Need Help!!! Dealer conversation...

[roperteacher]

I just called the dealer to find out the progress on my Water pump issue that continues to leak. It is intermittant, thats why I carry my camera. I gave them the latest pictures today! They drove the truck 22 miles and have had it idling all day and can't seem to find any problems. .



Here is what they mentioned: I "Guess" there is an oxygen sensor that has been chewed near the tailpipe??? THey Say it's from a rodent and that it happens all the time. THey said I will be getting a ck engine lite soon... THey also said my truck has 10% brakes left... . This is after 7 months and 17,000 miles!!! And I don't mash the brakes!!! ANy ideas?? I am going to call a local cummins shop about this oxygen sensor wire!!

 

[ENafziger]

I'm not sure, but I can't recall an oxygen sensor anyplace in the exhaust on our trucks. A diesel doesn't need to measure a/f ratio in an attempt to run close to stoichiometry like a gasoline engine. And as for the brakes, I don't know why they would be so worn so quickly. I have over 36k on mine, and they don't hardly show any wear.



I could guess why they said what they did, but I'll probably get in trouble for speculating! --Eric

 

[JCasper]

I have 62K on my brakes and there is no O2 sensor.

 

[BHolm]

This is one of those dealers that gives them all a bad name. I would be really surprised to see the brakes worn that thin so soon. Unless you do all city driving or tow a heavy unbraked trailer all the time I would say it would be just about impossible to wear out the brakes in so few miles.



What I would do is show up at the dealer, insist they show you the frayed wire and the worn out brakes. I would also say that if you provided them with photgraphic evidence of a leaking water pump that any decent dealer would change the part out on a virtually new truck still under warranty.



Call their bluff, and if they are lying about any of the other issues, report them to the BBB and file a complaint with Chrysler customer service.



Unless they make this right immediately, find another dealer. I would probably do so anyway unless it is seriously inconvienent.

 

[THorn]

Did they mention anything about the water pump? Other then they havent seen anything? What did they say when you showed them your pictures?

Honestly, i ignore the majority of "suggestions" from a dealer or quick lube shop. I work as a mechanic a few nights a week and see/hear my fair share of suggested "fixes" from other shops that DO NOT need to be done. I would have to say the top 2 are..... O2 sensor and brakes... . how ironic!

 

[CDonaldson]

There is NO ox sensor on our trucks. I have similar mileage on my 2006, my brakes LOOK like NEW, virtually no real wear and I do a lot of mountaneous driving and use them. Unless your trailer brake controller is not working at all, that sounds bogus.



So far, they seem to NOT be addressing the problem you took your truck into them for - they recently put in a new pump, it can fail, what's not to see here, must be the same problem you had with the previously failed pump AND you were able to duplicate the problem right under their noses.



Time to bring DC into the picture, that's why they have an engineering department, their job to satisfy your warranty needs. Keep returning with your problem, keep having them look everywhere else for other stuff, add them up and GO FOR the lemmon law. I'd say their incompetence IS lemmon-like.



CD

 

[wcjp]

What kind of mileage are you averaging? Wonder if the brakes are dragging. I have 32k on my 06' Mega. Brakes look great. Added the Exhaust brake at about 20k. I take my Dodge to a dealer that's somewhat out of my way to avoid the conveniently located dealer.

 

[roperteacher]

Dealer Admits Mistake!

I just showed up at my dealer today and wanted to see this OX sensor and brakes. Very appologetically they said they had made a mistake. THey said that there were two Ram 3500's same color side by side in the shop and that they got mine confused with the other. The OTHER one had the brake issue and rodent damage. Not mine. I do agree that they just are not willing to get into this problem deeper. It won't duplicate the problem for me either, thats why I keep a camera in case it does do it again! I am calling DC as we speak...

 

[robmints]

I just showed up at my dealer today and wanted to see this OX sensor and brakes. Very appologetically they said they had made a mistake. THey said that there were two Ram 3500's same color side by side in the shop and that they got mine confused with the other. The OTHER one had the brake issue and rodent damage. Not mine. I do agree that they just are not willing to get into this problem deeper. It won't duplicate the problem for me either, thats why I keep a camera in case it does do it again! I am calling DC as we speak...

"Idle all day" yikes!

 

[roperteacher]

Yea, thats why I went to pick it up, so they wouldn't idle all day... Just so happens when I picked it up the coolant temp was on the 140 COLD as ever. . THere was no idling! They did a 13 miles test drive, turned it off and didn't get any coolant so they parked it!!

 

[DrDiesel]

Tell them they need to replace the W/P under warranty.

If they refuse, then call D/C.

If that fails. Do it your self.

