New Ford vs New Dodge

[RGardner]

Latest on my friends new ford: lost carrier bearing. serpentine belt and idler pulley. still runs horrible. in the shop to see if the dealer can figure the problem.

 

[Jeremiah]

Compare 'em and wish!

Originally posted by RGardner

Latest on my friends new ford: lost carrier bearing. serpentine belt and idler pulley. still runs horrible. in the shop to see if the dealer can figure the problem.

My '03 Dodge 3500 SWR Quad has almost 8,000 miles on it and no problems whatsoever! Runs like it's scared of its shadow, rides good and gets 20 mpg (Scout's honor) even when I'm working it a bit.



Oh ... one complaint: the headlights are too dim for me, even on bright. Must be a design fault because the dealer didn't have a clue what to do.

 

[Big MAK]

"Headlights too dim"



I thought the headlights on my 98. 5 were too dim until I leveled the truck -- put 3" lift in front and 1" lift in back. I think my 2003 would benefit from 2" in front.



The problem was they were pointed into the ground. Raise the nose a bit . I don't think these integral headlight units can adjust much.



Drive the front tires up on a couple boards and see if you like the view.

 

[Steve M]

Here's the Maxipad site. They seem pretty quiet over there. No pun intended... I think GM may finally have a contender. Not that I want one but I don't worry when I get behind one in the drive-through at McDonalds.



http://forum.thedieselpage.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi



The Ford fans brag so much about their cackling collection of parts while trying to make our Dodges out to be pure junk, I have a hard time feeling sorry for them.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by Big MAK

"Headlights too dim"



I thought the headlights on my 98. 5 were too dim until I leveled the truck -- put 3" lift in front and 1" lift in back. I think my 2003 would benefit from 2" in front.



The problem was they were pointed into the ground. Raise the nose a bit . I don't think these integral headlight units can adjust much.



Drive the front tires up on a couple boards and see if you like the view.

Thanks, Mark, I can give it a try. The damn thing is already up in the air and my wife would kill me if I raised it more. I had dealer service raise 'em (I watched the lights climb up the side of the service bay door), so I think it's in the design. But when it comes to seeing down the road, my old '90 Honda lights are twice as bright as the ones on this truck.



But otherwise, I love it, man, I love it! Oo.

 

[DPKetchum]

Chrysler has had a thing about headlight design for a while and poor lighting. Lhs and few others had a number of tsb's out because of this. Wasnt candle power is was shape of light/lens. Wonder if this is same kinda deal.

 

[Jeremiah]

Poor headlamps

Originally posted by DPKetchum

Chrysler has had a thing about headlight design for a while and poor lighting. Lhs and few others had a number of tsb's out because of this. Wasnt candle power is was shape of light/lens. Wonder if this is same kinda deal.

What Chrysler needs is some widow filing a class action suit against the company because her older husband with a valid driver's license couldn't see a deer at night, ran off the road and got killed. I live in the mountains where there's lots of wildlife on the roads, and so help me, my headlights don't shine nearly far enough down the highway. It's not my vision because I leave my lights on bright and absolutely no one blinks at me to dim them.

 

[DPKetchum]

I used to hear same comments!Tsb's were about poor lighting and replacing entire assemblys dont remember what all autos it affected but at times it came up a lot. Does any other 03 truck owners have any comments on this issue?

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by DPKetchum

I used to hear same comments!Tsb's were about poor lighting and replacing entire assemblys dont remember what all autos it affected but at times it came up a lot. Does any other 03 truck owners have any comments on this issue?

I don't think there are enough '03 drivers out there yet. At least not enough that read the TDR.

 

[jimnance]

Have a buddy with a Dura-turd. He hasn't had much trouble with it and recently installed an Edge Juice.



S. . t oh dear! That thing runs like a scalded dog. I like my CTD, but it's agravating to have him run past me on the hills. Guess I'll have to Chip my '03.

 

[DPKetchum]

Oo. Theres a fair amount of 03 owners on this site and they all have headlights! I assume they drive at night every now and then?So whats your comments people. CAN YOU SEE AT NIGHT OR NOTOo.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by jimnance

Have a buddy with a Dura-turd. He hasn't had much trouble with it and recently installed an Edge Juice.



