Looking for advice

[Redmega06]

I had to take the truck to dodge had a bad knock. After two days of tear down the found some bad bearings on #4 and maybe the cylinder was slapping the walls. I may be little vague know but they aren't very forth coming with the answers that I am after. The only thing that is sounding pretty clear is that they are going to try and get me to buy a new short block or long block. They keep bringing up the cross-hatching in the cylinders and saying that my AFE is to blame but they only see wear in #'s 2,3 and 4. Chrysler has not made a decision yet but my gut says that it is not going to go my way. I would appreciate any ideas or other questions I should ask.

 

[Motorhead]

You need to make them PROVE that the AFE was the cause. Just stand firm. My 2 cents.

 

[Redmega06]

Oh they are going to have to come up with a better answer than they have so far. I'm not a cummins wize but not an idiot either if they try to blame it on the AFE they are going to have to explain why #'s 1,5,6 are ok. Like I said I am not getting all of the info that I want. I almost feel as though I damaged Dodges truck not my own.

 

[Grizzly]

It's not against your warranty to use an AFE. Hang tough, Don't take any BS from them.

 

[Redmega06]

I appreciate the support as I said before I feel as though I was driving someone elses vehicle when it broke.

 

[Redmega06]

I think I should add that I am not looking for a free lunch here I just want to be treated fairly. I want a reasonble explanation to the damage to justify my paying if that is their solution. I do see and hear of a lot of people that it is never their problem no matter what but I am man enough to own up to what I have done. Up to date I just don't see what I could have done to cause the problems that they have let me in on to date.

 

[EArp]

Redmega, sorry to hear about your situation. I hope the dealership owns up and does the right thing. Do you think the AFE had anything to do with your problem? The only reason I ask is because i'm running an AFE also and was wondering if anyone has had any problems with the level of protection they provide.

 

[sag2]

You/we need some more information. What do the cylinders look like? What do the pistons look like? How does the #4 bearing compare to the others? Are there scratches and metal transfer on the pistons and cylinders. Is the cross hatch gone in all the cylinders? What do the tops of the pistons look like? Can you see the flower petal outline on some but not others?

 

[Redmega06]

sag2 those are my exact questions. I plan on going in tommorrow and getting a look at it. I just hope that before I do that they call and say that they are going to cover it.

Earp no I don't think that it has anything to do with the problem. I think that the mechanics and reps are school taught and don't do much thinking for them selves so when they do get a legitimate problem every other time they see something even somewhat similar they just say it is the same thing.

 

[DPKetchum]

How many posts on any Dodge forum do you read that has engine failure bone stock? Its almost always modded trucks. I may be wrong but with the poor sales that have hit the manufactures the last number of years AND now the diesel fuel price hitting the diesel truck sales I'd bet my money on a denial.

 

[Grizzly]

I had to take the truck to dodge had a bad knock. After two days of tear down the found some bad bearings on #4 and maybe the cylinder was slapping the walls. I may be little vague know but they aren't very forth coming with the answers that I am after. The only thing that is sounding pretty clear is that they are going to try and get me to buy a new short block or long block. They keep bringing up the cross-hatching in the cylinders and saying that my AFE is to blame but they only see wear in #'s 2,3 and 4. Chrysler has not made a decision yet but my gut says that it is not going to go my way. I would appreciate any ideas or other questions I should ask.

Any verdict yet?

 

[Ducman82]

Magnuson-Moss act (sp)--- they have to PROVE that "said" part caused "said" problem. balls in there court. stay firm and dont take any BS.

 

[MickeyMiller]

BTW... Lithia Dodge in Concord sell K&N replacement filters for our trucks... if I remenber correctly, K&Ns don't filter as well as AFE. See if there parts department sells an aftermarket filter.

 

[Redmega06]

Sorry that I haven't posted lately but with work and fighting with the brain dead not much time left. I have met with them several times and they have come to the conclusion that they are not going to warranty it because I have after market products on it. They refuse to give an explanation why saying that they don't have to explain them selves. When I say that they have to show that something I did caused the problem I'm told that I don't understand the law. I asked to talk to the regional rep that voided it and was told I don't have the right to do that.



To make it short and sweet with the answers given me and what I have been told they could void your warranty for anything down to the tires. If they don't have to answer my questions or show why they are voiding it all they would have to do is find something that is not OEM and say you have aftermarket products and then void it.

Well we have another meeting today not that I feel that we will reach a different conclusion but what the hell.

 

[DPKetchum]

Plead your case. Show them how many Chrysler products you or family members might own or have owned. Show them where you got some maintance or work done by a Chrysler dealer. They do take that sort of thing in account. Of course they may just say sue us and we'll let a judge hash it out.

 

[DodgeWarlock]

Record the meeting openly. Don't try to hide it. Take a tape recorder and record it. If they ask why, tell them that you want a record of everything said. Tell them"If they won't step up you are prepared to pursue it. " Also consider hiring a lawyer and take him to the meeting. They assume most people will backdown or give up. My family had a series of transmission failures in the old minivans. One of there rebuilt replacements failed 1000 miles out of warranty. They were not going to fix it. They also gave the bs line about not seeing regional rep. We contacted Chrysler direct and were put in touch with the rep. After we made it clear action would be taken if it was not fixed somehow, we got a new transmission. Do not agree, sign or admit to anything. Also, don't forget to contact AFE on the issue. Filter manufacturers are usually willing to help you fight this kind of bs. If they could not their reputations would be dirt. Good luck.

 

[Redmega06]

Yeah they are aware of that as I have always taken my truck to them for oil changes and service. That is one of the reasons I felt safe taking it to them because I knew them and thought that I would be delt with fairly. Through all of this all I want is an educated answer. They repeadetly tell me that they don't know what caused my problem but they don't care and it is not their problem to find out, But if I wanted them to fix it I bet they might look a little deeper. Not that these parts replacers good diagnose anything anyways.

 

[DPKetchum]

They probably would not dig into why. No reason. They would just say if any after market air intake systems used or a fueling enhancement device used NO WARRANTY ON REPAIR. Could even say they don't want to be involved in the repair. Its not a easy situation for any that are involved. Best to leave stock and avoid getting into such a issue. Times are rough. In the best of times you'd have a difficult situation but now,whew.

 

[Redmega06]

Just talked with chrysler customer service on the phone and after they contacted the dealership was told that he would have the service rep explain it to me again like I am an idiot. I also got customer service to come out and say that they are accusing the air filter. So know I want an answer as to why only three cylinders are affected.



My brother in-law has been helping with this issue as he is a certified diesel mechanic and has delt with this dealership and local rep many times in the past and has personally showed them that they were wrong on several different occasions. I do believe that I am really feeling the financial pinch. I just get really frustrated when customer service people try and put one over on someone when they have know clue as to what is going on and you can tell they are reading from a script.

 

[Grizzly]

Fight them, even if you have to take an attorney with you. I believe I'd take your truck to a different dealer. Even if the dealer you took your truck to was forced to fix it, I wouldn't trust them.