Deposit on G56 Dually, 48RE Junk in Mine

[JCBerry]

Put a deposit on G56 Dually 05. Have a 04. 5 with 48RE they cant fix and I've had it. They wont replace the truck and its been back 4 times for no converter lockup and a vibration when it does, DC wants another chance to fix it, think I'm just going to take my losses and trade it in. Last time it was in they did a converter and pump & gave it back the same way it was dropped off and said it was fine. Doesn't DC care about the reputation they are getting?? Any real comments on the G56

Jay

 

[Bertram65]

What dealer have you been taking it to?

 

[bchesley]

DTT is the answer. You will never want a six shooter if you had a built transmission. I know I will never go back to a stick. My 2000 was a 5 speed and there aint no way in heck I would do it again!!!! A built auto is a dream come true!!!



Brad

 

[bpenrod]

Not sure about your state but here in MI after so many chances to fix it they call it a lemon and you may be able to force a buy back. I'm sure it is a drawn out process but may be better than taking the hit money wise.

 

[JCleary]

I really wanted an auto, too. In fact, after seeing some dyno runs with slush boxes behind some serious hp, my next truck will be an auto.



The real problem for me (before I bought my truck) was to somehow justify spending $4k on a transmission right after spending $35k on the truck. I've blown autos before with too much hp, and didn't want to do it again on a new truck.



I bought a 6 speed and got a Kore system instead. And when my clutch gives, I'm only out about $1600.

 

[JCBerry]

Great Road Dodge is the servicing dealer. Have talked with customer care at DC or is it doesn't care and they have been less than helpfull other than telling me to fill out lemon law card and send it in. They sent a rep to evaluate, he had never driven a diesel or a 1 ton. He said truck was fine, even with a check engine light with converter code and no lockup. :-{} Checked into the lemon law _ what a joke that is _ the lawyer told me it would take 1-2 years by the time it was done and if I keep driving it they take off 1% per 1K of miles, plus attorney fees and he said they would never replace due to added legal fees none of which was guranteed to be paid for by DC. Of course we could go after DC for legal fees and mileage - just seems to risky and I need the truck not a $40K paper weight.

 

[JCBerry]

Also I'm towing a 38' travel trailer and with the last service work that was done I dont trust the transmission anymore. Loose hardware is a bad thing

 

[Matt400]

I'm just going to take my losses and trade it in.

You most likely will loose more money on the deal than a Built Auto will cost.

I know that idea rubs you wrong but its a logistics move.



The G56 worries me for strength vs what it replaced. The DMF (Dual Mass Flywheel) I think was added to help make it last and they are very expensive when its time for a clutch replacement, gotta do the flywheel too.

 

[robert4570]

Put a deposit on G56 Dually 05. Have a 04. 5 with 48RE they cant fix and I've had it. They wont replace the truck and its been back 4 times for no converter lockup and a vibration when it does, DC wants another chance to fix it, think I'm just going to take my losses and trade it in. Last time it was in they did a converter and pump & gave it back the same way it was dropped off and said it was fine. Doesn't DC care about the reputation they are getting?? Any real comments on the G56

Jay

I too went down that road 6 months ago with my 99' 3500 .

No regrets here with my 6spd nv 5600 , hopefully the G 56 will be as good.

I could not justify , 4 k on top the 36k it just spent .

Good luck.

 

[FATCAT]

Also I'm towing a 38' travel trailer and with the last service work that was done I dont trust the transmission anymore. Loose hardware is a bad thing

JC, contact BlueChip Diesel in Hudson NH (no sales tax). Chip will discuss the level of upgrade options for your transmission. He goes with SunCoast convert stuff. Tim, his main machanic, is a wiz at the Automatic trans and will fix you up right. They are open Monday through Thursday through 5pm.



I work in Littleton Mass and know of Great Road Dodge ... stoped by there onec and just to look at the new trucks last summer and just by the way the salesmen come at you and the utter lack of knowledge of their product would make me run fast from their dealership.



