Bad Dodge Dealership

[Black Ram Alpha]

Just picked up my 2003 Ram from Dodge Dealer In "Bakersfield CAlif," they fixed nothing I took it in for, but all they could do is pick apart my aftermarket add ons. Edge box, air intake etc. Seems like any thing they could think of to weasile out of warrenty. My advise is to "stay away" from this place as they love to sell but wesasel out of service . (problem was A/C leaks) had to take my own sniffer in and show them the leak) DER -? -Dan

 

[Sarge]

Just picked up my 2003 Ram from Dodge Dealer In "Bakersfield CAlif," they fixed nothing I took it in for, but all they could do is pick apart my aftermarket add ons. Edge box, air intake etc. Seems like any thing they could think of to weasile out of warrenty. My advise is to "stay away" from this place as they love to sell but wesasel out of service . (problem was A/C leaks) had to take my own sniffer in and show them the leak) DER -? -Dan

I understand your anger Dan, but remember the BOMB'ers mantra "I am my own warranty station". That being said, I do not agree with their decision. A leaking AC system in no way is affected by a box. Problem is, they can outlast you, and have more money for lawyers. However, when we make the conscious decision to BOMB, you have to realize that a dealer may have that attitude. Many guys on here have taken their modified trucks to their dealer and the dealer fixed it with no questions asked. The experiences differ widely. The key word in your post is "aftermarket". Some service managers are completely paranoid of anything that DC doesn't make, or install. The best advice is to try another dealer. You may find a reasonable one. Sarge

 

[p-Bar]

Interview your service dept. find out what floats their boat some are open to all the "bombs" others aren't. Be sure you talk to the serv. mgr.

The service writers will tell you what you want to hear.

 

[Mingoglia]

This is the reason to remove mods whenever possible before going to the dealer. "My own Warranty station" does not apply here. Some see this as deceitful and unlawful and as an attempt to defraud DC, but removing mods prevents crap like this. Yeah, if I blew a head gasket and removed my mods and showed up at the service writers counter with a halo over my head that is no doubt defrauding DC, but A/C? Come on!

 

[BILLUA]

This is the reason to remove mods whenever possible before going to the dealer. "My own Warranty station" does not apply here. Some see this as deceitful and unlawful and as an attempt to defraud DC, but removing mods prevents crap like this. Yeah, if I blew a head gasket and removed my mods and showed up at the service writers counter with a halo over my head that is no doubt defrauding DC, but A/C? Come on!

Agreed 100 percent. I tried to make this point under another thread, but some dudly do gooders jumped all over me. :-{}



It is Fraud for DC to not honor a warranty item that is not affected by aftermarket modifications such as is the case here.



Chers, BIll

 

[LDobie]

Removing the mods before going in wouldn't make me feel ashamed one bit. My best friend is the shop foreman at our local dealer (almost 20 years experience), and it is a crime how corporate screws the dealers and especially the mechanics on warranty work. The Flat Rate "payable time" almost always screws the mechanic, particularly on more complex problems. On the tough jobs, it often comes down to working for about half pay, as it usually takes at least twice as long as the flat rate will pay.



He has no problem in sticking it to corporate whenever they can, its a dirty business all around, from top to bottom.

 

[Mingoglia]

Agreed 100 percent. I tried to make this point under another thread, but some dudly do gooders jumped all over me. :-{}

Yep, unfortunately I've seen it many many times over the years I've been a member. There are others on this forum that are always looking for an excuse to seem witty and quoting the tired phrase "I am my own warranty station". Although many that use this have a valid point, some appear to say it just to say it. The ones that I'm referring to are the ones that quote this even when the issue at hand is the leaking seal around the drivers door, "hey, you know, you're your own warranty station, you knew that before you modded your truck"... . what does adding a pusher pump have to do with the door leaking? Why do you believe that this should make my entire warranty void? It frustrates me every time it happens as quoting this phrase adds nothing to benefit the thread... . now, like I said earlier, if someones running twins with 50lbs of boost and they bolt back on their hy-35 before going to the dealer for a blown head gasket, well, you get the idea...



