Issue with a NEW 06 and a FRIEND.

[DPKetchum]

Have a friend who traded in a 03 2500 2wd H. O. 48re 3. 73 gear with a 144k trouble free miles. Just WANTED a NEW TRUCK. Bought a 06 4x4 48re 3. 73 geared short bed. RAVED about the ride,how quiet and almost off the jump street it got almost 20 mpg and 13 towing a moderate size cargo trailer. Quess trailer and load MAYBE 6k. He calls toaday RAVING about what a piece of do do truch is with now 2800 miles. Says BAD vibration,noise from rear at 68 mph up that will run you out of the truck(claims just started over a few days) and how it feels like brakes on al the time. Says won't pull it way out of a wet paper bag. Says fuel mileage is the pits. Like 11 pulling and 14 not pulling. Went on and on about it constanly down shifting and won't stay in high gear on any kind of incline. Said old truck with same trailer hardly ever down shifted etc. YET claims NO time to take it in. Dealer did a QUICK look see while he waited and did do a driveshaft swap with no effect on noise or vibration. They said its GOT A ISSUE. Did NOT look into low power issue(friend had NO tiime) but said to them it pulled ok. Any thoughts any one?

 

[WoodT]

let them fix it

 

[lmills]

yeh, I would try taking it to another dealer that knows what they are doing. The truck obviously has issues. It stinks when you go to a dealer that doesn't know how to troubleshoot.

 

[brods]

Did he follow the break in procedure for the rear gears before towing the trailer?

 

[DPKetchum]

He didn't give the dealer TIME to fix it. He TOWED to Kentucky from the jump street. Just curious about any of these issues about the low power/noise vibration. its defently a vibration from the rear area. owner is no pun intended a friend but a ex airline captain. A little on the pushy side about issues.

 

[jimnance]

Probably makes no difference, but on my last three CTD's, a '99 with auto, an '03 with six speed, and my '05 with the auto. With all the trucks within three or four hundred miles I hooked up to a 10,000+ lb fiver and drove it like I stole it. Never had any issues with the drive train or engine.



My '99 has over 110,000 miles and no issues since new except a power steering hose that failed, and I replaced the lift pump at 90,000 miles "just because".



Your buddy has a truck with a problem. He needs to leave it at Dodge and tell him he will pick it up when it's done. Not before.

 

[Hoefler]

The issue is; he gave the dealer no time to really do a thorough inspection. Sounds like a rear end that run low on lube or a sticking brake caliper. Plan and simple, if he does not give them the time and opportunity to fix it, he has no one but himself to blame.

 

[DPKetchum]

I realize all of the above. Just wondering about the mech. side of it. The NO power,fuel mileage fell like a rock etc. He called last night. Said he pulled his 4k boat to and from the lake. Said truck was a dog. That on a state road incline that it fell off to 40 mph gutting it and the 03 would walk at 65 mph on same road with same boat. I said for gigs to pull fuel filter this A. M. and look. He said all every one (including me) tells him is to wait for it to break in yada yada and that the 4x4 is not a 2wd etc. Keeps saying it drives like the brakes are on. I did say stop bitxxx and take it in with boat or trailer hooked and show them yada yada. But Ive yet to read about any compliats of this sort on 06s. The vibration/noise thing is like a WHAT? also.

 

[WoodT]

Im guessin theres a few different problems... the fuel milage thing is scary... tell him to check his oil level to make sure he doesnt have a cracked injector.

 

[DPKetchum]

No smoke oil level is ok. says NO power,gutless etc. I'd like to drive it. I warned him repeatly that a 4x4 did NOT drive like a 2wd. He never had a need for 4x4. 99% of what he does is pull the cargo trailer across three states. He's been stuck once in BAD weather in Kentucky behind a barn.

 

[MCummings]

Have him put the truck in neutral at 45mph and let it coast. It should coast darn near forever.



If it immediatly starts loosing speed, we've narrowed the problem considerably.





Your friend is a donkey. Complaining about the truck, but not giving anybody enough time to even diagnose it. That's like my Dad, he says he doesn't have time to change his oil. Our truck with 39,000 miles on it has had the oil changed 3 times. It's BS.



His truck probably has a problem in the rear-end. Either brakes, bearings, or gears. He's really not that smart for continuing to drive it. It is costing him alot more in the long run. (extra fuel, extra wear, and headaches)





Merrick



EDIT: He could also jack up the rear end and put it in gear, and get the wheels up to about 20 MPH, and put the truck in neutral and see how long they spin. Use some common sense when doing this.

 

[Briman]

Is the emergency brake stuck on? On the older trucks with drum brakes on the rear, if you left the emergency brake on it would make the rear end hop and bounce at highway speeds. Don't ask how I know that.

 

[mberry]

How about a bad load of fuel? Could be the fuel filter and/or air filter is clogged up pretty bad.

 

[Rudity23]

I would also check the lift pump based on the fuel mileage.



Had mine replaced and got 5 mpg right away.



And yes, stop driving the truck and take it to the dealer. If it is still under warranty, they will even give him a loaner car if it takes more than a day to fix. What more could you ask for?



Tell him to put up or shut up... either let the dealer fix it or quit whining like a little girl.



Ok, so maybe you shouldn't use those words, but you get the idea.

 

[oilrunner]

Yeah, Your friend is a typical pilot. Great when their in the clouds, but pretty much useless on the ground.



If ya got to listen to him wine, the least he can do is provide the beer.

Makes listening to his tales of doom & gloom alot easier to swallow... :-laf



GOOD LUCK... ... ... ... .

 

[DPKetchum]

UPDATE!!!! Low power was real. Filter mimder got sucked all the way in. Upon inspection air FILTER was COLLAPSED. Actually I was told it LOOKED like someone STEPPED on it and put it back in(less then 3k on it). Was CRUSHED in the center section. Replaced it and went from 10. 5 mpg pulling a 6k cargo trailer to 13 plus on overhead. Noise and vibration. Tech HEARD noise and ended up tracking it to transfer case. Pulled rear of case off and replaced one large bearing. Bearing was ROUGH in your hand and on test drive truck was MUCH quieter but still had a roughness hiway speeds. Pulled FRONT driveshaft. Truck was SMOOTH. Replaced FRONT driveshaft and trucked STAYED SMOOTH. Pilot Buddy picked up Friday and called me saying it DROVE great. Trailer was hooked and on his way to Kentucky!!!!

 

[MMeier]

Now was that so hard?

 

[DPKetchum]

He USED his 1990 454SS Chevy truck for transportation its BLACK. Been sitting a LONG time. Ac INOP! The Dealer told him his Dodge was ready on Friday. Even though he is a friend I think I might have TEST driven his NEW truck again on Monday maybe even Tuesday to MAKE SURE it was corrected. LOL One of his comments to me was DAMN I'm GLAD its fixed. Was Burning my butt off in the Chevy! I find the COLLASPED air FILTER interesting. Owner found that in Kentucky on last trip. Said he re set filter minder a few times as it was totaly drawn down and thought he'd LOOK. Said it really looked like it had been STEPPED on and reinstalled. Said power and fuel mpg was instanly improved.