more on the vibe.

[Mike B.]

the dealer has had my 05,4x4 auto for over a week now working on the vibe issue. Today I get a call saying that there is nothing that can be done and it's just how the trucks are. bla bla bla... . :-{}



After a few minutes of that I finally get to speak to the service manager who handles the diesel trucks. He informed me that the only way they were able to get rid of the vibe on my truck was when the removed the front shaft.



I asked if they had replaced the shaft with a new one. He said Dodge told them not to replace it because sometimes a new shaft will make the problem worse. I said, "OK" well then did you send the shaft out to be balanced. No, according to them Dodge told them not to send the shaft out to be balanced.



After that he said he would call Dodge again in the morning and have some information to me before noon.



I'm afraid I'm going to have to get all lawyered up before this is over. :{ :{





Any suggestions??



Mike



BTW: I still have the 99 and it rides like a dream. .

 

[Wiredawg]

Lemon Law

Sounds like the dealer is trying to work w/ you and is trying to deal w/ DC. If they can't get it straight to your satisfaction use the lemon law to get satisfaction. I know all the trucks don't do it cuz my wife's 03 is vibe-free.



Keep us informed and good luck,



Wiredawg

 

[AKAMAC]

Ask them to swap one out of another truck. They loose 20 min. for the swap and have made another happy customer. If the vibe is still there then the front axle assembly is questionable. Put the ball in Dealers court.

A machinist friend showed me a neat trick... Fill the slip shaft boot with 4 oz of ATF and run it. If the vibration goes away the spilne/slip fit is loose. This is only for test purposes. It will not last. Good luck, Mike

 

[HOBrian]

I would keep the 99 and tell them to stick the 05 up their... well you know :-laf

 

[LFalconer]

Mike, I feel for ya, Have the same issue with mine. Ask em to shim the carrier bearing, this did help.



Also, my dealer did send the front shaft out for balance, and indexed 180 degrees, again helped some, but not the fix.



I also have a vibe/buzz at 2400 to 2600 rpm, can feel it at 0 mph, and 73 mph. The power steering hose is the new type.



I see you are in Annapolis MD, I'm in Leesburg VA. Leesburg C/D has been a great dealer, however - I too am working through the Buyback issues.



Send me a PM if you'd like to exchange more data.



Thx, Luke

 

[NPloysa]

My buddy who is a vendor where I work just bought an 04. He is having the vibe issue too. He had a new rear drive shaft put in under warranty. He can't post here so I am doing it for him.



Nick

 

[Mike B.]

Well, what gets me is that when they removed the front shaft the vibe goes away completely. This leads me to think the shaft is out or something is wrong with the u joints or the yoke. perhaps the slip yoke has too much play in it.



The did try a shaft off of a new truck and told me that the vibe was the same.

I don't understand how installing a new shaft could make the problem worse.



I really feel for the dealerships being stuck with this defect. I think I have a good dealer on my hands although the comment that "it's normal the all do that" did rub me the wrong way. I almost get the feeling that there hands are being tied by DC on what the can and can't try.



Mike

 

[Mike B.]

Brian,

My plan is to keep both, they're both awsome. the 99 is for work and the 05 is for play.

 

[Mike B.]

todays update

The dealer has sent the front shaft out to be balanced. I'm not really hopefull that this will take care of the problem but I'm sure it's a step in the right direction.







Mike

 

[Tryingit]

I too had the vibe issue. I removed my own front driveshaft, identified the problem and told the dealership what I did and what the problem was. They replaced the front shaft and solved the problem. I had one weight on the old one and about four on the new one. I would try another dealership and not mention the first dealership. Just tell them that with the front driveshaft removed the vibration is gone.

 

[Mike B.]

update

Well tomorrow will be the end of week #3 that the dealer has had my truck.

They have sent the front shaft out to be balanced by a local shop. I was told today that while the shop said it was OK they did not test it on a harmonic balancer. The machine shop has now sent the shaft to a different shop that does have such a balancer. I'm hoping to be able to pick it up Saturday. I'd really like for this to have a happy ending.



I guess I can't really ***** too much about the dealer, at least they are trying to do something.



As a side note here is the reply I finally recieved from DC to an email I sent them. It took them 5 days to respond . It's pretty much a useless letter. It sounds like a computer generated responce.



Mike



Dear Michael,



Thank you for your email to DaimlerChrysler regarding the front end

vibration issue with your 2005 Ram 2500.



I regret the problem your vehicle has experienced and appreciate the

time and effort you took to bring this matter to my attention. Comments

like yours are one way we have to learn of problems that may develop and

improvements desired by customers.