Mike

 

[RJOL]

... (problem was A/C leaks) had to take my own sniffer in and show them the leak)...

You definitely need to see another dealer... If they can't even find an AC leak without your help, I would never allow them to work on my truck...

 

[MABurns]

I think there is a trend where the dealers (by way of DC HQ) are looking for ways to void the warranty. I was recently told by a service writer that because of "aftermarket modifications" I had made to my truck that they would "most likely not" cover my problem.



When I asked "what mods"?, he pointed to my dash mounted "box controller".



At first I was amused then angry and told him that there was no way possible that the addition of a Garmin GPS would void my engine warranty.



His answer, "oh I thought it was a contoller of some sort".



Needless to say I told him no thanks, I'll get someone else to work on my truck!



I do not like the way things are heading where you will have to prove you have not made any mods let alone the that the mods caused the problem!!!

 

[bighammer]

At first I was amused then angry and told him that there was no way possible that the addition of a Garmin GPS would void my engine warranty.

QUOTE]

So what kind of boost increase does the Garmin box give you? LOL

 

[JArbini]

Removing the mods before going in wouldn't make me feel ashamed one bit. My best friend is the shop foreman at our local dealer (almost 20 years experience), and it is a crime how corporate screws the dealers and especially the mechanics on warranty work. The Flat Rate "payable time" almost always screws the mechanic, particularly on more complex problems. On the tough jobs, it often comes down to working for about half pay, as it usually takes at least twice as long as the flat rate will pay.



He has no problem in sticking it to corporate whenever they can, its a dirty business all around, from top to bottom.

well that would explain the sloppy, negligent work the butchers at my dealer (chestertown chrysler jeep dodge chestertown,md) did when replacing my pitted grill under warranty. they didn't bother to even attempt removing the bug shield just used a large screwdriver to pry it off ruining the mounting plugs then had the ba{{s to tell me i'll have to go fing new ones & ruined the grill badge i handmade from a ctd fender emblem by overtightening it. no meaningful apology and 2 months later still waiting for the replacements they agreed to order. i had been holding my tongue till this happened & complained about being charged full list on accessories after buying my truck there 4 months earlier & paying for it in full. i was told they only have one pricing structure & that's full list, sorry. i don't care if these idiots are the only dodge dealer within an hour i'm never going back & my wife wants a durango... ..... won't be from them.

 

[Schrowang]

Dan,



Us owners have somehow gotten the impression that there is a big pot of warranty gold somewhere in the skies above Dodgeland. Ain't so folks. Warranty work comes out of your pocket and mine when we go to buy a new truck.



I'm not sure how Dodge's warranty system works, but I can tell you how Caterpillar's does. My dad was a Service Development Manager for a high volume Cat dealer on the east coast and part of his departments job was to write warranty claims.



That's right folks, a warranty claim has to be submitted by the dealer to the manufacturer before the dealer gets paid for the parts and the labor; and that's only if the manufacturer approves the dealer's claim. So, until the manufacturer pays off, the dealer is out the parts and labor to say nothing of the cost of investigating the claim and writing it.



My dad would sometimes say that his dealership would have upwards of $50K each month out of pocket warranty claims until Cat came through to pay them off.



Now I'm no expert on Dodge dealers and their relationship with DC, but I'd like to bet its the same everywhere; Cat, Ford, GM, Dodge, Peterbuilt, Mack, etc. , etc (maybe TommyGun can help me here). Some dealers will do the work and wait on DC to pay off, others will hang on any excuse not to do the work cause they've been burned in the past. Bottom line is they are going to be pretty damn sure that the work that they do will be paid for by DC before they do it. For warranty work there's no reward in risk.



