Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Attention Bombers: TSB 14-002-02

[jerryrigg]

Just found this TSB dated 1 July, 2002. DC is looking for signs of Bombing.



http://dodgeram.org/tech/tsb/2002/14-002-02.htm

 

[KatDiesel]

Nothing new... ... ... . we've "known" for years they look for the injection pump wire to be tampered with.



"I am my own warrenty station" .



If your not prepared for that then stay stock.



(not directed at anyone in particular)



Thanks for posting this for those that may not know tho.

 

[zimman20]

This is what prevents a lot of us from doing anything that isn't 'plug and play' like the PE EZ, that is easily removable before service from DC, at least until we hit the magic 100k.



Wonder why Dodge had time/energy to post this TSB and not one on premature failure of the LP and its impact on premature failure of the VP44? Guess they'll plead the 5th on that one.





zman

 

[MikeR]

Yup, I am my own warranty station! My wire's are aren't pierced... I soldered the dang thing on permenant!



I cannot for the life of me understand why someone would wait for 100k miles if they have a desire for more power. The way I see it, what's the diference between killing it now or later... you're going to be paying for it out of your own pocket either way, why not just have the fun now. Why wait that long just to find out you have a pump that wouldn't have taken the extra juice anyway.



If it takes on average 5 years to put 100k on a rig, I'd be bored with that stock power long before the 5 years are up, I'd sell the dang thing off or trade in when the next model comes out.



-Mike

 

[Sky]

You got it Mike!

 

[zimman20]

I hear ya, Mike. However, the problem is that I have a warranty that may be voided by DC due to mods EVEN IF the mods had nothing to do with the failure. I know they're NOT supposed to do this, but the fight will be mine to prove otherwise and I just don't have the time or energy to fight them. Therefore, in order to make sure I get every dime out of DC for warranty work, both the base and the extended that I bought, I'll have to bite the bullet and wait until the warranty is up before I make mad mods on my truck. I can live with that, hopefully these are my long-term wheels so I'll have plenty of time to modify on my dime!



If DC didn't play games with the warranty this wouldn't be an issue... ...



zman

 

[Bob Cochran]

zimman20 ~ Same as I am doing. Bet there are a lot of others too.

 

[JCockrell]

I waited....

But it only took me 3 years to get to 100K. I finally added the SPA gauges. Jason Bosel Mallory mount and BHAF in the garage ready to be installed. Oh, I almost forgot, EZ is there too. :-laf



"The waiting is the hardest part" More time to save up for the Bombs.

 

[zimman20]

There ya go!



In the meantime, like I said, DC will have to perfom the warranty work on my vehicle. Hopefully by 100k the bugs will be worked out, and I'll just have to keep a supply of LP's in my garage for swap-out every other oil change!



Gotta tell ya it'll be nice NOT to have to worry about what they might see when I bring it in for service after I hit 100k!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

*I* bought my truck to use FULLY - and enjoy - NOW, TODAY - not 2 years or 10 years down the road!



Knowing I was going to make power mods, I didn't buy any extended warranty - figured the stock warranty would quickly be worthless... I probably would have been wiser to wait 6 months or so for any of the more serious problems to surface - but right NOW is prime RV season - NEXT season is a year away!



Installing the Comp on my truck essentially VOIDS the warranty on my entire drivetrain - extra power can as easily damage (in DC's eyes) the differential as it will the VP44 and engine - I fully accept that fact - and the responsibility to PAY for repairs DC refuses. NO, I don't like it - but it IS a fact of life - and if *I* was a manufacturer, I would probably have the same view and policy DC does. Sure, if I do have problems, I'll at least TRY to get DC involved, without frantically pulling out all traces of my mods - but with the full expectation I alone will be ultimately responsible for repair/replacement expenses...



I want to PLAY, so I'm prepared to PAY if necessary - it was my choice, not DC's...

 

[zimman20]

Gary- Fair enough. To each their own.



