I'm startin to hate this truck!!

[DPKetchum]

Was a tech,service advisor,shop foreman,booker,dispatcher,service manager and at times all of the above in two fairly large dealers and one small three/four ring circus over a 25/30 year period. Out of the BUSINESS, YAHOO! Datsun/Nissan,Olds,Cad,Isuzu,Mazda,Chrysler. Started off in a small independent in college,then Firestone Tire & Rubber in their young Management training(company stores)then auto dealers. I can smell b. s. even through a keyboard most of the time and just plain honest mistakes as well as just plain stupid/no product or internal working knowedge of how the system works. (usually). Over the years THEY wanted more and more out of a very long day and a very stressfull job and paid less and less. The b. s. got deeper and deeper. 100% commision,12 hour days,no benifits to speak of. Yes made good money in the first 20 years with little vacations,no lunch hours and all the do do ends up in the service dept. Now the era of FAKE Saturday service to sell more cars and the list goes on. Wore my back out pounding concrete and pinched a nerve shutting down some use of my left leg as well as severe muscle spasms in it as well.

 

[Jeremiah]

That's quite a background! Wish I had your knowledge.

 

[DPKetchum]

Its not apprecated any longer. I was used by Firestone and one auto dealer to boost image,increase service voulumn etc. Had a few approch me for the same thing and wanted to pay less then I made in the mid 80s. I usually can tell when a customer is worth it,not worth it and when techs are full of hog wash,butcher,good etc. The answer to any question is out there if you search/investigate hard enough. Hard rule of thumb is to say I'm sorry/I don't know/Let me get the answer for you etc.

 

[JHardwick]

I had this happen to me with I think 58,000 miles on the clock.



Took the truck in for the infamous rear u-joint vibration and got a call with a $5,800. 00 estimate :--)



I listened quietly as he was reading down the list ... ... ... . rear u-joints, 1 front axle joint, 2 hubs all new tires etc etc.



Then I said, I'll get the tires and I also have the 7/70! He stammered a second and said he'd call me back.



A couple of hours later, he called me and said "you're right, bring it on in"!



So I did, and picked it up a day later ... ... ... ... ... ... only to get a $100 invoice a month later for a deductible

 

[Jeremiah]

Did you get $5800 worth of work done? Sounds like a bunch of stuff and it didn't even include replacing the engine.

 

[DPKetchum]

Every truck/auto that pulls into a service drive and gets written up the service writer should(or its suppose to be mandatory)run/print/attach the warranty info from the D. C. main frame. It shows warranty coverage,open recalls,warranty restrictions,factory service contracts etc. The dealers I was with the R. O. could NOT leave a writers desk with out this being attached. It stayed attached the entire process in case any questions arise even after it is scanned into file if D. C. did a audit. (its scanned also). Documentation,you can't have enough. But 7/70 powertrain has been in affect for a while. Shouldn't have to remind writers on something as simple as u/joints,diffs,trans repairs,DEDUCTABLES(ie $100)thats suppose to be collected before vehicle leaves not a invoice mailed later because it was not caught at time of repair etc. Its the same for all manufactures as far as I know. Some make it easy on a writer and someone else runs this for them. I think its best writers do it,it keeps them up to date on whats happening. I've seen 7k autos get big ac repairs,alignments or what not under warranty and they were salvage title autos and no one checked. Dealer has to eat any and all. The only thing that stays in affect on a warranty void vehicle is SAFETY RECALLS. There always suppose to be done to anything one shows open on any car or truck. Then theres a big BOOK called policy and proceedures that tells you whats emmison/powetrain etc. They can also run part numbers and print and attach to a ro after the tech brings them the diag. on what failed and it will show whats 3/36,7/70,Emmision,Cummins etc. That is also attached to the r. o. and scanned into file after its all said and done.

 

[MSchweigert]

Check out this thread, This may be your heater / AC vent problem. http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/3.../235556-how-fix-where-your-air-goes-hvac.html

 

[BigPapa]

Check out this thread, This may be your heater / AC vent problem. http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/3.../235556-how-fix-where-your-air-goes-hvac.html

You do realize you're replying to a thread that's over 10 years old?

 

[LFalconer]

Darn, sorry to hear of your issues. My 06 2500 has 103,xxx and had not had any of these issues. It is well maintained, but used pulling cattle and hay. I will pull 14K to 16K trailer and hay. Still on original u joints, ball joints and front end components. Live on a dirt road that is rough always.

Did have the AC door issue at 50K mi, and a compressor. Front pinion leaking again after DC fixed.... Tach is erratic. But other than that, it is a good truck. Sheet metal is thin on these trucks, easy to dent. But I had 2 Ford's with the 6.0 and lots of problems, not just the engine but other components as well.

Good luck

Luke