Remember, its not the dealer that voids the warranty, its DC. Sometimes you have to fight with them to get the work done and sometimes you don't. A BOMBED truck is going to raise eyebrows in the service department when it comes in with a warranty claim.



And in the end, warranty work comes out of all of our pockets. There's no magic warranty bank account at Chase Manhattan for DC or the dealers. Labor rates go up because of unapproved local warranty work by the dealer. Truck prices go up because of warranty work paid to the dealers by DC.



I'm not on the side of the dealers, because I've had my own problems with a dealer here in NH with a gasser 1500 and two Dakota's. Fortunately I bought my truck at a dealer in Manchester and they seem to have an excellent service department.



But, I'm not on the side of the BOMBERS either. Old saying goes, "You pay to play!"



Mike

 

[TriSum]

Be sure to stay away from "Union Dodge" in Garden Grove, Ca. Not necessarily about "Bombs", but terrible service. I took my 05 in with 340 miles for a 4 whell drive light, they called said it was the switch and they had to order one. No problem, I go the next day to pick up my brand new truck, first where they pulled the dash off to get to the switch they scratched all the way down the front of the cup holder and ashtray, then put a 2" gouge in the bottom of the dash board. To top it off, there is a big grease stain on the carpet by the door sill, a greasy hand print on the passenger seat headrest and grease on the bottom of the door. Then the service manager comes out, cleans the grease, then tells me they did not scratch the dash and they won't take care of it. F**K them !!!! Stay away from Union Dodge.

Sorry for the rant.

 

[MMeier]

Wow, almost sounds like Chapman and Desert Dodge here in Vegas has competition to see who can be worse then the other!!

 

[DPKetchum]

Dealers get up front warranty money! Its in their account EVERY month based on previous past years month and money trends! Some of YOU ALL listen to that line that Dealers and Techs don't make money doing WARRANTY work. Well THEY DO if its handled and submitted correctly. LOTS of MONEY. They are also paid electronicly as SOON as claims are submitted. Decent techs get paid WELL for warranty work. D. C. is the dealers number 1 CUSTOMER.

 

[LesStallings]

Mark, I'm glad I moved out of Las Vegas. The little 5star dealership here outside of Nashville is very understanding.



While in the service department today, I saw a stock truck come in and the first question was "why don't you have a box on that thing?". Alexander Dodge absolutely understands what mechanical items are affected by a performance box, lift kit, etc. From what I have experienced and from what I have been told, they have been the best in fixing what is rightfully their responsbility to fix.

 

[sag2]

DPKetchum

The old "warranty advance payment" of the good old days is not anymore. DC pulled that a couple of years ago. Since all claims are paid immediately upon (proper) submission in DealerConnect, there was no longer a need to advance the dealer approximately 30 days average warranty payments.

Most Cummins parts are on restriction, and if they are found to be not defective upon return to the quality return center they are charged back. Especially the 2nd gen pumps that have the wires tapped into. They are charged back 100% of the time. In that case the dealer looses the total claim, or around $1800 for a 98-2002 pump.

 

[DPKetchum]

As long as the dealer has good ops and and someone processing claims daily they have no worrys about cash flo then. Any real glitch about cash flo would be on the dealer then.

 

[CMullen]

I have and continue to MOD my truck, edge box, gettig viper alarm this week along with new radio and speakers. Not tremendous but some, and I will continue.



I dont want them to pay for something I did, but i dont want them to deny a claim that I havent been responsible for, especially since DC quality on some parts leaves a bit to be desired

 

[hasselbach]

Hunter Dodge in Lancaster California so far has been very fair, even though my truck has an AFE and edge on it. It all depends on how you talk to the service writer. I am very polite, but make it known that I know probably more than most when it comes to repairs, so the upselling crap doesn't get to thick.



When I pick up the truck, I ususally give the service writer a 6 pack, telling him I appreicate his efforts to make sure my truck had no new scratches or dents.



Works so far. .