One thought though, why would anyone ever consider a Auto transmission when they are planning to use their truck for towing? A manual is always a better option, but BlueChip can fix you up right and make you forget about Great Road Dodge.



Good Luck.

 

[TFucili]

JC, bummer that you got dealt a bad transmission, but if the rest of the truck is OK I would have to agree with previous suggestions to upgrade the automatic. From a purely dollars and cents point of view it seems pretty certain to be less expense than the "bath" you will take on an early trade. By most accounts I have read on this site when they are done by a competent shop using the appropriate components they seem to be efficient AND reliable.



Best of luck!!

 

[Donn]

Also I'm towing a 38' travel trailer and with the last service work that was done I dont trust the transmission anymore. Loose hardware is a bad thing

I would either have the Transmission replaced with one that works (not a stock transmission) Or buy another BRAND of truck I sure as hell wouldn't buy another Dodge if they had treated me the way they did you. I have had no problems with my truck, and the dealer I purchased it from has treated me great.

 

[JCBerry]

I would look at other trucks but the reliability of ford, well is questionable and I dont like the GM car I mean truck, it looks the same as the 94 I had. As far as the transmission I thought of doing that but also I have the vibration issue with the truck and from what I've seen here the fix hasn't really been identified and after spending all the money on transmission work I dont want to find I still have a vibration issue. The problem seems to be both mechanical and electrical as I have monitored the signal to the torque converter selonoid and it's intermittant, could be due to the transmission but maybe not. Seems like to many variables to continue pursuing the problem and the lemon lew is not as good as it appears. If Toyota or Nissan made a real truck I'd be all over it but I still love my Dodge and its almost american made. Dont think I'll be returning to Great Road after I get the new truck though, not very happy with service. Fix it myself to get it fixed right. I've been turning wrenches for years and it just frustrates me to no end the lack of knowledge out there, If the mechanics actually go paid their value we probably wouldn't have to deal with problems like this, most all the good mechanics leave the auto industy. I made more fixing boats and snowmobiles than fixing cars and trucks and the work was cleaner and warmer.

 

[BHolm]

One thought though, why would anyone ever consider a Auto transmission when they are planning to use their truck for towing? A manual is always a better option, but BlueChip can fix you up right and make you forget about Great Road Dodge.



Good Luck.

FATCAT, I can give you one good example..... we pull horses with our truck in the mountains. No matter how smooth you think you are with the six speed, there is a lot of back and forth on shifts and that really shakes the load up back there. When the load is alive, that isn't the best idea. The auto allows much smoother driving and a much better ride for the animals.



I have also run autos in my work trucks because they used to have multiple drivers. Putting a less experienced driver in a manual truck was just asking for a fried clutch. Sure you can beat on an auto too but the temptation was much greater with the manual. There are plenty of good reasons to run the auto, and the vast majority of the 48re's have been holding up quite well.





JC, Have you contacted the BBB? That should be the first avenue, not the lawyer. In mosts states the BBB arbitrates these things and you do not need a lawyer, not sure about MA. I also think that you might need to start literally screaming at these folks to get a response, childish I know but, it takes an awful lot to get any of the big three to respond anymore. Tell them you are going to make a BIG LEMON sign for the side of the truck and park it in front of the dealership. Then tell them you intend to alert the local media about the situation. Play hardball with them, see if they will jump. Why should you take the $$$ hit? Good Luck

 

[FATCAT]

FATCAT, I can give you one good example..... we pull horses with our truck in the mountains. No matter how smooth you think you are with the six speed, there is a lot of back and forth on shifts and that really shakes the load up back there. When the load is alive, that isn't the best idea. The auto allows much smoother driving and a much better ride for the animals.

That might be a reason, but I tell ya, last week I drove with a buddy of mine to North Carolina pulling a 16' enclosed trailer behind his new Nissan Titan with an auto and if that couldn't convince you that an auto is worthless for towing, nothing will. The thing could never stay in overdrive (trailer total weight was about 6K with a high flat front). Got 8 mpg. Could never get over 65 mph.



