Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Just figured this out

[Pit Bull]

If you have anyone but yourself change your rear differential fluid you will get a half ass job, even if they take the rear cover off and clean it out. No one will jack up each side of the truck to get all of the fluid out and then jack up each side to get the new stuff in unless they own the vehicle and care about doing it right. Sorry I'm just tire of other people touching my truck. That is not going to happen anymore. I've ordered a service manual. The only way a machanic touches my truck is warranty work that I am not capable of doing. Also any of you that are thinking about an extended warranty "DON'T DO IT" put the money you would spend in the bank, you will be money ahead. Now I feel better, sorry for the outburst.

 

[Bob Wagner]

Right on PitBull

 

[BK]

I cringe when I've had to bring it in for warranty work. It kills me and I WONT leave it. I dont care if I have to wait all day.





(from this thread https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=449385#post449385 )



Here's what I went through to get a bad lift pump replaced... :





6/25/02

went to the dealer today for 5star warranty service



told them I was waiting for the truck, needs a lift pump and maybe a '44.



Explained that I no longer could hear the lift pump which is what prompted the visit...

history : been having a burning electrical smell from the driver's side of the engine. last time it happened, going up a grade... didnt have the power, started to smell the smell. Went home. Realized I couldnt hear the lift pump anymore. Got gauges, found 8psi idle, 3-4psi@3krpm, 2psi at WOT moving.



Round 1 today with the dealer: 9am (they started at 8am)

Dealer checked codes and said they found nothing wrong and the truck runs fine, and that when a lift pump is bad... . you get a bad running truck and white smoke. I agrued that the lift pumps go slowly... mine's probably been going since I 1st got the smell when hauling butt... . probably the '44 not getting enough cooling.

They said they'd check pressures next... and they were doing TSB 18-11-99 for my power complaint. I said the lower power was from the Lift pump being bad... starving the '44... . But the Star tech told them todo the TSB reflash 1st and double check the pressures... Geezzz talking about getting off tangent...

Service manager addes that the truck wasnt designed go that fast (60-70mph) while towing my trailer, suppose to be doing 55. . I said and "what happens when I leave NY and I'm in 75mph speedlimits with min of 60mph? - your trying to tell me Dodge designed a truck that will get me a ticket?"... the service manager shut up.





Round 2:10:30am

TSB reflash went ok.

dealer tech checked pressures and called Dodge Star hotline. . spoke to Cummins tech. : Pressures measured by Dodge... 12psi@idle 10psi@3Krpm. Dodge Star Cummins Tech said must be 10psi or more. . if it is. . Lift pump ok.

I argued that I measured my numbers on three totally different setups over two days. . I say " sorry I know the pump is bad and your numbers are off"... I asked if the drove it with their guage attached. . they said no, the Star tech didn't say anything about that... I said well thats real world..... So they did and came up with 4. 5psi@WOT on road!! Finally



Round 3:11:30am

They call the Star tech back and told them about the road test.

The tech at the dealer didnt know if taking the numbers on the road was "legal". When he spoke to the Star tech they told him that they pump is bad!!!! and to double check the trouble codes for signs of the '44 being hurt. No codes, so they arent going to replace the '44. Now the dealer tech tells the service manager the news, as they are talking I walk over to listen. . "he's (me) right the lift pump is bad according to Cummins. And Guess what the Star cummins tech says the lift pump being bad can kill the '44 now and it could even die later from the lift pump being bad now. "

After that the attitude of the service manager and dealer tech changed towards me. You could tell at 1st they didnt believe me... which in the end turned into them getting an education and me a power increase via the tsb and a new lift pump.



They had a lift pump in stock. . they had order a few just before they went on restriction.



Left dealer at 12:15pm



Came home , installed my westech fp gauge. . 14. 5psi @ idle, 12-12. 5 at 3K. . havent had a chance to go up the grade with WOT yet. Did get into triple digit speeds on the way home , on some grades, no burning smell. Can't hear the new lift pump... no where near as noisey as the old one before it died.



I must say, this was a new serivce manager. . but let me tell you he was better than the old one I've butted heads with before. The original service manager wouldnt let you speak with the techs. The truck went in, the truck came out. . and that was it. What was done is what was done. The only reason I made any head way was that this new service manager didnt get inbetween me and the tech.