Dealer wants to replace 6.7 transmission case

[JesseMiller]

I have a 2008 2500 45k on it. the transmission has leaked from day one from the selector shaft. Its been replaced several times and even the shaft itself. Now the dealer wants to replace the transmission cases they say their is probably a problem with the machining on mine. I'm concerned for this seems like it is probably to big of a task for the dealer a transmission is a complex thing.

Any thoughts.

Thanks.

 

[Bob4x4]

The dealer tech who will be doing the repair must have obtained a level 4 certification in trans repair in order for the shop to be paid by corporate

 

[dclassens]

as it stands i have 16 certs in auto and truck I would agree with the OP that this is not just a run of the mill task. Something that the dealership, let alone the tech there has probably NEVER DONE. If it were my new truck with thousands into it, I would want reman by professional trans group or new mopar trans. I would bet a 12 pack that if the dealership does what they want, it will never be the same.

 

[Bob4x4]

So you are saying that a factory worker who builds a reman trans that has never repaired one is better than a tech that fixes them ???



I see reman trans that are junk right off the pallet

With out knowing the tech you may have some questions but there is a cost factor that corporate uses to decide what will be done... ... ... end of story

 

[Bob4x4]

as it stands i have 16 certs in auto and truck I would agree with the OP that this is not just a run of the mill task. Something that the dealership, let alone the tech there has probably NEVER DONE. If it were my new truck with thousands into it, I would want reman by professional trans group or new mopar trans. I would bet a 12 pack that if the dealership does what they want, it will never be the same.

The tech would have built a trans in class and depending on the area he works in most likely at work also... ... ... ... ... .

Dealer haters

 

[Cosmo]

I "borrowed" the special tools kit for the 45/545/68rfe from our Dodge franchise back in February. They haven't missed it yet, and judging by the amount of dust and lack of fingerprints on the case it hadn't been moved since the early 2000s.

I wouldn't count on your local dealership techs having much practice rebuilding these things. For the first few years of production Chrysler doesn't even let you crack the case, from what I've been told.

However, a transmission is a transmission - if they've worked on any of the rfe transmissions, they're familiar enough. I'd rather have a 30 year transmission veteran who has never seen an RFE trans rebuild mine versus some relative new guy who went to the 68rfe class. I'm not sure how Dodge is, but Subaru's auto trans classes are 2 days each.

 

[Bob4x4]

Most techs have their own special tools in their box. This allows the dealer to show corporate they have all the essential tools on hand when they do their inspections

 

[JesseMiller]

Thanks guys i appreciate the input i just dont have much faith in dealers they get paid book time and just want it done and out the door. Then if their is a problem what will they do.

 

[Cosmo]

Most techs have their own special tools in their box. This allows the dealer to show corporate they have all the essential tools on hand when they do their inspections

Are you a tech?



Most techs don't buy special tools that they don't use all the time. Are you familiar with how expensive special tools are? I tried to get my boss to buy a piston ring compressor for an engine I was building (my co-worker's universal band-type was broken) and we looked it up... $495 for a chunk of tapered cad-plated aluminum. No dice.



Here's a link to some of the RFE tools:



Automotive Specialty Tools - Chrysler 45RFE / 545RFE



$530-ish excluding the pressure test adapters, add another $650 for those.



I am a tech, and I work a couple of doors down from our Dodge shop, and I know they don't have anyone rebuilding transmissions. It's less time consuming for the general techs to just sell a crate transmission.

 

[JesseMiller]

I wish they would just replace it but i guess dodge feels the parts and labor are cheaper then replacing the whole thing. In the end i feel like i'm really gonna get the short end of the stick here. I am out of warranty the only reason why they are doing it is because they replaced the shaft less then a year ago so i think this is their last try.

 

[HBarlow]

I didn't know that a dealership auto transmission tech had to be Level IV certified. That is new information for me and good news.

If that's the case you should be able to relax and be confident. I believe the Dodge certification program is meaningful and Level IV is the peak of their training and certification program.

Someone else posted recently, perhaps that was Bob also, that as a part of their improved financial management and specifically warranty cost management, Chrysler-Dodge-STAR is now requiring dealership techs to have formal training in order for the dealer to receive warranty reimbursement for repairs done.

To improve your own sense of confidence you might talk to the service manager, politely express your concerns, and ask if the transmission tech is, in fact, Level IV certified and if you can visit with him a minute and see his certificates.

 

[mwilson]

I didn't know that a dealership auto transmission tech had to be Level IV certified. That is new information for me and good news.



If that's the case you should be able to relax and be confident. I believe the Dodge certification program is meaningful and Level IV is the peak of their training and certification program.



Someone else posted recently, perhaps that was Bob also, that as a part of their improved financial management and specifically warranty cost management, Chrysler-Dodge-STAR is now requiring dealership techs to have formal training in order for the dealer to receive warranty reimbursement for repairs done.



To improve your own sense of confidence you might talk to the service manager, politely express your concerns, and ask if the transmission tech is, in fact, Level IV certified and if you can visit with him a minute and see his certificates.

I would prefer the brand new case with my stuff in it compared to a rebuilt whatever from Dodge.

Your mileage is low, your internals should be great.