The truck is very very nice, don't get me wrong. The thing sounds like a stock car and is fast as hell empty!! Very comfortable as well for a 1000 miles trip, but couldn't pull a big trailer effeciently for its life! Always droping from 5th to 4th to 3rd on the slightest incline.



Anyway ... JC, if you haven't already ordered a new truck ... please concider the transmission upgrade. BlueChip Diesel folks are really good and fair and stand behind their product.

 

[JL penner]

FATCAT, I can give you one good example..... we pull horses with our truck in the mountains. No matter how smooth you think you are with the six speed, there is a lot of back and forth on shifts and that really shakes the load up back there. When the load is alive, that isn't the best idea. The auto allows much smoother driving and a much better ride for the animals.

I disagree with this. We haul horses as well, and even a "built" auto transmission will shift harder and more frequently than an experienced driver can shift a 6 speed. BUT, it's all prefference. People that haul that don't want to have to shift when they go down the road prefer the auto. However, people that don't like their truck to upshift, downshift, upshift, downshift, upshift, downshift..... etc going up the hills, well, they buy a 6 speed.



My . 02

 

[mberry]

I have to agree with the group here on a couple of options.



1. Upgrade the transmission. That might fix the vibe issue, but there is more that one cause of the vibes. It would certainly fix your reliability issue with the trans.



2. Go the Lemon Law route. It is a PITA, but you shouldn't have to take the loss on it if DC can't/won't fix it.

 

[ThomasLawrence]

behind his new Nissan Titan with an auto and if that couldn't convince you that an auto is worthless for towing, nothing will.

Are you actually trying to compare a little 1/2-ton Nissan gasser to a 1-ton Cummins? I've hauled 12K of trailer/excavator behind my Cummins/ATS auto, and at NO time did I feel the truck was struggling, searching for a gear, etc. A couple of times, I manually took it out of OD, simply because I didn't feel like mashing the pedal to force the downshift. Other than that, I never thought about it.



-Tom

 

[Bertram65]

I lemon lawed a car in MA a couple years ago, it was not that hard all you have to do is keep bringing it back to the dealer and calling the 800 number at Dodge to update you case, once it reaches a certain number of issues it automatically goes to the zone rep who has to address it. It takes persistence but it does not require hiring a lawyer.

As far as the auto vs. stick stuff and towing, I am only towing 9k lbs but this weekend I went up into the white mountains, truck towed great no hunting gears at all, my ears were popping but I still holding between 65 and 70 with no problems. The only downside to the automatic is the huge rpm drop going from 3rd to OD, you have to hold 3rd till about 2700-2800 rpms before going into OD, if you cannot go over 2000rpms in OD and it is hilly you should be in 3rd. If you leave it in drive it will hunt, it is better for it and smoother if you lock OD out and control it manually.

 

[JCBerry]

1st no not trying to compare 1/2 ton to 1 ton but if Nissan or Toy ever offered a 1 ton with a cummins it would never break they have reliability and customer satisfaction figured out thats why the resale on most foreign cars is so high.



2nd if it was any of you and the truck was acting this way would you spend 5k to do a transmission to find it didnt fix the vibe?

I have no problems with smooth shifts I have always had sticks just figured with the reliability the trans have been having I'd give it a shot. Figures I get the 1 that is bad and they jerk me around.

If I wait I'll certainly loose out on the truck they have its 1 year newer and a stick with the same options and color I currently own, if I go the route of transmission upgrade and it doesnt fix the vibe now I'm into it for more $$$ and another model year later for a trade, again more $$$. Could go the route of lemon law but can I justify already having spent $40K on looking at truck not driving it, they'll already charge for mileage which my understanding is 1% per 1K miles so already $4K of deductions and no guarantee to succeed. I'm caught between a rock and a hard place and dont like it.