My letter to cummins

[Dieselnerd]

This is a copy of the letter I sent to Cummins regarding the dowel pin problem.

Dear Sir:
I am a member of the Turbo Diesel Register. Lately there have been many reports of the upper left gear housing locating pin falling out and causing severe damage to the B5. 9 engine. It's my understanding that this pin is pressed into the block but the hole in the gear housing it locates is bored all the way through. This is an obvious design defect and makes me feel like I am driving a "Time Bomb" just waiting to fail. I bought my Dodge strictly for the engine, which I always loved for it's reliability and durability. Now I wonder if mine is going to drop it's dowel pin out in the middle of nowhere. No one seems to know how big this problem is or how many engines are involved. Mine is a 1996 and I assume the dowel pin could fall out too. My questions to you are: What is Cummins doing to address this problem? How big a problem is it actually? Can I expect some kind of fix or retrofit from Cummins to ensure this problem doesn't happen to me? I'm sure a company with the reputation and prestige of Cummins doesn't want this kind of thing happening and I look forward to hearing from you about this problem.
Thank you very much,
Ronald Moeller
dieselnerd@aol.com

I have received a ticket number and the promise from Cummins to respond to my letter as soon as they can.

 

['956Wheel]

Ron, Good letter, please post the Cummins response. Did you allready send it? If not I would print out some of the photos showing the damage done by poor design, gets rid of the possibilty of denile.

Mike

------------------
9535hundred

 

[Dieselnerd]

Here is what Cummins sent me so far:

Subj: Re: Dowel pin problem ; RQST00000041945
Date: 5/17/01 9:55:32 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Powermaster@Cummins.com
To: DIESELNERD@aol.com

Thank you for sending a message to Cummins, Inc and a new ticket has been created.

Summary: Dowel pin problem

For future correspondence on this ticket, please respond to this email
or include the full Ticket ID in the subject line and it will be associated to your request.

Please realize that we receive dozens of messages each day and those
messages are sorted and handled according to a number of conditions.

We appreciate your understanding, and want you to know that a member
of the Powermaster team will be handling your request as quickly as possible.

(As soon as they respond with something I'll post it for the TDR members. )


[This message has been edited by Dieselnerd (edited 05-17-2001). ]

 

[waynep]

I sent mine in too, dieselnerd, and of course got the same reply as you. All we can do is flood them with letters and maybe they'll do something. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Have a good one.

Wayne

 

[Bob Ellithorpe]

Is the e-mail address Powermaster@Cummins.com the correct place to send letters of complaint/dissatisfaction reguarding the dowel pin problem??

------------------
Bob Ellithorpe
94 3500 TST #5 plate,Geno's combo gage (Boost&EGT)Lost the Cat. Three hitches,frame,fifth wheel&goose neck. Pull 30'Kountry Star fifth wheel.

 

[Dieselnerd]

Yes, email to Powermaster@cummins.com. Fast and easy. If we all send emails they should give us some kind of answer. Let's flood their mailbox as suggested in another dowel pin post that gave me the idea to write too.

It doesn't have to be fancy, just a few polite lines about the dowel pin and how you are very concerned about your truck!

 

[radixr]

Here is the email I just sent:

Dear Sir:

I am the proud owner of a Cummins B5. 9 (215 HP) engine with a 1996 Dodge pickup wrapped around it. I really like driving this engine around and am impressed with the power, reliability and performance. I belong to the TDR website and there is a "conspiracy" there to write to you about the problem some owners are having with a front gear housing dowel pin falling out and causing extensive damage. I'm sure this is NOT a widespread problem but it is happening frequently enough that I feel obliged to do something about it.

At the present time, there is a homemade fix (including a drill jig, tools and screws) floating around and I am trying to get my greasy paws on it so I can perform this fix and rest easy. I would prefer a factory fix which is why I'm contacting you. I'm hoping you can come up with a better method and make it available to us.

While I'm in the begging mode, about a year ago, I signed up to participate in a lift pump survey which was to include replacing the original lift pump. I understand that that survey has died. I recently installed a fuel pressure gauge on my truck and was dismayed to find out that my maximum fuel pressure is 8 psi compared to the recommended 22-25 psi. I've been informed that P/N 3936316 is the latest version of the lift pump. Is there any chance I could buy this lift pump at, say, cost? In any event, what is your best price for this pump (including the 2 gaskets)?

Thanks, and I remain a loyal Cummins aficionado.

Dave Wist

 

[mikepvg]

Nice letter Ron

I'd like to see every TDR member write to Cummins.
#'s do talk & w/ the kind of #'s the TDR represent, I'd bet they would listen.

#ad

Mike

 

[PROBE]

Very appropriate letter and hope that the letters continue.
Attaching the JPEGS is an excellent idea.

Later, Probe

------------------
'94 RAM 2500 W/CUMMINS 5. 9... BANKS POWER PACK... K&N AIR FILTER... PREMO OIL REFINER... AMSOIL SERIES 3000... . Killer Dowel Pin Removed

 

[BC]

I've been reading all the past posts about the "killer dowel pin". Came across this one but don't know what the end results were. Did Cummin's have an answer?



