Here I am

My truck finally showed up today, BUT

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Wire color codes?

Picked up the Red Beast today

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the idiot who unloaded the truck off the semi at the dealership didn't extend his ramps all the way and when the front tires finally hit the pavement, the red sport model front end hit the ramps and took the paint off of the bottom of the bumper cover.

The dealer called me this morning and said that the truck showed up this morning at 7:30, but there was a slight problem. Its at the body shop. I almost popped a blood vessel.

So I went to the body shop and watched them repaint the front end today. I also had alot of time to inspect the rest of the truck and I must say that I am totally discusted with the quality of the paint job on the truck. There is a run in the paint on the back right corner above the tail light. There is a spot about the size of a quarter right beside the sport emblem on the right rear corner near the sliding rear glass, that looks like some one threw some sand underneath the red paint. The painted piece of metal that runs across the top of the radiator is so dry and sandy looking on the right side from the lack of paint being sprayed on it its hard to tell if its even red or not. Where the two doors come together on the passenger side at the bottom on the step there is a scratch that goes all the way to the metal and is about one quarter inch long. Several places on the truck suffer from orange peel from the lack of paint and other places are very dry looking like there isn't enough clear coat.

I would like to B_ _ ch slap the robots that painted this truck.

Anyway I just wanted to vent alittle. Mabe tomorrow when I finally get to drive this thing around alittle I will calm down.

On a side note. This truck was built on 2-15 and was being held in a containment lot. I believe it was part of the transmission recall for the DEE transmissions. When I looked under the truck today the rear drive shaft was totally rusted, but the front drive shaft and the transmission didn't have hardly any rust on them.

I told the guy that does the predelivery on the new trucks to check all of the bolts and everything pertaining to the mounting of the transmission and the drive shafts. Of coarse when I get this thing home I will be rechecking everything with a torque wrench.

First bombing act. Relocating the crankcase breather bottle which I already have fabricated and standing by. Second. Mudd flaps to protect the shi_ _ y paint job. Third. I already have one of the red cummins valve covers on order. Then its onto the fun stuff, injectors, boxes, yada, yada and so on.

It is going to look good in our drive way sitting next to our 96 black 3500

2001. 5 3500 ETH DEE with 354, slt plus agate, sliding rear glass, sport red clear coat, yada, yada, yada.


Wayne
 
was the truck made in USA or Mexico?

My guess is USA. Mexicans do better work. they don't have any unions backing them up when they screw up. .

my 2 cents


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2001. 5 2500 4X4, QC, Auto, 3. 54 LSD, SLT, SWB, Trailer, Camper & Snow plow Packages, White, 35k# Cody Hitch, 20' Gooseneck Lowboy flat-bed Trailer.
 
HeliPilot

I'm glad you are venting. I'd be doing the same thing. There is NO EXCUSE why the factory paint should not be near flawless.
It seems Diamler/Chrysler has no quality contol. Your truck would have never left the factory if they did.

Then another careless idiot scratches the air dam. He couldn't care less either.

When my truck was new, I found a couple of runs and made Dodge repair them. Big mistake. Now 5 years later the paint does not match. Body shop tech said " I don't have factory paint".

Having the Dealer repaint the truck is definately NOT the answer.

I'd refuse delivery on it because of the defective, sloppy, haphazard, careless and shoody paint job.

Absolutely Unacceptable for a new $35,000 truck! #ad


I'm venting too. Reading your post made me mad. #ad




[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 03-20-2001). ]
 
don't blame the unions for faulty robots...
"LIVE BETTER/WORK UNION"
... tom 30yrs.
Graphic Communications International Union
Local #285

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2001QC 2500HD LB ETH/DEE 4x4 4:10's LSD, Pacbrake,Combo Gauge on A pillar,All options except cab lights,Xcelerator air filter,Forest Green/Light driftwood. Westin tubular black powder-coated side bars.
26'Holiday Rambler 5th wheel. Extra Class Amateur Radio Operator ke3Rx
 
Originally posted by HeliPilot:
I must say that I am totally discusted with the quality of the paint job on the truck. There is a run in the paint on the back right corner above the tail light. There is a spot about the size of a quarter right beside the sport emblem on the right rear corner near the sliding rear glass, that looks like some one threw some sand underneath the red paint. The painted piece of metal that runs across the top of the radiator is so dry and sandy looking on the right side from the lack of paint being sprayed on it its hard to tell if its even red or not. Where the two doors come together on the passenger side at the bottom on the step there is a scratch that goes all the way to the metal and is about one quarter inch long. Several places on the truck suffer from orange peel from the lack of paint and other places are very dry looking like there isn't enough clear coat.

I would like to B_ _ ch slap the robots that painted this truck.

I would take pictures of the factory paint problems and immediately start arbitration. A new $38,000 truck should have NO paint problems. If DC wants to have robots paint cars they better start doing it better and ceching every paint job.

