Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Need to VENT!!! 53 saga

[brianMo]

Well... received a call today from Cummins. It took them 5 weeks and 3 more calls to get back with me. They sincerely offered a $1000. 00 toward the repair of my cracked block. I felt that was a slap in the face. I am still trying to gather myself. A $1000. 00 toward a $8000. 00 repair does not even come close to what I think they should pay. I cannot afford $7000. 00. I was going to accept half graciously. Is this fair? I am the second owner of the truck, but how was I to know? I shoulda... coulda... I flat did not know about the problem when I purchase my truck. Any ideas on where I can go from here? What does it take to get some kind of class action going. No Lawyers out there? Well... I am sad to say that this will probably be the last Cummins product I will own. I may need to look towards a Duramax next time. I do not think it will happen in the very near future. This beating is going to take some healing. I hate to bring the 53 up again, but it is a real problem. Any ideas are welcome! I'm TICKED!!!



Brian

Missouri

 

[Texas Diesel]

I would buy a used engine from a junk yard and then sell it and buy a Power Stroke then tell everyone you can how Cummins treats loyal customers.



I like my trucks but if they did that to me I be in a Ford Crew Cab as soon as I could trade it off.

 

[2-ND TIME]

Cry-slurr and cumminnnnns has be treating me the same way for as long as I have owned this 99 Do_g_ C_______________. They have missed at every stage with me so far. Sorry to here about yours but we should ALLL band together on this and we may get some where. WE ALL SHOULD. They can pick us off one by one but it would be much harder together for we are all going to spend the ?????? $$$$$ 8000. 00 or more anyway!!!!!!!

 

[SRakers]

have 53 too

I talked to Steve at Cummins today. I too was offered $1000, must be the going rate. I have been thinking about getting a block from Cummins and a set of rings, seals, and bearings. I priced a block from a Cummins dist. for $1100 and rings bearings and seals about $800. I can then swap everything else off my motor. I'm not thrilled about it, but better than I could get from Dodge.

I really feel Dodge should be handling this but they just like to run you around till you give up. I would love to see a class action suit against Dodge. I have a letter from Dodge stating that "they are starting to see several of these appear and they have approached Cummins about the problem, but at this point they are dragging their feet on restitution or resolution. " According to Cummins they sold the engines to Dodge with no warranty, because Dodge wanted to handle all issues. Now who can you believe, all I know is somebody screwed up and we are paying for it!

I did have somebody send me to a site www.muggyweld.com/53block.html it shows how to succesfully weld your block, but I'm not sure about it.

 

[swalls]

Have seen several cracked diesel blocks over the years. . usually as a result of not enough antifreeze. Nearly all of them have been repaired satisfactory by an experienced welder using high-nickle rods and a technique similar to the Muggyweld. I have never tried Muggyweld rods, but do like the idea of the specialized electrodes.

If my block cracks, I darn sure would try the weld process before I chunked down 8K.



Class action??-- IMHO the 53 block does NOT meet "customary and reasonable" nor "normal in the trade. " I also think the lift pump is a POS, and fails the same standards. Hate to go the lawyer route, but what the 'ell else if left to us?

 

[lil red cummins]

i agree with swalls. the weld process is worth a shot.



i have had good luck welding manifolds and especially marine water cooled manifolds over the years. all of the cleaning and preheat/postheat process is extremely necessary. if you are a good welder or can find one, it may save you the majority of that 8k replacement cost.



the rod and the technique is the key. i read the muggyweld process instructions and they seem very thorough. it is not a fast process, but if you save 7000 or 7500, the time is worth it. BTW, i never heard of them before today, but would surely try their rod if i was looking at a cracked 53.



jim

 

[Alphacowboy]

anyone have problems with the 53 12v block cracking? I could buy a 12v 53 entire engine including the turbo (145k miles) for 1500 bucks... . dont know what i will do with it, but just curious

 

[JJ Jackson]

Is it economicaly feasible to just clean the coolant stain off, paint it and trade it in? I had a lease when my 53 cracked, with way too many miles to consider trading in. I had no alternative but to pay the $4500. All the shops that repair cracks in diesel engines I talked to all said that the block needed to be disassembled before they would repair it. So I guess you would be on your own with the muggyweld idea.

 

[Ram666]

cracking is an issue on engine serial numbers 56447733-present/ build period 1997-present this includes 12v engines. Chris

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I read somewhere the cracking was due to an improper or missing rib casting somewhere inside the outer wall, that was a screwup by one foundry casting 53 blocks. There are at least 2 foundrys, so not all were affected, but I don't know how you determine which foundry it was, and what identifies the block. If I were to guess I'd say it was the Tupy blocks from Brazil.



I've never heard of a 12v cracking, possibly due to less harsh combustion and shock waves resonating through the block compared to the 24. Or maybe the casting error started with the 24v block (which differs slightly from the 12v block).



