Blown engine & denied warranty, NO MODS

[SKneeland]

im writing on behalf of a friend that is not a tdr member as a favor to him & to satisfy my own curiosity



2003 6speed NO ENGINE MODS WHATSOEVER, ample mileage remaining on warranty (no sure on exact #s). engine was smoking all the time (blue smoke during & following startup, etc. ). loss of power & running rough. heavy oil consumption



after several complaints to DC they agreed to an oil analysis and had him do an oil consumption log for a couple weeks. after completing the log they tore down the engine.

Their conclusion:

dust got in the engine and it needs a complete rebuild. DC will not warranty the rebuild as they dont cover dust in the engine!

they now insist that he pays them $7000 to rebuild the engine or a couple thousand to put it back the way it was and will not release the truck to him until he at least pays for the dissasembly labor.



he contacted the DC customer service line as was told once the truck is flagged by a dealer, that is the final word on its status and will not be re-evaluated.



this is the second case i know of personally in my area (the other one ive been told the owner dropped the truck off at the dealer and put a stop payment on his lease after getting nowhere with legal means)



after inspecting several other 2003+ engines i have noticed dust and dirt residue in the intake system downstream of the airbox (i believe due to a faulty design) IF DC HAS A POORLY DESIGNED AIRBOX SHORTENING THEIR ENGINE LIFE SHOULDNT THEY COVER IT!?!?



anyone else out there with the same problem or know of a legal precident being set on the owners behalf??

 

[john3976]

DC strikes again, it seems all of those with one hundred percent stock trucks can start to worry as it looks like DC has taken the stance that once you have signed the papers and drive the truck off the lot you have just become your own warranty station.



How about it DC supporters, how do you defend DC on these cases, and what will you do if your truck ends up like these?

 

[john3976]

Here is very powerful statement about Dodge denying warranty on Cummins epuiped Rams:



http://thepowershop.com/index.php?pr=Wingprayer2

 

[john3976]

DC losses in court:



http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=443019

 

[klenger]

If this situation is true, then we DO have reason for concern as Dodge does NOT recommend removing the air filter to check for dirt in the filter. Their recommended service calls for changing the filter ONLY if the filter minder shows high restriction, and we all know how well the filter minder works.



I suppose the next issue will be Dodge not providing warranty because of low oil pressure, which we should have seen on the oil pressure gauge. Right.

 

[Coolslice]

Now, where are all those people who are always standing up for good ol' honest DC when it comes to warranty claims??

 

[NDanecker]

Now, where are all those people who are always standing up for good ol' honest DC when it comes to warranty claims??

{cricket, cricket}



I had my share if dealer/dc issues. THEIR WARRANTY IS WORTH LESS THEN THE PAPER ITS PRINTED ON - PERIOD!!!

 

[swexlin]

NJT, I remember when you had your issues. Except for gauges, my truck is TOTALLY stock, and will stay that way (except for a replacement muffler when the stocker rusts out, which it looks like it will do in about another year).



When my CP3 went, I LITERALLY had to drag the tech under the truck, and physically stick his finger on the diesel fuel which had accumulated. The service manager INSISTED there was no leak under the truck, even though there were drops visible on the ground. THEN they saw my gauges, and I told them I was stock. ONLY then did they call STAR, and get authorization to replace the pump.



That is why I have my dealer do EVERYTHING on my truck, INCLUDING changing the air filter and fuel filter. I have it documented on the service receipts.



BY the way, my stock airbox fits together poorly. You can see the orange gasket on the filter. That has always made me nervous from when the truck was new.

 

[KParsons]

lift pump

john, that was the most well thought out and written story on the lift pump problems. everyone inc. dealers should read this. and wake up. this looks like a class action remedy. kp

 

[rbattelle]

What the heck is going on around here? We're seeing a rash of engine-killing dirt!



I'm at 60k now on only Mopar air filters (3 of them, actually). I've had my intake plumbing apart and found no dirt in it. There was a very fine dust on the impeller blades, but I didn't worry about it.



-Ryan

 

[NDanecker]

Hello SWexlin! Good to hear from you again. Hope all is well!!!



My truck has over 60k now and getting close to the 70k mark. I've made many mods to it and thank God no issues as of late! Most of the warranty issues I had was when the truck was stock and was fairly new. Since then I've made some changes..... and I'm sure the warranty is voided even though a dealer hasn't officially documented it as such - so be it! Knock on wood that every repair I did hasn't been a major repair costing more then what I could pay out of pocket.



Stories like this one where DC denies service to a stock truck... although not verified if authentic (no official letter from DC or other)... I feel do happen and they shouldn't. DC is in the business to turn a profit. I understand that. Its just a shame that they have to resort to what I see as unethical business decisions to make a buck & stay in business. If they would build better trucks and stand BEHIND their vehicles 100% (and I mean all their vehicles. Ever hear of the crap some owners are going thru with Intrepids???) I believe they'd do better in the long run…. and probably save a few jobs in the process. But…. . what do I know.