If they do not want to have the overhead of a person in QA to check the paint from every robot they they can just buy a few trucks back from the owners who will not accept poor quality paint jobs.

I am sure the union wants a real person, not a robot, painting trucks. If the painter cannot be a person then it should at least pay for an extra union QA person...

I my new truck has any paint related problem I will have DC replace the truck with a new one.


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(2) Red 1990 Dodge Spirit RT 2. 2 Turbo cars
1990 Eagle Talon TSI AWD Modified
2001. 5 2500 4x4 on order...
 
The robots that paint these new vehicles do better than a person could, you just have to feed tham quality paint to work with. There is no excuse for bad paint on a new truck.

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99 2500 QC 4X4 AUTO SB 24V LARAMIE SLT 3. 5 LSD 285-75-16'S SPA Boost/EGT Everything but leather NRA Member Great Lakes TDR Member
 
Sorry guys, after I vented I went to watch TV for awhile with my wife and tried to remember the old expression that says (Perfection is unobtainable)

I'm sorry for leaving out a key piece of the puzzle. Yes the truck was built in the good ol USA. I just assumed that since several people had been posting about the six speed trans recall and the hold up of the trucks comming from St. Louis, everyone would know that the truck was built here.

I looked and called everywhere trying to find a truck like I wanted so that I would not have to order one. I knew that that was the rescipe for disaster.

And as far as not accepting the truck, that would put me right back in the same boat I was in before. I need a vehicle and I need it now. I will tell you guys one thing. The big three over here had better be damm glad that Japan does not offer a full size dully truck with four doors and a bullet proof inline six diesel, because they would be out of the truck market.

When I take it for about a two hundred mile transmission evaluation check ride tomorrow I will be looking for any excuse to refuse the truck. If that DEE grinds, chirps, spits, buckles or bends at the knees, the deal is off.

I will update everyone tomorrow night.

Thanks for the shoulder to cry on.

Wayne
 
HeliPilot-
Sorry to hear of your plight. I ordered mine and it came in from St. Louis with everything just as it should be. I looked mine over fromm stem to stern and everything was perfect! Didn't find a scratch or run in the whole thing. My advice is to take pictures of anything wrong and document everything! My buddy had a '99 that he had paint problems on and he had the pictures and documentation to back up all the complaints. They repainted his hood, top, and front fenders last year with no complaints. I think the important thing is have everything documented and good records kept. Hope this works out for your.
Dave


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2001 2500 HO 6spd QC LB 4x4 SLTPLUS All options except Snow Plow and Clearance Lights - Rhino Liner,Straight Exhaust, 90 Gal. American Toolbox/Tank Combo
'95 Harley Low Rider, Crane cam, S&S Super E
 
Helipilot, I am sorry to hear of your situation. I would be mad myself #ad
. I was lucky on my new truck. It came with one blemish (crooked front bumper). I have yet to fix it. I'd be **** if I'm going to let the dealer body shop touch it. I went through that once before with a chubby.

To all you union lovers. sure its robot painting the **** thing but its a HUMAN inspecting it before it leaves the factory!!! and in this case a union paid human. #ad
 
HeliPilot,

I can understand your frustration. I totally agree with Smokin Joe. When the time comes for me to order my truck, especially after hearing these quality control horror stories, I'm going to let the dealer know in no uncertain terms, that if my truck arrives with any kind of defects, sell it to some one else and order me another one. Fortunatley, I'm in the position that I can wait for the truck. I'll have a stand by vehicle that I can use. It just comes down to a matter of principle!!!! I'm not going to pay around $35,000. 00 + and settle for poor workmenship!!!
 
Originally posted by Tom C:
was the truck made in USA or Mexico?

My guess is USA. Mexicans do better work. they don't have any unions backing them up when they screw up. .

my 2 cents


my 2 cents...

I'll bet Mexican land surveyors are better at their jobs too. #ad


Just for the record Tom C, my St. Louis built '98. 5 Black Sport Ram had a PERFECT paint job as delivered to me. NO orange peel, NO runs, EXCELLENT paint/clear coat coverage... EVERYWHERE. I've seen custom paint jobs that couldn't rival the quality of my Ram.

PS: your derogatory comment isn't worth 2 pesos let alone 2 cents! #ad
 
I am still laughing from when you said you wanted to ***** slap somebody!! It's about time I got a laugh from reading all these posts. I was beginning to think I was one of those old men sitting outside a run down general store on the dead pecker bench talking about the good ol days!
 