As I have said before, if we want to get paid for warranty the tech has to be certified for that repair.

Somebody is at one class or another all of the time.

Sounds like Dodge is on the same page now.



As far as tools we are sent the tooling each year and have to pay for it. No questions or arguments. Also have to accept and pay for a mandatory parts order that is worth thousands of dollars. All part of being a dealer.



If you want to work on Detroit Diesel for example, the tools come every year and the techs have to maintain the G2 training.



Again it sounds like Dodge is on that train as well.



Go with the case if they indeed have a level 4 tech on staff.



JMHO.



Mike.

 

[Bill Stockard]

As far as tools we are sent the tooling each year and have to pay for it. No questions or arguments. Also have to accept and pay for a mandatory parts order that is worth thousands of dollars. All part of being a dealer.



If you want to work on Detroit Diesel for example, the tools come every year and the techs have to maintain the G2 training.



Again it sounds like Dodge is on that train as well.



Go with the case if they indeed have a level 4 tech on staff.



JMHO.



Mike.

It's the same with an International truck dealer. Thousands of dollars of tools and mandatory parts are automatically shipped to and charged directly to the dealer's open account. As Mike correctly wrote... no yes, maybe, or no... no choice. If a dealer refuses to buy the tools and mandatory parts and/or send techs to service school, there is no reimbursement for warranty work... no exceptions! If a dealer refuses, he'll be out of business shortly. It's been that way for years. I know since I've been on both sides... as a district factory rep and in dealer retail sales.



I'm glad to see it's finally coming to the auto industry.



Bill

 

[Cosmo]

I don't think we were suggesting that the dealership didn't have the special tools...

Someone said that techs have them in their toolbox, which is generally not true unless they're doing the job over and over again. Our Dodge shop doesn't currently have the tools, since I borrowed them and they're still sitting in our shop. It's more of an experiment at this point, how long until one of their techs actually cracks open an RFE trans and comes looking for the tools...

 

[rscurtis]

Stihl is the same way. You have to be current in their training in order to get warranty reimbursement at your full shop labor rate.

 

[mwilson]

I don't think we were suggesting that the dealership didn't have the special tools...



Someone said that techs have them in their toolbox, which is generally not true unless they're doing the job over and over again. Our Dodge shop doesn't currently have the tools, since I borrowed them and they're still sitting in our shop. It's more of an experiment at this point, how long until one of their techs actually cracks open an RFE trans and comes looking for the tools...

My point was in the truck business if they sent the tools to the dealer there is at least one tech certified in the use of those tools at that dealership or they would not have been sent.

I am hoping that Dodge has come to or is coming around to that way of thinking.



Mike.

 

[Bob4x4]

I don't think we were suggesting that the dealership didn't have the special tools...



Someone said that techs have them in their toolbox, which is generally not true unless they're doing the job over and over again. Our Dodge shop doesn't currently have the tools, since I borrowed them and they're still sitting in our shop. It's more of an experiment at this point, how long until one of their techs actually cracks open an RFE trans and comes looking for the tools...

:-laf:-laf

I have been in this industry for 3 decades... ..... it is in deed generally true good techs have the special tools they need in their tool box.

Your particular delaership may indeed be a hole in the wall with no customers so they would not need any tools either.

 

[RMcKenna]

Is that the same level 4 certified tech that changed your steering wheel under warranty and put it back on off center or is it the same level 4 tech that changed your front unit bearing and left the abs wire pinched so the roter could cut it in half. I could put a level 4 patch on my uniform but that don't make me a transmission builder

 

[Cosmo]

:-laf:-laf

I have been in this industry for 3 decades... ..... it is in deed generally true good techs have the special tools they need in their tool box.

Your particular delaership may indeed be a hole in the wall with no customers so they would not need any tools either.

The tools they need...



MOST techs aren't trans techs, they don't rebuild transmissions on a regular basis, and they don't drop $500+ on tools they'll use once in a while when there is a kit sitting on the shelf.



Yup. We're a hole in the wall with only enough business to keep the dozen or so techs busy. The reality is that they just don't work on these transmissions much... more of a statement to the reliability of the trans.

Is that the same level 4 certified tech that changed your steering wheel under warranty and put it back on off center or is it the same level 4 tech that changed your front unit bearing and left the abs wire pinched so the roter could cut it in half. I could put a level 4 patch on my uniform but that don't make me a transmission builder

Exactly. I know "master certified technicians" with over a decade of experience who are total hacks. Certifications don't really mean anything - just like the credentials your real estate agent might have. Spend money, get certifications.

 

[mwilson]

Exactly. I know "master certified technicians" with over a decade of experience who are total hacks. Certifications don't really mean anything - just like the credentials your real estate agent might have. Spend money, get certifications.

They don't "hack" at our place very long, a couple of comebacks on $25,000 dollar engines gets them out the door.



Drones show up quickly dealing with this stuff.



Any dealers, car, truck, heavy equipment, etc. have issues with help at times, sometimes the Service Manager doesn't get the right guy on the right job.



Nobody or no business is perfect. The difference is in what the dealership does to make it right.



Not all dealers and/or techs suck.



It is a shame that there have been so many negative experiences with Dodge dealers, there are some very good ones out there.



Mike.