I'm done...

[steved]

Injector hung this AM... only 22k on these Flux1s. Only 165k on the truck total.



My truck will be going bye-bye very shortly. I'll probably pick up a 1st gen W250/W350 gasser, or maybe a Cummins... not really sure at this point, might not even buy another dodge. Yeah, I'm that disappointed.



I had 201k on my 99 with very little repairs (none to the engine)... this thing has been a constant maintenance item. And its stock... stock tuning, stock tires, stock suspension... and its more/less babied.



I'll probably start peeling parts/pieces off it sometime this fall...

 

[berman2000]

Noooooooo......

steve, we all gotta stick together, man. i'm feelin' ya. you just got a bum deal, thats all. stick with it, baby. you can do this! you need to sit down with the ol' girl (your truck) and have a heart to heart. i swear it sounds stupid, but it has worked for me in the past. from your sig. , it looks as though you have it set up right. give er another chance.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

My old '91 was reliable as an anvil - purely mechanical, would trust it anywhere. Cost $12 in actual failed replacement parts in 11 years.



I love my '02 - but frankly, the spectre of some obscure 10 cent electronic component failing while we're on the road or in some remote wilderness RV campsite is always lurking in the back of my mind...



To that end, I (some will say I'm paranoid and over reactive) carry a spare VP-44, spare LP's - I have 2 in my system - a spare ECM, and a spare APPS. And while that covers some of the more expensive and involved failure possibilities, there remain others of a significant technological and unrepairable nature that is a far cry from the sledgehammer, duct tape and baling wire fixes more common to older Cummins engines.



So, yeah, I love the power and technical efficiency of the newer stuff - but I also fully understand where Steve is coming from...

 

[steved]

It would be different if I didn't need to rely on this truck to do cross country runs all the time... but getting stranded in the middle of no-where (I travel the back country) always has me concerned. I've considered buying an older CTD, but they are far and few between (in any shape), expensive, and not designed around the current fuel (or the UULSD lurking just around the corner).



I'm probably going to look at 1st gen (late 80s/early 90s) W250/W350this time... 360/727/205/D60/D70 combo, you can carry almost everything you need in the glovebox.



I think I'll pull the parts/pieces from this truck and trade it on a newer outback sedan for the wife... then go buy a truck, one I can fix.

 

[Regcabguy]

Condolences

I feel your pain but mine was inflicted by my '99. I spent a fortune trying to make up for Dodge's shortcomings. I even persuaded a friend to purchase the last of the 7. 3 Fords,a 2002 which has been super dependable. So far the '07 has been issue free,but if it looks like it's heading for a meltdown close to warranty expiration,it'll have to go. Problem is I don't know what I'd get to replace it. Undoubtedly,it'd be a gasser, probably a four banger. Ford is going to release a downsized F-150 next so I'll check it out when it comes out. The beauty of gassers is the total lack of maintenance compared to these trucks. For now though,everything is good despite sky high fuel prices which will undoubtedly skyrocket if Sen. "O" has his way.

 

[Grizzly]

I feel your pain but mine was inflicted by my '99. I spent a fortune trying to make up for Dodge's shortcomings. I even persuaded a friend to purchase the last of the 7. 3 Fords,a 2002 which has been super dependable. So far the '07 has been issue free,but if it looks like it's heading for a meltdown close to warranty expiration,it'll have to go. Problem is I don't know what I'd get to replace it. Undoubtedly,it'd be a gasser, probably a four banger. Ford is going to release a downsized F-150 next so I'll check it out when it comes out. The beauty of gassers is the total lack of maintenance compared to these trucks. For now though,everything is good despite sky high fuel prices which will undoubtedly skyrocket if Sen. "O" has his way.

I'd seriously consider a Toyota Tacoma, gasser 4 cylinder, standards shift.

 

[steved]

I'm not one that needs a shiny new pickup... I'm probably changing employment soon, and won't need to have a truck for a DD... so a gasser that gets "worse" mileage (at cheaper prices) that only gets used to tug my small trailers around once in a while would suit me fine. It'd still be a 3/4 or 1-ton, so its not like I'm dropping GVW...