S. . t oh dear! That thing runs like a scalded dog. I like my CTD, but it's agravating to have him run past me on the hills. Guess I'll have to Chip my '03.

I'm not sure I would do that just yet. There are fuel pressure problems, which is why there are aftermarket delays. My Cummins sources say common rail engines pose additional problems that may take awhile to work out.



Might even be a good idea to leave 'em stock. Mine sure runs good, plus it gets 20 mpg. Top speed now 105 on the GPS. Screw all those guys in OBs (other brands).



Different topic: how do you like your tall tires? A switch from factory 265 R70 17's to 265 R70 19. 5s will drop my final ratio from 3. 73 to 3. 44. The tires are the same except for 2. 5" additional height. My truck and trailer together weigh about 14,000.

 

[Steve M]

My headlights work fine. When I turn on the fog lights it's even better!

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by Steve M

My headlights work fine. When I turn on the fog lights it's even better!

They shine down the road a long ways? Comments like this is what I am looking for. Maybe it's my truck and not everyone else's.

 

[mr plow]

headlights...

my . 02 worth... .



i thought that my headlights were too dim, so i switched them for a set of sylvania silverstar bulbs - burning around 4000k, can honestly say i cannot notice much difference.



i think i will have them re-aimed, and am currenyly having a complete xenon h. i. d. kit from a bmw retrofitted to my factory fog lights (btw - did u guys know factory fogs are hellas and lens i glass?)



gotta go.





mr plow.







______________



03 quad s. o drw 4x4 sport laramie.

 

[dnitzel]

Biased?

People talk about having "trouble" with this brand or that. The fact of the matter is, NO brand of so called HD trucks that have no alterations from the stock configuration should have ANY problems, not even a return back to the dealer except for a recall for the first 60k to 70k. No semi-major problems should occur for the first 100k (alternator, starter, clutch, injectors, steering, auto and manual transmission, etc. )



Unfortunately, people with some brands expect many failures to be "normal"!



I would not be buying another Dodge CTD if I've had a few minor problems or ANY semi-major problems. My '03 will be my 4th Dodge, and none of them have left me stranded, and I'm in the sticks a lot. I've traded a lot because it took me a while to really figure out what I wanted. Let's run the heck out of these new '03's and see how they stand up! Only time will really tell.

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: headlights...

Originally posted by mr plow

my . 02 worth... .



i thought that my headlights were too dim, so i switched them for a set of sylvania silverstar bulbs - burning around 4000k, can honestly say i cannot notice much difference.



i think i will have them re-aimed, and am currenyly having a complete xenon h. i. d. kit from a bmw retrofitted to my factory fog lights (btw - did u guys know factory fogs are hellas and lens i glass?)



gotta go.





mr plow.



Thanks for that. I too re-aimed my bulbs ... replaced my bulbs ($95, please) and didn't notice any difference. So ... re-aimed again ... essentially no change. Keep the comments coming, folks. It's either a design fault of MY truck. I'd like to know which.







______________



03 quad s. o drw 4x4 sport laramie.

 

[Prairie Dog]

My last rig was a 93 CTD with aftermarket head lights and 100/130 watt bulbs. This new truck is by far superior. The fog lights do a great job but I wish they would stay on when the high beams are on. Some day I'll take care of that problem .



By the way, I've noticed they tend to light up the road at least as good or better than most other new vehicles on the freeway when I get up beside them.

 

[kevincook]

I don't have an 03 but on my 01 the head lights have been aimed correctly and the fog lights fill in between the truck and were the head lights leave off. I hardly ever use my high beams because the head/fog light combo works so well!



KC

 

[RGardner]

Latest on my buddies ford, still can't figure out the engine problem, have the parts to fix the idler pulley, belt and carrier bearing, but don't have the tools! A weeks wait on those! Needless to say my buddy is getting very unhappy! Ford is even calling other local dealers to find out if he is too hard on his trucks! Can you believe it!