Diagnostic fee

[BillBaker]

Anyone ever fight an incorrect diagnostic fee on a vehicle at a Dodge dealer?

 

[KATOOM]

No.....but I wouldnt think anyone would have to. What happened?

 

[Wayne M.]

Anyone ever fight an incorrect diagnostic fee on a vehicle at a Dodge dealer?

That’s tough to challenge. Why do you say?

 

[BillBaker]

KATOOM and Wayne M... I'll try to keep this brief. My truck became disabled/wouldn't start after I picked up materials at a supplier and they wanted my truck out of the way and off their lot ASAP. I was 50 miles from home. Found out there was a wrecker shop right behind where I was. Had them pick up truck and take to closest place 4 miles away a Dodge dealer. Consulted with a good friend on here who confirmed it was either not getting fuel or was the fuel shutoff solenoid. I confirmed myself it was getting fuel. The Dodge "mechanic" came out to roll truck into the bay and I told him first thing to check is the fuel solenoid relay. They came out 3 hours later saying I needed an in tank fuel pump at a cost of $1,900+!! Can you believe this??? I argued with multiple people there and they wouldn't release my truck without paying a $337.12 diagnostic fee as they were closing. I paid the fee, went to my truck, lifted up the fuel shutoff solenoid (as it didn't engage when i tried starting the truck) and the truck started and i drove my 50 miles home. I confirmed the next day (again with a good friend on here) that it was the diesel start fuse (i believe that's what it's called). NOW i need to contact the Dodge dealer manager when they open tomorrow and argue the diagnostic fee. They didn't diagnose the issue, the just recommended an in tank pump. This mechanic was a " 30 yrs experience, ASE certified diesel tech" so they/he said.

 

[KATOOM]

Hmmm... Thats a tough one because they did diagnose it. Where they're going to get ya is they likely didnt disclose in their paperwork (which you hopefully have) that the truck isnt running and wont run without the in-tank pump they said you needed. If thats the case then you'll likely be looking at threatening them with a small claims case in attempt to get anything back. But with the filing fee being just about the same as what you paid them, I'm guessing its not going to be worth your effort if the service manager doesnt agree with you.

What I dont understand is if you knew it was getting fuel then it should have started... So how and where did you discover it was getting fuel?

 

[Tractorat]

Years ago I had a 75 chev diesel pickup. It didnt have enough power to go up a hill with my alaska camper on it unless I put it in granny gear. Took it to my local chevy dealer who told me it was the injection pump ($1100) which they installed. No change. I took it to a guy recommended to me by my mg mechanic. He looked at it and found the dealer had installed the pump backwards and fixed that. But he said that wasnt the main problem. He sent me to a trans shop down the road from him. Tork converter was toast. that fixed the problem.

I went back to the chev dealer and told them they misdiagnosed the problem and fixed something that didnt need to be fixed. The service manager wrote me a check for $300. His excuse was that the injec pumps have to be replaced at some point. I never went back and badmouth them at every chance.
Oh, and one time when I needed to get a rental car from them, they wanted my social security number. Thats when the fight started.

 

[fest3er]

1. They wanted to go home.
2. You'd already pointed to the primary symptom.
3. They didn't listen to you.
4. They suggested you pay for something that wasn't even offered from the factory (with a diesel).

Nothing to argue. State your case and politely request a refund of the 'fee'. Gently escalate twice only. If not satisfied, drive to the nearest BBB office and register a complaint. Then write a stern letter and have a friendly lawyer polish it and send it.

 

[BillBaker]

Thanks KATOOM, Tractorat, and fest3er... excellent advice and input. I'll post tomorrow after the outcome.

 

[mwilson]

So your truck has a manual shut off solenoid but they told you need an in tank fuel pump?? What year is your truck???

 

[BillBaker]

So your truck has a manual shut off solenoid but they told you need an in tank fuel pump?? What year is your truck???

It's a 98 12 valve..

 

[BillBaker]

Hmmm... Thats a tough one because they did diagnose it. Where they're going to get ya is they likely didnt disclose in their paperwork (which you hopefully have) that the truck isnt running and wont run without the in-tank pump they said you needed. If thats the case then you'll likely be looking at threatening them with a small claims case in attempt to get anything back. But with the filing fee being just about the same as what you paid them, I'm guessing its not going to be worth your effort if the service manager doesnt agree with you.

What I dont understand is if you knew it was getting fuel then it should have started... So how and where did you discover it was getting fuel?

I manually pushed on lift pump plunger and heard the OFV squeaking... does that not confirm it was getting fuel to the injection pump? Definitely correct me if it doesn't.

 

[BillBaker]

#ad

 

[Wayne M.]

#ad

From the wording of that ticket, they thought your truck is a 3 gen. Add on that your truck is not stock really spun them out. They’ve proven that they don’t know the first thing about mechanical Diesels.
Once they see their error, they SHOULD be willing to work with you.

 

[Tractorat]

A reason not to take an older truck (or older anything else) to a dealer if you can help it. The tech may never have seen one before.

 

[BillBaker]

From the wording of that ticket, they thought your truck is a 3 gen. Add on that your truck is not stock really spun them out. They’ve proven that they don’t know the first thing about mechanical Diesels.
Once they see their error, they SHOULD be willing to work with you.

That's exactly what I was thinking. I think I'll prevail on this one.

 

[BillBaker]

A reason not to take an older truck (or older anything else) to a dealer if you can help it. The tech may never have seen one before.

I totally agree... I was in unknown territory and in a dilemma

 

[KATOOM]

I dont see where the tech describes your truck as a 3rd gen. But...I do see that he hasn't finished grade school yet. Or at least the normal "stile" grade school where spelling is part of the curriculum.

Although the tech did give you a leg up on tomorrows discussion with the manager because he clearly states that it wont start and the fuel system was checked. You walking up and starting it after the tech spent 3 hours on it should be enough to show that this clown shouldnt be touching any diesels...and they need to refund your money.

 

[BarryG]

Since when do 98 12 valves use an in tank pump back then or ever as a replacement. They were never retrofitted with an in tank pump and wouldn’t provide enough or the proper pressure even if they did do it

 

[KATOOM]

Since when do 98 12 valves use an in tank pump back then or ever as a replacement. They were never retrofitted with an in tank pump and wouldn’t provide enough or the proper pressure even if they did do it

True but irrelevant since you're not going to win an argument over knowledge of what parts will work and what parts wont, especially with a modified truck. The only point here the OP needs to make is the tech said the truck wouldn't run and spent hours to come up with that assessment...only to have the owner walk up and turn the key and drive away. Trying to make the tech look stupid may backfire unless you have absolute proof he was going to use something that wouldnt have worked.

 

[BillBaker]

Just for giggles I'll add that at one point I was getting impatient and was asking one of the service guys standing around what was taking so long and he replied " the mechanic was looking up codes". NOTE: the receipt states: FOUND TRUCK WITH NO CODES