 

[jray]

I looked at your signature and it shows that you own a 2002 which is a 2nd generation truck. The 2003 and newer are 3rd generation trucks which have bigger rotors than the 2nd gens. I have a 2003 and do alot of stop and go city driving. At 65,000 miles my fronts were just about shot and the rears had about 50% left. I replaced both front and rear with factory pads.



My brother has a 2002 just like yours and at 65,000 he was on his fourth set of pads. It looks like the 2003 with the bigger brakes seem to last alot longer. Do a search on brake pads. The TDR community has some opinions on which brakes last longest.



Moving on to your water pump leakage problem. I noticed with my truck when it was new the outside edge of the pump where it contacts the block would bubble brown sealant material when the engine was hot. It would never leak but it caused me concern that some day it might. At about 47,000 miles the pump started leaking at the weep hole. It turns out that some engines suffered early water pump failure due to sand being left in the block during the casting process. I replaced the water pump with a lifetime Napa water pump at about sixty dollars and 20 minutes of my time. As an added precaution when I replaced the pump I put a light coat of red RTV silicone around the housing. The water pump itself is o-ring sealed where it contacts the block. GOOD LUCK!!!!



I missed the 2006 truck in your signature. I'll bet they had the wrong paperwork in hand when they talked to you.

 

[roperteacher]

Yes, they admitted they made a mistake!

 

[BTighe]

i too was wondering about the idle all day claim.

 

[roperteacher]

I just called Chrysler for the second time at the 800#. They agreed with the dealer, that the water pump has to be leaking in front of them for them to replace any parts. . So I guess I have to drive it until it fails?

 

[CDonaldson]

Even with a current picture showing the fluid loss, you have to follow their methodology and risk a cooling system breakdown that ultimately COULD cause additional damage to something else. I realize that this would be your 2nd pump under warranty, and that a brand new pump could fail the same day installed, but maybe there is something deeper to this situation of yours and maybe they should think in that direction. YOU, out of pocket, changed the radiator cap, thermostat, and coolant cannister. They have pressure tested your system and changed the water pump. You are still having the same problem you began with BEFORE all the stuff that has already been done. This suggests there is more to your problem than these items. You have the 325/610 engine with the third injector event. Since the addition of the 3rd injector event, many have been blowing the sand/freeze plugs at the back of the engine over the transmission. That somehow is related to pressure in the system. Some have speculated that it might have to do with driving a cold engine a little too hard, but some have had them blow who wait and warmup. In your case it seems to occur at shutdown. I wait until my EGT's are below 300* at shutdown, I have the basically same 2006 model as you do, I have had NO coolant system problem. It may be that your shutdown temps are the issue.



CD

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Make sure you have paper work from them stating they idled the truck all day otherwise they'll blame it on too much idle time further down the road.

 

[brods]

roperteacher, glad to hear your problem is no longer an issue. I was just wondering if the coolant was ever changed and if it was checked for casting sand or grit?

 

[roperteacher]

THe only time my coolant was ever changed was at 13,000 miles when they changed the water pump. My invoice says that they warranteed the pump and coolant. My service writer said that it is standard practice to replace coolant when a water pump fails. Since the truck was so low on miles, wouldn't surprise me if they just drained it and put it right back in!!! I cannot verify that. PLEASE if you are interested in this post at all, go to my other thread I started today regarding me being "Free" I just posted a lengthy explanation of the whole ordeal and why I decided to get another truck rather than fight Chrysler.



TO answer your question, NO, they did not test for sand in the coolant. Truck sat for 18 months on the lot ( I was STUPID to not have looked when I bought it)... Truck had a little over 100 miles on it when I bought it. I looked at the window sticker and it was origionally sold to another dealership in Dan Diego. It was driven to the dealer I bought it from 90 miles from them. SO it got 10 miles in a year and a half. I CERTAINLY know better now. I was getting tremendous mileage with it and pulled like a champ... But couldn't stand to see coolant dripping on the ground out the overflow!!!!!! Someone on the other thread gave me hard time because I traded it, just read the other thread. . LOLOL



I had one oil analysis done on that truck and the Potassium was 6X the normal range. THey said there was no coolant present but I called blackstone and they did not know I had changed my oil 5X since new. The potassium is from a spray that cummins puts on the inside of the engine but usually disappears by the 3rd oil change. I was going to send another sample in about 2,000 miles. The "Block Test" They said they did to ck for exaust in the coolant came back neg, but I am not sure they even did it!! THey DID NOT idle that truck all day. It had 12 miles from the time I dropped it off and was stone cold when they drove it out to me to take home. . ( Supposedly after idleing all day in the shop). It's over and it's done regardless. Thanks everyone for the HELP!!!