Attention: TDR Forum Junkies Having owned this truck for six years, I have been anticipating when issues would start to pop up.
Reading the TDR has prepared me. One dealer told me that the average turnover for buying another
vehicle is about six years. That is about when the warranties fade. That sounds about right. For me,
I haven't owned a vehicle for more than six years each since the mid nineties only because my needs changed.
The last long term ownership was a 1985 Nissan seven foot bed, five speed basic work truck. Very low
maintenance. Single then and shopping for a wife, I needed something to haul a more "precious" cargo.
Next was a '97 Dakota 4:10 eight foot bed with creature comforts. Married in '98 including a nine year old
step daughter, camping trips were cramped with three in a single cab. Next got a 2003 Ram 2500
5.7, 4:10 QC to tow a 5,000 lb. TT. Flat and level was fine but struggled up long grades. Next got a 2008
Ram 4:10 Cummins and a 2008 TT at 8,000 lbs. and never looked back. Just like my wife, a keeper!
So on to 2014, when it rains, it pours! Jan 2014 batteries replaced. Feb, water pump. March, brakes,
tires, 67,000 mile EGR service (dealer covered). All went well then. Later in Oct, the second water pump
failed from NAPA (made in China) and the windshield washer quit. NAPA replaced the water pump (lifetime warranty) with another one made in China. First I thought the windshield washer nozzles were clogged and blew out with
shop air hose line piece by piece all the way down to the pump. Still clogged. Pulled the washer pump and
guess what! Made in China. After three Chinese made trailer tires blew out and two Chinese made + and -
shift selector button circuit boards failed and two water pumps you bet I was ready to bash made in you know where.
Well as it turns out, there was slime mold clogging the impeller screen on the washer pump. Flushed the reservoir
tank, refilled and gave it a shot of biocide.
Right about that time, I noticed the exhaust brake not engaging all the way as I use it full time for soot control.
Thinking here we go again, I am expecting long term soot issues to pop up as well. Prepared to replace the turbo,
I went to the dealer to check with prices. I described the symptoms to the tech and he said turbo needs to be replaced.
He said he replaces a lot of them but he said the parts dept. had several on the shelf and could make a deal with price.
Turns out they had only one and it was the full retail price. Looked at Discount Mopar and found around $2700.00.
I was ready to bite the bullet, but on the way to work the next day, I tried exercising the exhaust brake by selecting
third gear and throttling up the boost and backing off for the EB to work. Third gear is easy on the drive train by
not loading the transmission so much. Repeated that about ten times and WA! LA! EB came back. Dodged the bullet
that time. Now I include this new exercise the my previous wacky emissions soot control driving technique.
Down the road, I am expecting long term issues to pop up eventually, but all in all, I believe I am actually lucky
so far. Truck is still running good, the trailer roof doesn't leak and the floor hasn't rotted so all are keepers like my wife.
What's a little maintenance after all.
Reading the TDR has prepared me. One dealer told me that the average turnover for buying another
vehicle is about six years. That is about when the warranties fade. That sounds about right. For me,
I haven't owned a vehicle for more than six years each since the mid nineties only because my needs changed.
The last long term ownership was a 1985 Nissan seven foot bed, five speed basic work truck. Very low
maintenance. Single then and shopping for a wife, I needed something to haul a more "precious" cargo.
Next was a '97 Dakota 4:10 eight foot bed with creature comforts. Married in '98 including a nine year old
step daughter, camping trips were cramped with three in a single cab. Next got a 2003 Ram 2500
5.7, 4:10 QC to tow a 5,000 lb. TT. Flat and level was fine but struggled up long grades. Next got a 2008
Ram 4:10 Cummins and a 2008 TT at 8,000 lbs. and never looked back. Just like my wife, a keeper!
So on to 2014, when it rains, it pours! Jan 2014 batteries replaced. Feb, water pump. March, brakes,
tires, 67,000 mile EGR service (dealer covered). All went well then. Later in Oct, the second water pump
failed from NAPA (made in China) and the windshield washer quit. NAPA replaced the water pump (lifetime warranty) with another one made in China. First I thought the windshield washer nozzles were clogged and blew out with
shop air hose line piece by piece all the way down to the pump. Still clogged. Pulled the washer pump and
guess what! Made in China. After three Chinese made trailer tires blew out and two Chinese made + and -
shift selector button circuit boards failed and two water pumps you bet I was ready to bash made in you know where.
Well as it turns out, there was slime mold clogging the impeller screen on the washer pump. Flushed the reservoir
tank, refilled and gave it a shot of biocide.
Right about that time, I noticed the exhaust brake not engaging all the way as I use it full time for soot control.
Thinking here we go again, I am expecting long term soot issues to pop up as well. Prepared to replace the turbo,
I went to the dealer to check with prices. I described the symptoms to the tech and he said turbo needs to be replaced.
He said he replaces a lot of them but he said the parts dept. had several on the shelf and could make a deal with price.
Turns out they had only one and it was the full retail price. Looked at Discount Mopar and found around $2700.00.
I was ready to bite the bullet, but on the way to work the next day, I tried exercising the exhaust brake by selecting
third gear and throttling up the boost and backing off for the EB to work. Third gear is easy on the drive train by
not loading the transmission so much. Repeated that about ten times and WA! LA! EB came back. Dodged the bullet
that time. Now I include this new exercise the my previous wacky emissions soot control driving technique.
Down the road, I am expecting long term issues to pop up eventually, but all in all, I believe I am actually lucky
so far. Truck is still running good, the trailer roof doesn't leak and the floor hasn't rotted so all are keepers like my wife.
What's a little maintenance after all.
