Favorite service departments

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Since it seems like most of the problems with our Rams are more Dodge related than Cummins,I thought this topic belonged in this forum. Moderator move me if I'm wrong!In the five years I've had my two Rams I've probibly been to twenty different dealers for warranty and post warranty work. Of those twenty there are only two that I would return to. So lets hear it from you everybody, where are the good ones?Lets not mention the bad ones as I think it would take up too much space. My favorites-Glen E. Thomas in Long Beach,CA and Parkway in Roseburg OR. Maybe with this info we can all map our trips knowing where good help is waiting. #ad


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95' 25004X4,Driftwood,Banks,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,driftwood,Banks&phscotty,30,000 GVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

 

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Haven't needed any warrenty work yet... ... but when I do...

It's going to Woodhouse in Blair, NE.

 

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Haven't found one yet. I could use a recommendation for a good svc dept in central texas.

 

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In this area, for DC my vote goes to Gene Steffy's in Fremont, NE. They have a real good diesel mechanic there. Also Great Plains Cummins in Omaha, NE although they are a bit pricey

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98. 5 24v 3500 E-brake by Jacob U. S. Gear over/direct O'Reilly Air Horns 35' Prowler 5th wheel with three slides Firestone air helper springs

 

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The only service dept I ever let touch my truck is my own garage out back. #ad
I've seen too many examples of mistakes made by some poor soul getting paid for how fast rather than how well he/she does the job. Many of them want to do a proper job, but come review and raise time the guy/gal who gets the most jobs done, even half a$$ed or wrong gets the pat on the back and raise. Sad but true imo. I'd rather do it myself even if costs more and takes longer. I avoid dealer service depts at all costs. The local Honda dealer just charged my step daughter $1500 to do a valve job, then did it again cause they bungled the first time and now it's still not right and burning 1 quart every 500 miles. I've found a great product liability lawyer (she's won 41 of 41 cases against one local dealer) and plan to press on them HARD cause they tried to feed me a line of crap when I questioned them about what they provided for $1500 in the beginning. OK, I feel better now and am stepping off my soap box... #ad


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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

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Best service department... HMMMM

Now I've got 2 catagories for this.

1)Madison Dodge Madison CT. 5 Star dealer. .
Brought in the truck for warrantee work 4 times...
second time in. . I walked across the street and bought 2 cases if ice cold soda...
TALK ABOUT AN ATTITUDE CHANGE... Gee. . this guy is alright!!!! (Bribery. . Maybee. . but It is my truck were talking about here.

Got to know the Lead Tech on a first name basis... the write-up man as well...

Now when I call to schedule an appointment. . "NO PROBLEM. . WHENEVER IT"S CONVIENIENT FOR YOU"


Next catagory. .

2) STRICTLY BY THE BOOK DEALERSHIP!!!
No Favoritism
FAST SERVICE.
Well trained techs. .

Decent Diesel guy who knows when he is "Over His Head" and then the truck gets flatbedded to a Cummins Repair Yard. . (Nice Feature)

If they say 1 hour. . you can set your watch by them.

Just How BOMB friendly they are... I wouldn't push My luck!!!

Artioli Dodge Enfield CT.
(not sure if 5*)


My opinions... .
any others in CT that I should Know about???


Larry)

 

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Without a doubt, Valley Dodge in Helena, Montana. I bought there for two reasons: first, the service department will not give you your truck untill it is right. They delayed my new delivery untill they fixed the brake pull, and showed me the D. C. service bulletin outlining the steps which had to be checked and verified to find the cause. No arguments on any warranty problems since (although I've had only one minor item). Second, $59. 00 over invoice pricing.
Ron


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'99 QC SLT 4X4, Forest Green, long box, camper/trailer pkg, 3. 55 axles, auto, CD/cassette, power seat, heated mirrors, HD xfer case, fog lights, K&N filter, stainless rocker trim, chrome Mopar fender well trim, Westin chrome side steps, Mopar bug blaster, FIA nose mitten, Ultra camper top, Bedrug bedliner, Poplock tailgate lock, Two meter Radioshack ham transceiver (license KC7MME), Britebox and soon to be Van Aakened. Proud member of the vast right wing conspiracy!
'98 Arctic Cat 300 4X4 ATV
'00 Honda Recon ATV
'99 Grand Cherokee
NRA Life member

 

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100$ a hour is the shop rate for my local dealer. I wouldn"t let them work on my 48 jeep. Hopefully I wont need any warrentry work on my new ETH?DEE

 

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Southern California -
I've dealt with Glen E Thomas on several occassions and they have screwed up each & everytime. Maybe I just the service manager.

I finally took my truck (non Cummins) to Cerritos Dodge and was very happy with their service dept. I test drove the truck with the mechanic and he told the service manager - Gerard Henry - to get the DC zone rep involved. IMO, Cerritos Dodge did every thing they could to solve my problem. They will get any future warranty work from me.

Northern Ca -
Santa Rosa Dodge had my AC problem fixed the next day. Seem OK so far. Service writer stated that about half of the trucks they sell are Cummins powered - don't know if they have a good diesel mechanic.

