Before you buy one read this!!!!!

[bighammer]

I probably will after reading the rest of the replies. I figured something else would come up and make it worthwhile. Maybe that and the alternator bracket are worth the trip.

 

[JKibby]

Originally posted by Yo Hoot

Jim,



Thanks for the advice. Fortunately mine doesn't seem to be as bad as yours.



Yo Hoot,



Thanks, but it is not mine anymore, it's Chrysler's! I hoping with as many problems as my truck had it will be given to the R&D guys and and they can solve these problems! Kinda like what Boeing does when there developing a plane. They just trash it, testing it weakness. The only problems I did'nt have were the "Death Wobble" or loose #1 injector.



Jim

 

[radar doctor]

Bad Deal

Hope this gets resolved soon...

 

[thejeepdude]

I wonder if this "new" AAM problem coincides with the bad MPG problem. Something like an overly tight gearset or other drivetrain problem, front or rear, could cause a drone/vibe/and bad MPG. It seems lately the % of 04. 5's with crappy mileage and the axle noise is going down... like they've possibly fixed part of the problem on the assembly line but don't know how to address it on the trucks already in the public. Or maybe it's all just luck.

 

[DocDetonancour]

Has there been a survey on this problem? I know several 03/04 CTD owners and none have mentioned a vibration or poor mpg?

 

[Turbo Kidd]

I have an 03 HO Cummins Crew Cab Short Bed, Automatic with a 373 rear-end..... I have never had any vibration issues. In fact, the faster I go the smoother it seems to be!!! I have had my truck pinned and I usually run aroung 80 MPH on the road (I know I'm going to get a ticket sooner or later... Oh well!). I will say this... . My so called Anti-Spin rear-end sucks! I average about 13. 5 around the city (Chicago... Lots of stop and go) and about 17-19 on the Highway. I'm very happy with the economy..... I previously had two V-10's, so I would be happy with 12 on the road. . Hee Hee LOL! Good luck guys, I know it sucks. I had many issues with my Ford F-250 SD. That is why I switched to Dodge. So far so good.

 

[JJudy]

I had this vibration problem on my 03' and took it to the dealer. The result was a bad torque converter and they replaced it under warranty. The truck ran smooth as glass afterwards. Seems there was a bad weld on the converter.



Good Luck.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I have now read of two that have been fixed. Both by replacing the transfer case.

 

[Flores]

Mine is about to turn 10k. Not one drivability issue(knock on wood). No vibrations average fuel mileage. I purchased late october and was upset to find out a month or so later about the 04. 5. The more I drive my truck the more I like it!!Ca dually qc 4x4. Good luck and keep us posted!!

 

[JBeyer]

This is my first post. I have a 04. 5 600 Auto 2X4 SWB. I have not felt a vibration, plus I am getting 16 mpg in town. I have the 3. 73 11. 5" Rear. I am at about 1750 miles.



Joe

 

[PCline]

Man this makes me mad! I went through the same thing, and I know exactly how you feel. In fact, my truck may be one of the fixed trucks you are talking about.



Make your dealer take the scientific approach!



I'm an Engineer so I asked the dealer if they had a vibration analyzer (it's a device with one or more accelerometers and a FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) analyzer). The service manager stared me in the face and said 'NO'. However, one of the mechanics standing in the back of bay overheard me and said "yeah, we got one of those". To this day I believe the service manager knew they had one but also knew that vibration problems can be a can of worms, so he didn't want to deal with it.



After I convinced them to put it on my truck (located on the trasfer case near the rear output) we got a reading of about 50 Hz and 1. 2 G's. We then put the analyzer on a different truck and also got 50 Hz but only . 17 G's (don't remember if these numbers are exactly right but they are in my old threads). Anyway the dealer said "see, they're the same... your tuck is fine, big trucks just vibrate. " I argued with them till I was blue in the face that the G level was waaaay out of bed on my truck. But they just kept looking at the frequency and telling me everything was the same.



BUT that 50 hz, which equals 3100 rpm told me something very important. Whatever was causing the vibration was turning 3100 rpm at 70 mph. That doesn't leave much. The output of the transmission, the transfer case, and the driveline.



In my case the driveline angles were wrong and I fixed it myself. Dealer claimed they checked the angles NOT! Also, believe it or not, but the manual is actually WRONG. It the mechanic follows the manual exactly when adjusting angles he well accomplish NOTHING!



Hang in there Hoot and don't give up. PM me if you want some of the info I have or if you want to talk on the phone.



Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that a good resource is the best 4X4 shop you find close to you. Someone that does lots of high quality lifts. They deal with vibration and driveline angles all the time.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Mine is smooth as well but it has the steale drive shaft. Later they went to aluminum shafts and they can flex at higher RPM's. The fix was to either replace them or install a shrink wrapped sleeve over them that acts as a stiffener.

 

[thejeepdude]

Originally posted by PCline

In my case the driveline angles were wrong and I fixed it myself. Dealer claimed they checked the angles NOT! Also, believe it or not, but the manual is actually WRONG. It the mechanic follows the manual exactly when adjusting angles he well accomplish NOTHING!

So did you just rotate the axle? How exactly did you adjust your driveline angle? Did you have to re-shim the spring pack? What does the FSM errantly instruct the tech to do that is wrong? I deal with driveline vibe issues all the time on my Jeep but it's got coils in the rear and I just adjust the control arms to fix the pinion angle.

 

[willyslover]

Hoot. . very sorry after all the harrassing back and forth between the camps and now you have a CTD and this is your "gift". . hang in there after this is resolved you'll be a happy camper . . if this is resolved

 

[PCline]

jeepdude,



I had to do two things to fix my driveline angles. First, I rotated the axle using a steel angled shim I bought at a 4X4 shop. You can see pictures of the shim and installation process in my gallery. Second, I had to lower the center support bearing. My truck is a longbed 4X4 with a two piece rear driveline.



The manual is wrong because it shows the wrong yoke for making the measurements at the transfer case. It shows the driveline yoke instead of the t-case yoke. If a mechanic measured the three yokes pictured and rotated the axle to make the angles match the angle coming out of the t-case could be totally wrong.



I put a picture of what's in the manual in this thread . The system won't let me post it again here. At least not that I can figure out.



I just realized that I put the picture of the manual in my gallery also.

 

[Steve M]

Originally posted by JJudy

I had this vibration problem on my 03' and took it to the dealer. The result was a bad torque converter and they replaced it under warranty. The truck ran smooth as glass afterwards. Seems there was a bad weld on the converter.



Good Luck.

I had the power steering hose replaced and that took care of the 2100rpm drone. I'm thinking torque converter too. I can rev mine in park to 2700rpm and it vibrates enough to blur the mirrors.

The mechanic at the dealership I bought it from said they all do that... .

I too bought mine without driving it first. I found it on the internet and had it delivered to the local dealership. Based on the last three Dodge/Cummins trucks, I assumed this one would be flawless too. I'll never do that again.

 

[jimnance]

I guess I have been lucky. No vibration at all. I do find that the AAM axle is a bit noisier than the Dana units. I suppose you could call it a howl, but it is not very loud. I didn't notice it at all until the posts about the noisy rear ends.

 

[klenger]

I do find that the AAM axle is a bit noisier than the Dana units.

... or the engine is so much quieter that you can hear it.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Originally posted by willyslover

Hoot. . very sorry after all the harrassing back and forth between the camps and now you have a CTD and this is your "gift". . hang in there after this is resolved you'll be a happy camper . . if this is resolved

I learned a lot being brand loyal. I'm no longer as concerned about what I drive, just as long as I'm comfortable with it. Thankfully mine isn't unbearable but i will be pushing big time for a fix. If we are all luck a TSB will come out as promised. I can drive it fine. It's just a little annoying at 70 .

 

[jungledave]

Originally posted by Yo Hoot

The 70 MPH VIBRATION is a real turnoff.



My truck is basically brand new. Had it 2 weeks and 1000 miles.



Took it in for 70 drivetrain vibration.



They told me they can't do anything about it and Chrysler is working on the issue.



I am fuming. Brand new truck



Don't buy one unless you drive it at 70 mph and you're satisfied. There are a lot of them out there like this.



Here's the other kicker...



They told me they can't test drive it cause 70 is over the speed limit around the area.



Again... ... before you take it, test drive it. Dealer service has been a nightmare. On dealer won't fix it and the other won't work on it cause i didn't buy it there and none will test drive it.



I'm basically stuck and at the wim of Chrysler. I'm making the calls and have it file setup. Customer assistance says... try another dealer.

Besides going 70, make sure the road is really smooth asphalt and that will really bring out the drone. Don't be afraid to put 20 or 30 miles on it. If the dealer doesn't like it go to another. A dealer in Limon CO. let me drive my first 02 diesel for an hour by myself. I made the mistake of test driving my 04 for only about ten miles and 55 MPH; I missed the drone. If only I had found an interstate.