I swore to NEVER own another Jap car again even though they do build some excellent trucks that last, last, and last! I've heard numerous stories of Toyota's going 200 - 300k miles with nothing done except oil, brakes and tires. I could have purchased what…. 3 or 4 Toyota's for the price of my Dodge. And get better gas mileage (I know…lets see the Tacoma tow 14k#). My brother has a Tacoma that is just about to break the 300k mark with the stock clutch, alternator, water pump…etc. All the things you'd think that should go by then. No work other then routine maintenance has been done to the truck - even has the stock U-joints (HA).



Anyway, I just like you and many other people here paid some serious hard earned cash for these trucks and I'm sure we all feel these vehicles should last longer, pull harder, and outrun the competition for miles to come. I'd be happy if I could just get into my truck from day to day and just have it work…. just like its suppose to and not have BS issues with u-joints, lift pumps, A/C compressors, window regulators……. . what was this thread about again????

 

[MCummings]

after inspecting several other 2003+ engines i have noticed dust and dirt residue in the intake system downstream of the airbox (i believe due to a faulty design) IF DC HAS A POORLY DESIGNED AIRBOX SHORTENING THEIR ENGINE LIFE SHOULDNT THEY COVER IT!?!?

It's called "dusting", and if they are like Ford, no they won't.



Kind of a South Park state of mind... DC sez. . "Screw you guys, I'm goin' home".



Merrick

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Sniff sniff sniff... ... ... I smell a K&N airfilter. LOL Sorry I had to say it! Just being a goof.





I am also one of the guys who has a good dealership and I let them do everything. Change my oil, airfilters, diff fluid, rotate tires, EVERYTHING the maintenannce schedule says. Never ever had a warranty problem. Coincidence?

 

[klenger]

It'd be cheaper to be my own warranty station than to pay the dealer to change my air filter, fuel filter, and rotate tires.

 

[john3976]

It'd be cheaper to be my own warranty station than to pay the dealer to change my air filter, fuel filter, and rotate tires.

My dealer wants $150 just to change the rear end lube, I do it myself instead, saves a ton of money and I know the job is done right the first time.



I remember back when labor rates were only $18. 00 dollars an hour in the dealerships and the labor rate was split 50/50 with the tech, now you are lucky to find one at $65. 00 dollars an hour and the techs are lucky to make $12. 00 to $15. 00 dollars an hour.



Most dealers in my area are now in the $80. 00 to $90. 00 dollar an hour range.

 

[sag2]

Most of the "dusted" engines are from aftermarket air filters that have not been maintained properly. The stock filter will suck itself in and leak if it is also not maintained properly. A diesel has no throttle plate to limit the amount of air entering the engine. It is drawing massive amounts of air and if the stock (or any other filter) filter gets plugged with dirt or debris, it will pull a vacuum strong enough to collapse the filter. Most times the driver should notice a marked decrease in performance before it gets bad enough to suck the filter in.

The bottom line is it is still a maintenance item, and why should DC pay for an owner who does not maintain his filters properly. I would love to hear about anyone who sucked in a filter that was OEM quality, or was not plugged beyond it's useful limits.

 

[DPKetchum]

Was at a D. C. dealer near the house the other day. They had a truck come in for a recall. They looked it over. Needed a air filter. Customer denied. Truck towed in a few days later with a bad noise. Customer installed a new Purolater air filter. It had collased and was sucked into the turbo. Wanted assistance on repair etc. Denied.

 

[SKneeland]

Most of the "dusted" engines are from aftermarket air filters that have not been maintained properly. The stock filter will suck itself in and leak if it is also not maintained properly. A diesel has no throttle plate to limit the amount of air entering the engine. It is drawing massive amounts of air and if the stock (or any other filter) filter gets plugged with dirt or debris, it will pull a vacuum strong enough to collapse the filter. Most times the driver should notice a marked decrease in performance before it gets bad enough to suck the filter in.

The bottom line is it is still a maintenance item, and why should DC pay for an owner who does not maintain his filters properly. I would love to hear about anyone who sucked in a filter that was OEM quality, or was not plugged beyond it's useful limits.

i swear DC pays people to troll these boards to spread sunshine and blow smoke up our *****... .



On a serious note, if the filterminder says its clean, its clean by DC standards...

 

[DPKetchum]

Come now. I could care if there was a filter minder. Most I guess would be too LAZY to LOOK or not using a facilty for regular maintance that DOES try to up sell which requires LOOKING.

 

[SKneeland]

the point i was trying to make was

a: its not sucking in(imploding) the filter

b: its sucking dirt/dust past the badly designed airbox seals(ANY sign of dust downstream of the airbox is not a good omen)

c: i dont care if you do or dont have a filterminder & ive never gone by mine either, BUT from a DC perspective IF IT SHOWS A CLEAN FILTER THEN THERES NO REASON TO CHECK IT (which is beside the original point of this thread anyway, the filters were clean and replaced in a manner which EXCEEDS any schedule that DC has)



anyone else that wishes to dispute the fact that the engine was maintained regularely can stow it.



Its not right that they can extort you into using them for any maintenence that you pay for out of your own pocket, nor to hold it against you because you have either twisted your own wrenches or paid a cheaper MORE CAPABLE facility to change your oil etc.



the day DC starts including FREE service work for the life of the warranty is the day i will let them change my oil...