In the meantime, {Just as an example} we KNOW that these LP's are failing WITHOUT any mods, there was a poll recently that bore this out. Shouldn't DC have to replace them no questions asked when they fail? Or should they be allowed to use any excuse to bail out on warranty repairs at 400. 00 (their price, 140. 00 from Cummins) each time an LP fails?



Again, the above is just an example, obviously the crazier the mods the term 'my own warranty station' comes into play. That's fair enough. My point is that minor mods (including the EZ, by itself) should not be enough to break things on this truck, nor used as a sledgehammer by DC to void or deny warranty coverage when something breaks.



As you know there are other examples of DC using their sledgehammer to deny coverage on broken stuff due to mods that have no impact on those broken parts.



I think common sense would rule and you'd know when you'd crossed that line from minor bombs to major bombs and becoming your own warranty station. I am not willing to cross that line because I am willing to bet that things are going to break that are NOT part of any mods I might have done and DC will deny me coverage. I'm not willing to take that chance because they won't even change the LP out which they KNOW is a problem part, with or without mods, why would I have faith that they would honor my warranty for any mods I make that shouldn't have anything to do with failures (unless they can prove it). Again, the onus would be on me to prove my mods DID NOT cause the failure and I don't have the time or energy to fight them. I have a regular job, and they have deeper pockets. I know it can be done in small claims court but I don't have that kind of time, who does? I'm paying for this truck!! .



I respect your right to tell DC to take a flying leap and BOMB to your hearts content; I am NOT willing to let them get out of warranty coverage as they'd likely attempt to do if I made the mods I wanted to, whether or not their denial of coverage was 'fair' or 'right'.





zman

 

[Bob Cochran]

Amen to you both. Isn't living in the good ol USA wonderful. Both are right for differnt reasons. AWESOME!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The vast majority of what zman wrote is right on target - and reinforces my decision to simply go ahead and knowingly shoulder the responsibility for the mods I wanted to make anyway. Most of us know first hand, or have heard examples of dealers (ALL makes!) denying warranty service for the flimsiest of reasons. THAT being the case, I figure, why fight it?



Just go ahead and do my thing, chances are, I'm no worse off warranty-wise than before my mods - and THIS way, I get to enjoy them NOW, not when the elusive fantasy of a "warranty" expires!

 

[RKohn]

5K and bombs away...

but it looks like I've gotta load up with a new lift pump first. Maybe they'll throw in a new injection pump too.

 

[THancock]

All you guys worried about warranty service, and waiting to BOMB. Why not just get an EZ and have some fun and power too? If ya need warranty work, unplug it and pull into the ol' dealer service stall. They'll never know.

 

[Dave MacArthur]

I am by no means a supporter of D/C and their inconsistent, nonsensical warranty policies. I was going to have them change my tire size in my PCM so that my speedometer/ABS etc would work correctly. I have 255/85's. Not really much different from stock. The service manager let me know that he would have to put a note on my VIN # that would void my entire drivetrain warranty if they worked on my truck. He was told to check for oversize tires and enter that in the computer from now on. In other words, deny coverage without looking into the specifics of the situation and let them sue us. On the other hand, D/C is perfectly justified in this TSB. It's obvious that fueling boxes can and do burn up pumps. Remember the people that turned 5x5 on for the first time and burned their pump on the first WOT? D/C sold us the truck with a certain HP and warranty and we bought it like that. On the other hand, they shouldn't let their dealers install fueling enhancements (pre-delivery) and provide coverage for those people either. Either it is or it ain't!



Zimman20-



I don't think your entire argument holds water. There is no difference in warranty coverage between a "little (ez)" enhancement and a "big" enhancement. They both could void your warranty. Once again, rightly so in the case of the fuel pumps at least. I don't know if you are aware of this or not, but D/C has used info off this site to deny warranty coverage (as in the fact that you stated you have an EZ). There was a whole bunch of discussion about this a while ago. They had one guy's printouts from the site when they told him he was on his own after a piston burned up . That's when a lot of people started hiding their signature line. D/C probably downloads and archives everything on the site on a daily basis . Hey, that gives me an idea. Steve, instead of spending all that dough on RAID this and Backup that, just call D/C if the site crashes and restore from their server!!



Dave.