Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Joined the 53 club today

[jhoughton]

I have a 99 3500 with the 53 block that showed the first signs of a crack today. I have 77k on the truck. Who sells a good block and who has had luck getting cummins to stand behind it even though the warranty is gone?

 

[SnoKing]

You might want to read the thread about the 5/100 Cummins Engine Warranty beginning at the end of the 3/36 Basic Warranty. Look at page 12 of your Warranty Information booket. Search user name "Thomas".



Or start reading here! https://www.turbodieselregister.com...71690-has-daimlerchrysler-taken-you-ride.html



SNOKING

 

[ccutrell]

I had a 99 that did the same think and I called cummins (I was very nice and it took a few days to get it sorted out... and btw my truck had 126000 when this happened)(Also when i talked to dodge about it they just told me i was screwed) and they paid 4 parts and i picked up the labor... IT was still close to $3000 and 4 days but it is better than the alterative of a new engine, used engine, or rebuild myself. I had cummins southern plains in Houston TX do the work. NO warranty tho just 60 days parts a labor i think. I have since sold it to a friend and he hasnt had a bit of trouble.

 

[jhoughton]

They have been fair to me also. Offered all part with me picking up the labor. The labor est. is around $4. 5k. So I picked up a block off of ebay for $760. I will get the rest of the parts from Cummins and do the rebuild myself. I can keep it around 2k that way. Also with my mods they may have not wanted to cover it once they go into it. Even though we all know the mods are not the cause. May be able to slip in a fuel system upgrade as well.

 

[ctd8999]

Why didn't you take the free parts and tell them you would do the work yourself, thats what I did when my block cracked at 62K mi.

 

[jhoughton]

Tried that and they refused that. Said it was their parts with me paying the labor or nothing. Also I thought that it was somewhat fair since the truck was actually bought in Oct 98 making it almost 8 years old. Even though it has low milage. I will still try and get some of the parts out of them though. Have been out of town and not able to work with them.

 

[DavidC]

You were sold a defective product!!!!!!!!!!!. Cummins and Chrysler know it. This whole thing gets me up set everytime. One of these two should have stepped up a long time ago to fix this problem with no cost to the consumer. If it was a starter, alternator, pushrod etc. you would just fix it and go on but this is a freakin defective cylinder block. How many people would have bought these things with the salesman stating " that will be $32000. 00 dollars please and oh yes it comes with a defective block especially made for our customers. And by the way we have absolutely no way of knowing how long it will last but when it goes it is your problem. That way we all get some more of your money. " No wonder Toyota has surpassed the big 3.

I have to go take my blood pressure medicine now, and maybe a Valium or 2.



Dave

 

[DMcPherson]

yes Cummins will pay for all parts, no labor. they will pay for pistons as well if there is piston grading. I have done 2 last month

 

[mediccummin]

David C point is we should not have to pay for Labor or 1 minutes worth of work. I bit the bullet and did mine myself because I was losing the arguement. But I have an attorney looking into it and he says we have a classs action lawsuit, My intention is to get back my money and time and labor. Not looking for anything but D/C to step up to the plate and take responsibility. The attorney has a group looking up the info posted on the web etc, he said most people are afraid to take on something like this because they think they need to pay fees, I'm not being charged a thing. I meet with him next week again, I will let you all know what I come up with.

Since this thing started and I replaced my block I have come across 8 more people that had no idea about the 53 block issue, I crawled under there trucks, 5 of the 8 blocks were cracked, 4 of these the guys never open there hoods so no clue, the other just kept adding coolant and didnt know where it was going. These are mostly daily drivers, 1 tower. Anyway enough for now.



J houghton, I bought a brand new mexico cast block from cummins $1300 out the door with cummins discount. That would be your best bet. Never know what you get used or remanufactured. Good luck.

 

[mediccummin]

Oh one other thing I think I mentioned in the past. The service manager at my local cummins dealer made a statement one day, he said Monaco motorhome used the same engine in our trucks, they had a run of bad blocks out of Brazil that were cracking, the company recalled them and replaced the blocks for free. Just something to think about.

 

[DMcPherson]

you are absolutely right. Cummins sold the engines with no warranty assumed when sold to chrysler but Cummins recognized the issue and is doing a part to rectify it. so yes I think it would be a good idea to file a class action suit against chrysler since they want absolutely nothing to do with it, and they have denied enough warranty over the years to cover every one of them.

oh and monaco was warranted through cummins not through monaco, so im sure Cummins had a campaign on them and covered it under warranty, little different than chrysler.

 

[cArNiVaLwOrKeR]

Dwayno,

Monaco's cost 200,000. 00 so they Ripped them off all together, but gimme a call wanna see if all went well...

Take care...

 

[VicR]

JHoughton - $4,500 for labor! Wow. Even at $100/ hr for shop rate that's 45 hours. I didn't realize there was that much work involved with transplanting a new short block.



MedicCummins - I support you 100% percent in your efforts - good luck!



-Vic