Dealer service is a waste of money!

[Chace TX]

I keep reading where people on this site take their pickup in to get work done at the dealership, even if it is not under warranty. Unless you have an unusually great dealer, you are getting screwed. An injector pump for example. I don't know what Dodge charges but I can go down to the local Diesel repair shop and have one installed for under (ok around) $1000. It is the same pump that Dodge will put on and it is done by a real diesel mechanic, not some high school drop out that will take 3 weeks to put the injector pump on your pickup, because it is the first one he has ever done. Most dealership mechanics are trained to replace as many parts as possible, regardless of the problem. I have logged 300k miles on Cummins powered Dodges and I have never taken one to a dealership for anything.

Aside from saving money you will have work done faster and of higher quality at a real diesel repair shop. Just my opinion, but think about how many people cuss the dealership, when all they had to do was take it somewhere else.



I realize that there are good dealerships out there, and I am sorry that the bad ones ruined it for everyone else. If you are lucky enough to have a dealership that gives a damn about your satisfaction keep going back. But that is not often the case.

 

[MikeR]

I do all my own work,but when the truck was under warranty I took it back to get things fixed,but it was like pulling teeth. My selling dealer's attempt at customer service was great in getting me in and out fast and working around my work schedule. They knew and didn't care that I had a BOMBed truck,but their "maintenance techs" were anything but mechanics. These dummies couldn't diagnose a bad flex capacitor or a fouled spark plug on my Cummins.



I agree though... if I was paying for the work,I'd take it to a guy that works on diesels all day everyday.

 

[Mr. Brewski]

WOW - Chase TX - under $1000 for a VP44? I cant even buy one outright for that price up north here. . New on for around $1400 uninstalled.

 

[Chace TX]

You can buy them here cheaper than that.

I just called the only diesel injection service shop in town. Out the door $1095, for me. For my mechanic buddy try $935. He has gotten some for under $900, from other suppliers. These are rebuilds, but they come from Bosch. Call DIS in Lubbock, they might be able to beat these prices, who knows.

 

[John Berger]

Where can I get my spark plug

That might explain why I can't get more HP out of just my EZ and injectors The muffler bearings are OK, but just not quite delivering what I expected. Seriously, I will go to my dealer as long as I'm under warranty and probably after as long as the present service manager and personnel stay put. I won't buy parts from them, however. Chrysler parts are just to expensive compared to other sources.

 

[fj40charles]

Well said... Generally speaking most warranty work is very bad because the mechanic does not paid for the full amount for the work as someone coming in to pay for repairs. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why your warranty repairs takes forever. Dorf or Phord is not any better. Those phord boys complain about the same problem on their website.



Charles

 

[danandamy]

Chace, you must be talking about Angelo Injection Service. We do some business with them. Great bunch of guys, in my experience.

Hey, you need to get free and come to the Texas Rally at the end of September!

 

[RJOL]

Dealer Service

A large portion of a dealer's income is directly related to service and repair..... That's why you pay about four times their cost for parts, and $69 p/h for labor.....



The only time I ever go to a dealer is for warranty work, and if I had a choice, I wouldn't even do that!!!

 

[Mr. Brewski]

Chase TX - the ~$1400 cost here was for brand new. (H&H Diesel, Fife WA)



I dont work for H&H - but have had work done there. They do good work.