Vaughn

 

[McCRam]

That muggyweld article said that the cracks are caused by cavitation. Is that true? If so, would it help to use a coolant that reduces this such as fleetgaurd compleat?

 

[brianMo]

Rough night sleeping. Major anxiety with the truck. My wife just does not understand why I put myself through all this worry. When you are looking at 8K for a fix. That should have not happen, it tends to drag you down. I have went through the options, and still am rather hesitate about welding. I know I do not want to spend 7K. I might end up trading for a GM truck. I was GM all my life until I got this Dodge. I did it for one reason only! CUMMINS! I see that was a mistake. I might even go back to a gasser. Milege will suck, but with the price of diesel it might be a good idea. The most I tow is about 7500lbs. I know I won't be happy, but much cheaper to deal with when a problem arises. I need to plug the crack first. Sorry guys, I am just rambling on! I might even buy the block and do it myself. Never dealt with a diesel at that level. Cannot be much different then a gasser. I sure would like to hear from other 53's. Need some reassurance.



Brian

Missouri

 

[DavidC]

Rough night sleeping. Major anxiety with the truck. My wife just does not understand why I put myself through all this worry. When you are looking at 8K for a fix. That should have not happen, it tends to drag you down. I have went through the options, and still am rather hesitate about welding. I know I do not want to spend 7K. I might end up trading for a GM truck. I was GM all my life until I got this Dodge. I did it for one reason only! CUMMINS! I see that was a mistake. I might even go back to a gasser. Milege will suck, but with the price of diesel it might be a good idea. The most I tow is about 7500lbs. I know I won't be happy, but much cheaper to deal with when a problem arises. I need to plug the crack first. Sorry guys, I am just rambling on! I might even buy the block and do it myself. Never dealt with a diesel at that level. Cannot be much different then a gasser. I sure would like to hear from other 53's. Need some reassurance.



Brian



Missouri

I know you do not want to hear this, just like the rest of us that got burned on this thing. I would suggest taking the 1K and fixing the truck. I personally would not trust the weld with the porous block. They have been known to crack on either side (passenger and drivers side). I personally have registered a complaint on NHSTA's site under defective equipment and will do the BBB next. I had 53K 5 years 2 Months. Chrysler just plain s**ks on this issue. The only way I could feel better on this issue was that at least Cummins did something. Not much but more than Chrysler. I may have to buy another diesel some day but if it is gas it definately will not be a Chrysler vehicle. Chrysler does not seem to care how many bridges it burns with pi**ed off customers that tell people they meet, relatives, fellow workers what a raw deal they got from Chrysler. I wonder if it would be different if it was not a German Company.



Dave

 

[DavidC]

Brian you have a PM in your box.

Good Luck



Dave

 

[Texas Diesel]

I may have to buy another diesel some day but if it is gas it definately will not be a Chrysler vehicle. Chrysler does not seem to care how many bridges it burns with pi**ed off customers that tell people they meet, relatives, fellow workers what a raw deal they got from Chrysler. Dave

Thats how I feel, if I ever replace mine it will be with something besides Chrysler, loyalty is a two way street.

 

[Tcolesanti]

Just a thought here, what about a block off of ebay?? I have seen some wrecked trucks that they part out, there have been a few "56" blocks on there that go for super cheap like $200. I would buy a used block and a new set of rings/bearings and rebuild the engine myself.

 

[Horsepuller]

I know this will not make you feel any better, but do you guys actually think Ford or GM would treat you any different. They are all the same when it comes time to accept responsibility. Ford is the worst of the bunch.

 

[TWilkening]

My thoughts exactly. Look at how they're handling the chronic failures of the 6. 0

 

[Ram666]

the information I have came from a cummins rep. it says component name: block component part #:3935934. I do not know if this is the number on the block or not. the bulletin does state 1997 to present,so it does include 12v blocks. this was a problem in FL70 trucks also. Chrysler replaced mine at 90,000 miles under warranty,0 cost to me!!! Chris

 

[Alphacowboy]

i too have seen cummins blocks on ebay for pretty cheap. There is 53 blcok 12v, am tempted to buy one as it is only 1500 bucks for a complete diesel Cummins w/out intercooler (already gone ) anyway, guys think of it this way, I know this deal sucks, but none of the automakers are better, none are worse, they are all the same. Thay dont care, PERIOD... hell look at GM and the 5. 7 vortec, that damn engine including the rest of the truck engines all have a ****ty as piston slap, and GM doesnt do shiat for any of them, tells them its all normal... BS. Ford, the 6. 0 had LOTS of problems, and ford continues to turn the other cheak to most of them. Pisses me off companys do this... all of them do it, from toasters, to computers to cars, to homes... nobody gives a **** about quality anything anymore, the only quality they worry about is the "quality of life" the money they make buys them... ... :-{}