an a$$. Do the homework(your doing it now) and find a sevice manager that's willing to listen.



My 2c,



Glenn