I am just tired of sinking money into this to make it reliable, only to have it prove unreliable. The thought of the newer trucks (the 6. 4 Ford, the 6. 7L dodge, and the Dmax) and their very EXPENSIVE issues doesn't sit well with me. I'd rather have something I can get parts at any Pepboys for half of a Cummins/Dodge part, and be able to fix it myself.

 

[steved]

I'd seriously consider a Toyota Tacoma, gasser 4 cylinder, standards shift.

I'm thinking late 80s W250 with a 360/727/205/D60/D70 combo... that's about as bulletproof as a drivetrain gets...

 

[lmills]

Steve, the injectors are fully covered under warranty, if you would like, please contact me and we will get this taken care of ASAP for you. If you can get the truck here, I will cover labor also.

 

[SBeretz]

Man, sorry to hear about your injectors? At least they are standing behind them and are going to take care of you. I know what you mean about wanting something simpler. I think the same thing all the time. The Gasser combo you describe is exactly what I had in high school for a year. It drank gas, on the order of maybe 10mpg if I closed my eyes doing math. I am having my first trouble with this truck and it kinda makes me mad I spent all this money on the truck and it didn't last 60K without a major driveline part failing. Kinda bad if you ask me. All my older Dodge's and Fords had very few problems like that and were pretty simple. I had a 87 Ford F350 4X4 Crew Cab with the 6. 9 diesel. It was not the fastest, but man, it was easy to work on and simple. Sign of the times probably. Scotty

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I understand completely... I have sworn that if I start chasing my tail with injection issues on my '04, it's getting a P-pump!



I've always had 12v trucks, but now that I'm on my 2nd 3rd gen, I would have a hard time going back to an older truck. The new TRUCKS are just so much nicer



but I hear ya on the cost vs. reliability

 

[05mxdiesel]

That sucks Steve, you've invested a lot of time into your truck. Is the motor hurt at all, or just a crankcase full of fuel?

 

[DBohl]

steve, I hope you hang in there and let Mid Atlantic take care of you or perhaps get an older mechanical diesel. I've come to rely on your tenacious product research and have even bought a few things based on your input. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Doug

 

[steved]

That sucks Steve, you've invested a lot of time into your truck. Is the motor hurt at all, or just a crankcase full of fuel?

Motor is fine... no fuel in oil... it just hung at startup for a minute. It cleared up, but not until it had the neighborhood completely smogged in smoke. But there is definitely a "bump" in the idle (similar to when the first injector failed).

I think that's what bothers me the most... I've did a LOT of upgrades to make the truck more reliable, and my completely untouched 99 gave less trouble for MORE miles.

lmills: I'll PM you...

 

[steved]

Truck is at Mid-Atlantic... we'll see what the outcome is.

The injector hung up again tonight, so it wasn't a once and done type of thing. It wasn't as bad as yesterday, but it was also a lot warmer.

 

[lmills]

Steve, the injectors are out and packaged, ready to head to F1 first thing tomorrow.

 

[RAmy]

aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh he... . he... he... . he said the evil "g" word when talking about buying a 3/4 or 1 ton!!! i think that will qualify for an "almost over".

 

[steved]

See, I've been around gassers, including the BB trucks. Not sure why everyone thinks they are that bad...



I had a 440-powered W250 growing up, it would not only hang with my dad's 95 CTD, but pass him carrying the same load (without really trying). That same truck also obtained a routine 16mpg cruising around... and would beat all but the hottest 5. 0 mustang cruising the town at the time.



Not sure where the dislike of gasser comes from, maybe Ford/Chevy are different? :-laf



Lloyd, let me know what he finds... I'm not expecting it to be good news.

 

[HOBrian]

Steve, the injectors are fully covered under warranty, if you would like, please contact me and we will get this taken care of ASAP for you. If you can get the truck here, I will cover labor also.

That is what I call customer service!!!!!!!!!!!





Steve, I hope you can keep this truck!

 

[JCasper]

Glad to hear that mid atlantic is helping you out on this Steve.



Keep us updated as to what happens.



I have 84K on my truck and am thinking about pulling my injectors in the spring and having them checked and upgraded.