Unfortunately, given the many variables involved, we are unable to

diagnose your vehicle's problem via email. We recommend contacting your

authorized DaimlerChrysler dealership to arrange an appointment for

proper diagnosis and repair.



Our dealerships have the factory training, equipment and information

available to them to diagnose and correct problems with DaimlerChrysler

Motors Corporation vehicles. Should your dealer require factory

assistance, it is available through the regional Business Center.



If you have been working with an authorized dealership but the problem

is not yet resolved, seeking a second opinion from a different dealer

may be a viable option.



Thank you again for your email.





NOTE: Please do not use the 'Reply' function of your email system. If

you have a need to respond to this message, please visit us at our reply

form (link provided below). Our system is NOT able to accept any emails

at this address.



For any future communications related to this email, please refer to the

following information:

 

[Roy1]

Well tomorrow will be the end of week #3 that the dealer has had my truck.

They have sent the front shaft out to be balanced by a local shop. I was told today that while the shop said it was OK they did not test it on a harmonic balancer. The machine shop has now sent the shaft to a different shop that does have such a balancer. I'm hoping to be able to pick it up Saturday. I'd really like for this to have a happy ending.



I guess I can't really ***** too much about the dealer, at least they are trying to do something.



As a side note here is the reply I finally recieved from DC to an email I sent them. It took them 5 days to respond . It's pretty much a useless letter. It sounds like a computer generated responce.



Mike



Dear Michael,



Thank you for your email to DaimlerChrysler regarding the front end

vibration issue with your 2005 Ram 2500.



I regret the problem your vehicle has experienced and appreciate the

time and effort you took to bring this matter to my attention. Comments

like yours are one way we have to learn of problems that may develop and

improvements desired by customers.



Unfortunately, given the many variables involved, we are unable to

diagnose your vehicle's problem via email. We recommend contacting your

authorized DaimlerChrysler dealership to arrange an appointment for

proper diagnosis and repair.



Our dealerships have the factory training, equipment and information

available to them to diagnose and correct problems with DaimlerChrysler

Motors Corporation vehicles. Should your dealer require factory

assistance, it is available through the regional Business Center.



If you have been working with an authorized dealership but the problem

is not yet resolved, seeking a second opinion from a different dealer

may be a viable option.



Thank you again for your email.





NOTE: Please do not use the 'Reply' function of your email system. If

you have a need to respond to this message, please visit us at our reply

form (link provided below). Our system is NOT able to accept any emails

at this address.



For any future communications related to this email, please refer to the

following information:

Mike have you had any luck with the vibe as yet? My truck goes in next Wed. Dealer agreed to balance both shafts.



Roy

 

[Mike B.]

update

Roy,



After getting the front shaft back from the machine shop the vibe is still there. They tried to balance the yoke on the front diff with a hose clamp after they put the shaft back on. I stopped by the dealer this afternoon and took it for a drive because they said it was better than it was . It was better but not what I would call fixed.



On the 28th. of this month the DC rep is going to drive the truck with some sort of frequency monitor hooked up to it. The service manager said that the rep thinks the problem is an internal inbalace inside the front diff. The DC rep. said replacing the front diff has fixed this problem on some trucks but every time. If they decide that the vibe is coming from the front diff it will be replaced. If it still has the vibe after that I have know idea what they will try next.



Anyway, I'm going to pick up the truck tomorrow and bring it back on the 28th so I can speak to DC rep face to face.



The service manager at my dealer said they've had two trucks other than mine with the vibe. One was so bad that the mirrors shook. That one was bought back by DC. The one was a touch better than mine and was not bought back. I really don't know where all this is heading but at least I know I purchased the truck from a dealership that isn't leaving me out in the cold. So far they have been doing everything the can to get this taken care of.

If anyone cares, the dealership is Ralphs Dodge in Prince Frederick, MD.



Roy, I think you would be lucky if balancing the shafts does anything.

The key is as others have said , be firm but polite and don't take "it's normal" as an answer.





good luck

Mike

 

[Roy1]

Mike,

My dealer has always been responsive to issues on other truck's I bought there. The sm said if balancing doesn't do it or shimming the pinion angle fails "they" will involve the factory.

Mine isn't so bad that the mirrors shake or anything extreme. It may take some time but it will be remidied.



Roy

 

[geusterman]

I think I read that Carson Dodge buys these 'vibrators' from Dodge... realigns the Cummins on its mounts and away it goes vibration free. Read that in the CTDRegister last quarter. George

 

[Mike B.]

Ralphs Dodge said that the pinion angles are fine. The vibe I have isn't really that bad but I'm worried about what will happen 50K miles down the road.

I'm sure it will be resolved.