Helipilot
I get so p***** off when I read stories like yours, being a Test engineer its my job to make sure things are right when handed to the customer. It seems most anything I buy in the last few years has issues with it, its like nobody gives a **** about taking pride in their work. Unfortunately for you your stuck. What I would do is drag the dealer by the ear show him all the defects in the paint, get an estimate to repaint the defective area's and have them discount that off of the sticker, because we all know if the truck gets touched up it will never be the same, it will either fade faster or slower or spider crack or chip or be lighter or darker than factory.
Sorry guys I had to vent too !!
 
Let me vent or put in my 2 cents also.
Hope I don't have to deal with this when I order my truck.

Taking pictures is good, but get the dealer or sales person to stand beside the photo also. Then take the pictures and make them
sign there name & date to the photos.

I'd refuse this 35M truck if it was my money!
Go rent you something on a weekly bases until the right truck comes in. If it has these problems now, then no telling what else might show up.

Also to the person who was hoping Japan would build a Full size and make US makers shape up. I hated the German take over, but was hoping maybe the MB qualilty would help Chrysler, doesn't appear to have helped.

When you watch or listen to the stock market and hear about DC troubles, guess they are trying to save money in all areas. Sounds like paint is one of them.

Ok I've vented, time to go relax.

Good Luck & keep us posted!!
 
I definitely feel for you. The dealer offered to repaint my entire truck when I picked it up. The paint job sucked and there were numerous other quality control issues (this is after waiting 5 months for it). I figured the lesser of two evils was to just keep it as is. The things we put up with just to have a Cummins engine. The sticker, by the way, said proudly built in St. Louis. After seeing all the stuff that was wrong when I picked up my truck, that sticker really cracked me up.

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98. 5 2500, 24v, QC, 4x4, 4. 10 LSD, short bed, Line-X liner, tow package, camper suspension, Westin nerfs, camper shell, TST PowerMax3, 275 RVs, ProComp A/T 305/70/R16s, EGT/Boost pillar gauges... Love my Cummins, no love for Dodge
 
Reading the post I forgot if it started with paint job or unions.
On both counts My 96 was built in Amigo land and it still had flaws in the paint. But the truck was put together very well. .
With the union, I have work many years very comfortablely without the union and I even own 2 dodges. With that said good by all.
Preston

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96 3500, Black SLT, 5 speed, turbo diesel, , with US Gear overdrive, Rhino liner, Reese 15,000 lb. fifth wheel hitch, US Gear de-celarator exhaust brake, muffler elimination kit, Amsoil lub. , Mag-hytec rear cover, dual-remote by-pass filters, and Roadmaster Active system, AutoMeter Pyro & boost, Primeloc
 
My 99 was built in St louis and has a excelent paintjob on it. It also has no rattles or squeeks or strange noises. Just thought i would post something GOOD for once on here


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Clark
1999 2500 QC SB 5spd Flowmaster 3 chamber, K&N Re-0880
1968 Barracuda Formula S Viper Blue 11. 98@112

NHRA member for life
 
John, sorry if I offended you.

for the record my truck was made in st. louis and its paint is fine. no blemishes, no noises. just a crooked bumper, drivers door not adjusted right,bad CD player (replaced), Bad steering box (replaced), alignment wrong from factory, no engine power (fix by reprograming PCM) and cubby hole right of sterio not screwed down. other than that with only 4000 miles on it I'm very happy with it other than the steering responce.

I'm sure we all feel the same anger and sadness when we hear of the problems that hemipilot and all others with the same plight must feel. I'm glad that I didnt have to go through what they are. I hope that through all the venting in this forum that there is some usefull information here. I do not think its the intent of any of the repondents to point fingers but more a way to vent.

If I were that mad about the unions I would have made sure that my truck was made it mexico. but you have to admit that there is a quality difference between a USA and Mexican made vehicle. My last dodge was Mexican made and I never had one thing quality control related wrong with it.

PS. there might be some better surveyors in mexico. but I dout it. I'm good. #ad


PSS. my next truck will be mexican made.


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2001. 5 2500 4X4, QC, Auto, 3. 54 LSD, SLT, SWB, Trailer, Camper & Snow plow Packages, White, 35k# Cody Hitch, 20' Gooseneck Lowboy flat-bed Trailer.
 
Originally posted by Tom C:
but you have to admit that there is a quality difference between a USA and Mexican made vehicle.

I dissagree, Tom. In fact I think the only thing we can say for sure is that there is no documented correllation between the quality issues and point of final assembly. There are several posts here about where everyone's truck was made and for each complaint about a particular location, there seems to be a matching complement... (or at least a similar complaint for the other location! #ad
)
 
I would refuse the truck. I'd take it back and demand another. You paid for a new truck with a new paint job and that's what you should get. Before we bought ours, we looked at some trucks built in Mexico and some built in St. Louis, the St. Louis trucks are definitely better quality from what we've seen. However, the sport models with the unique colors may have been painted in a different facility.
Send it back, DO NOT ACCEPT DELIVERY!!!
Maybe you can wait for the all new model for next year.
 
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