Any advice for Northern Ca diesel mechanics?


Brian

 

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Two years ago in Feb. , we were in Yuma Az for a few weeks and the second day there, a short way out of town, my differential started making a BAD noise ('93 with then 110K miles). I pulled into the unpaved (thankfully) parking lot of a branch library and when I looked under the truck, the differential lube was pouring out. Knowing no one in the area, I called the Yuma Dodge dealer. It was obviously a tow situation, and the service rep suggested they have it towed as they would get a better tow price than I would.
The whole experience with them was great. The shop forman (yea, they had a real shop forman), showed me the parts and discussed the options available and explained cost factors of each. I was out of there for $600+. I was sure it would be at least $1,500. I felt they were one of the most considerate and rasonable dealerships I had ever delt with.

Vaughn

 

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Does anybody know of a good DC shop in Southern California?

 

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How about western Pennsylvania?

Ravotti in Leechburg was able to fix a nagging problem that my dad had with his 93. It was very tough to get the transfer case out of 4WD. Went to several dealers, then these guys found and fixed the problem.

Any others?

 

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The best service dept I've found is in my own garage! I would never trust a dealership, unless they paid their mechanics/technitions by the hour versus the dreaded flat-rate. I've first hand experience with flat-rate and believe me it's tuff to make any money without cutting corners, and even worse if its a warranty job. The dealerships are just in it for the money.

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97 2500 Ext Cab, 5sp,3. 54 gears,4X4,Pac brake,cat sitting on shelf,TST 800 ft-lb clutch.

 

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Frahm Dodge in Corona CA. What does that tell you since I'm from oregeon.

I have been down there three times on business and needed a litlle work on the truck, thrttle cable, fuel sender, water pump. On very short notice, I can drive up and be put ahead of other customers since I am in a rush and need to move on. What great people.

 

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Wade...

I'm glad to hear your opinion about Frahm. I have the truck below on order through them and was wondering about their service. I have heard alot about their sales department but not about their service. Since they sell so many trucks I was simply assumming that they have a good service department as well.

Anyone else had experiences with them (good or bad) that they can share?

Mike

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Ordered 3/29/00 - Being Painted 6/2/00: 2001 Driftwood/Agate Leather Quad Cab, 3500 SLT+, 4x4, 5. 9L H. O. , 6-Speed, Camper Group, Trailer Group, Light Group and 2 gallons of gas.

Soon to add: 2-tone Intense Blue top and bottom, Bug Deflectors, Exhaust Brake, Brush/Grill Guard, LineX Bedliner...

 

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Since I first started this post I've had just about as many responses via E-mail(non TDR members?). Three have recommened Frahm,so they must be good. They will be my first chose if I ever need help in So. Cal.

 

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All the dealers in Miami-Dade and Broward counties display a big sign 5 STAR DEALER what is that for? Bad service? I will like to find one that wont keep your truck for a day to change the transmision fluid. []
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[This message has been edited by Mgram14 (edited 06-09-2000). ]

 

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I put my vote in for Karl Klement CPD in Decatur, TX. I have bought 3 trucks there because of their service department. You can actually talk to the Service Manager and to the tech doing the work. BTW, they aren't a 5 star dealer either!!!

Bill

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Y2K 3500QC, 6 Speed, 4. 10, SLT+, Camper & Tow Pkg. , Westin Chrome Nerf Bars, Mopar Flaps, Reese 20K Hitch, V-A CPC, EGT & Boost Gauges, RPM 45 Gallon Aux. Fuel Tank, Highway Products 5th Wheel Toolbox, ECM Controlled PacBrake, Painless Wiring Kit, Mag-Hytec Diff. Cover, 80% Towing Hitchhiker II 31', 2 slideouts, 19,750 GCW

 

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Haven't found a good dodge dealer in my part of michigan that can fix anything.
I would'nt let them touch my truck it would never run again.

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DODGE Y2k 3500 4X4
Dark Garnet Red,SLT PLUS, loaded ,6 speed ,4. 10 rear end,leather heated power seats,power everything,C. D. player,trailer towing package,midland C. B. radio,camper package,
line-x spray in bedliner,nerf bars, smoothy cup holder,step shields,billet aluminum dress up.
Not B. O. M. B. yet

 

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My garage gets every job except one. 3 hours from home, shop was moved and I wasn't, middle of (snowmobile) racing season, I had to let someone else fix my trans (toasted).
Brickner Chrysler (5 Star) in Wausau, WI had me back on the road by in less than a week. I brought my own trans in (on national B/O and found one in Milwaukee, bought it through my local dealer at wholesale), they installed the Amsoil I brought and the Tech who did the work described some of the details (cooler flush backpressure anyone?) of the job. I came away very satisfied.

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'94 3500 4x4, 196,000 miles, Auto w/shift kit,3. 54 Gears, TST #5 plate, 235-85-16s, Rancho 9000s w/remote, Isspro gauges inplace of cupholder & Amsoil Bumper to Bumper. NRA member.