Thanks for any further info.



Bill Cook

 

[dcash]

did cummins ever answer any of you guys, i sent a letter to dodge and am currently waiting on a response. i am calling the regional dodge rep. in the morning to discuss this issue with him.

 

[illflem]

This is the form letter reply most folks got.



"The timing pin diameter from the supplier and the hole drilled for the pin, are designed to be 'press fit' dimensions. In some rare cases, the supplied timing pin dimension and the drilled hole dimension, may not provide the correct 'press fit'. During assembly line manufacturing, it is impossible to determine the amount of 'press fit' between the pin and the drilled hole, once the pin is installed into the bore.



A few of the pins have not had the correct 'press fit' in the drilled hole and have worked out of the hole. This does cause extensive damage to the gears and gear cover. The percentage of failure is very, very low and did not justify a major recall campaign of all engines. If an unexpected failure should occur during the warranty period of the engine, the repair will be handled under normal warranty practices.



Early in 1998 the gear cover was changed to a 'blind hole' design, which would not let the dowel pin move out of the bore. If you have a great fear of this pin coming out, we suggest discussing this issue with your local Dodge dealer or Cummins distributor, to determine the appropriate action in each situation.



The pin itself can be replaced if desired or Locktite can be used to hold it in place, without having to replace the pin or gear housing assembly.



Inspection and securing of the timing pin:



1. Remove the damper, pulley and gear cover from front of engine.



2. Tap on the dowel pin with a flat punch to insure that it is seated in the bore.



3. Clean all the oil from area with solvent and dry completely.



4. Apply some wicking type Locktite on the dowel pin and housing and let the Locktite cure.



5. Reinstall the cover with a new seal and gasket.



6. Reinstall damper and pulley.



We hope this helps you understand the dowel issue better. "

signed Cummins

 

[dcash]

so since it doesn't affect a huge amount of vehicles they aren't going to fix any of them? that makes alot of sense, you think they'd be happy it isn't affecting all of them and be more than willing to fix the "few" that it does affect. man do they have customer service down or what?



du$ty

 

[grtescpa]

Originally posted by Dieselnerd

This is a copy of the letter I sent to Cummins regarding the dowel pin problem.



Dear Sir:

I am a member of the Turbo Diesel Register. Lately there have been many reports of the upper left gear housing locating pin falling out and causing severe damage to the B5. 9 engine. It's my understanding that this pin is pressed into the block but the hole in the gear housing it locates is bored all the way through. This is an obvious design defect and makes me feel like I am driving a "Time Bomb" just waiting to fail. I bought my Dodge strictly for the engine, which I always loved for it's reliability and durability. Now I wonder if mine is going to drop it's dowel pin out in the middle of nowhere. No one seems to know how big this problem is or how many engines are involved. Mine is a 1996 and I assume the dowel pin could fall out too. My questions to you are: What is Cummins doing to address this problem? How big a problem is it actually? Can I expect some kind of fix or retrofit from Cummins to ensure this problem doesn't happen to me? I'm sure a company with the reputation and prestige of Cummins doesn't want this kind of thing happening and I look forward to hearing from you about this problem.

Thank you very much,

Ronald Moeller

-- email address removed --



I have received a ticket number and the promise from Cummins to respond to my letter as soon as they can.

I wrote a simular letter. They are going to tell you that any problems that develop with your engine (if its still under waranty) are to be handled with Crysler Dodge and not Cummin's. They wash their hands of it because they did not sell you the truck.

I also called their tech line and talked with a Cummins rep. They told me a Bull story that no engines produced in 97 had the pin failures. Good luck getting any real facts from them. At least the power stroke does not self distruct!

 

[dcash]

I have researched this topic in depth. The reason Cummins will not address this problem is because it isn't their problem in the Dodge truck application. Dodge buys the motors from Cummins with no warranty. Cummins fixes this problems in other applications non-dodge related. The problem is to be delt with by Dodge. I am currently in the process of arguing this with Dodge.



du$ty

 

[KPerkins]

I see by Illflem's reply that in early '98 they changed the cover to a blind hole design. Does anyone know at what serial # this change took place. Was this change with the 24 valve or were some 12 valves changed. I have a '98 12v.

 

[illflem]

As I understand it stocks of the old style case weren't used up until early '99 even though the new one was introduced. It's a flip of the coin whether you have the new or old style. There is no way I know of to tell from the outside...

 

[KPerkins]

Thanks Illflem, I guess we,ll just pin it to be sure.

 

[JohnE]

HI Ken;



I'll add my 2¢ based on my own experience with Cummins as an OEM.



ALL 12 valve <b>B</b> series engines are suspect for KDP. Knowing the speed of Cummins in implementing design changes I think all 98. 5 and early 99 Dodge Ram with ISB engines <em>could</em> have the old design front cover.





Get your governor springs, yet?

 

[Steve Roseman]

Re: Re: My letter to cummins

Originally posted by grtescpa



At least the power stroke does not self distruct!

I'd rather tab or jig the KDP any day than worry about cavitation.