2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Opinions Needed about steering and Lemon Law

[MCrossley]

Hi guys Although I love my truck something terrible, I have to say the one thing that I agree with most is that the 4x4's steering has much to be desired. I hav had 3 new steering shafts, steering box, 2 new stabalizers, track bar and all with 10,000 mile success. It has been some miles now since the last time I had this stuff replaced and now I have to say that I am in a serious predicament. I cannot afford to trade the truck (currently unemployed) nor do I really want to but on the same token I do not have the $2k for rebuilding the entire front end with aftermarket parts. What I was wondering is if anyone has had any success with the lemon law paying to have aftermarket stuff done to resolve a factory problem? My dealer tech who is a great guy and my dealer treats me very well have mentioned to me several times that I probably will not find any success with the factory parts but have to go aftermarket. So anyone? I am debating whether to try and see if they will go for the aftermarket approach or maybe a new truck. The new truck though brings me to another question for the experienced. Has anyone done a lemon law trade in and kept their financing the same just change the VIN with the bank? I cannot afford nor do I have the credit at this point to be getting new finacning and obviously that would be a serious problem. Also has anyone done a lemon law deal with a truck that has 96k on it? Although the problem started early in the trucks life is this going to affect value or is simply based on the inital finding of the problem and how much is it per mile for usage fee? Thanks everyone for your advice And yes I have followed all of the steering posts so I know all the things that have been done.

 

[Pit Bull]

Go to the post "loose steering" and read up on Darin's steering stabilizer. It will cost you around $160 including shipping and take you 1 hour to install with hand tools and it will "FIX" your steering problem.



here is the thread, read the thread and order the fix. Takes about 30 days from the date you send Darin your check till you recieve the DSS https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=64315&highlight=loose+steering

 

[MCrossley]

Well I am not sure that this will fix my problem completly and I have read this posting and although it seems to cure the loose steering it does not adress pulling issues which I have, I am one of those rucks that have steering pull, wander and steering bounce hence the reason I was saying I needed several things to fix my situation. But if nothing comes of this then I will probably do that first\.

 

[Billy Diesel]

Try here.



http://www.dodgepickupsteeringproblems.com/



Good luck.

 

[MCrossley]

Hmmm well that is interesting actually I have lemon lawed another vehicle for a family member and to be honest it was the easiest thing I had ever done, although we paid #50 for a lemon law attorny and they dealt with it but I want to do arbitration to see about paying for the aftermarket setup as I love my truck and other than the steering has been very reliable and I enjoy the hell out of it.

 

[MikeR]

You can't keep the same finance contract with a different VIN vehicle. Once it's over, it's over.



I have worked at car dealers for a while, and I have never heard of anyone having a leg to stand on for lemon law once the basic vehicle warranty is over (in this case the 3yr/36mi warr). Your owners manual should have also come with a lemon law booklet, so brush up on it.

With 96k miles, I really don't see you having anything on your side for this. You say you can't afford to trade it in, then it seems to me you're gonna have to shell out the bucks for different/better non factory parts, or just put up with it until you can afford to. Sorry... .

 

[MCrossley]

actaully millege is the least of issues the truck I lemon lawed a few years back at 70k on it and they did not even mention it. I am going to pursue it and see what comes back worst thing that happens is nothing. And actually talked to a frined the other day and he was able to keep his finacning the same he had a Chevy 1/2 ton that went belly up and although I knew he lemoned it I did not know he was able to keep the finacning the same so there may be some luck ahead. If not like you said just have to pay for the replacment parts I still have 4k more on my extended waranty so I will get a fix for at least another 10 or so thousand miles

 

[rthomsen]

Lemmon law blues

I lived the lemmon law, this is the way my ordeal went down, 99 Ford Powerstroke 17100 miles the comp. went haywire and Ford could not fix. Went thru arbitration aftersubmitting all R. O. s and reciepts. The entire process took about six months and lots of work on my own. Check the Revised Statutes for the state you live in, these can be obtained at your local library. I was charged 28 cents usage charge per mile before the problem began $4788. 00, I lost $1396. 00 in finance charges for a total of $6184. 00 not including my lost time from work to jump through all of their hoops. They were however required to pay full price for all accessories installed on the vehicle.



This is why I drive a Dodge now.



Rich

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Back in 93 I got real nasty with a Area Rep about my truck having been in the dealership for 45 days 11 different times over the course of a year and still having the same problems. He said bring it in and we'll fix it right this time, I told them no if I bring it in your keeping it. Called him all kinds of nice names and stood my ground, by the time the call ended he said go trade it in and we'll give you a $4000 saving certificate. It was a Dakota that I paid $16,000 for, I got $14,000 trade in plus the $4000 certificate for a total of $18,000. Not bad for owning the truck 1 year 1 month and 1 day. See, if they can keep a vehicle out of arbitration they will, if it is declared a lemon the title gets marked that way and then it has zero value. You have to keep records and write up a convincing report to go with the arbitration application. Mine said something about my Dad's Dodge Brothers being 50 some years old at the time and wondering where the dakota would be in 50 years all in all it was a 10 or 12 page letter outlining each service visit and the incompetence of the dealer. You have to push within inches of getting arrested. That's what a cop friend told me he did when he was going through a lemon law and that's what I did. Good Luck.

 

[Dheadington]

pulling on ruts in road

I had same problem with mine since new have put a ton of parts on front end the thing that finally corrected problem and truck steers alot better than it ever did and doesn't pull now. I installed Darin's bracket and that corrected problem. Have replace track bar,ball joints, tie rod ends, steering box 2 times, power steering pump. Darin's bracket cost me $144 and it corrected problem and very easy to install.

 

[MCrossley]

Yeah it seems like that bracket is doing a world of magic on the trucks... I will be installing one one way or another I am going to be meeting with my dealer this week and see what they can do they are pretty good about doing some things that are against Chrusler's wishes so we will see worst they say is no right.

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: Lemmon law blues

Originally posted by rthomsen



I was charged 28 cents usage charge per mile before the problem began $4788. 00, I lost $1396. 00 in finance charges for a total of $6184. 00 not including my lost time from work to jump through all of their hoops. They were however required to pay full price for all accessories installed on the vehicle.



This is why I drive a Dodge now.



Rich

Rich, bummer. Seems like you would of come out about the same or better if you would of taken it to another dealer and traded for a new truck when you figured you needed to do the lemon law? What are your thoughts??

 

[fest3er]

Originally posted by MCrossley
Well I am not sure that this will fix my problem completly and I have read this posting and although it seems to cure the loose steering it does not adress pulling issues which I have, I am one of those rucks that have steering pull, wander and steering bounce hence the reason I was saying I needed several things to fix my situation. But if nothing comes of this then I will probably do that first\.

Steering pull can be cause by a number of things:

• unequal front tire pressure - a 5 lb. pressure differential can cause steering pull when braking.
• leaking rear seal - diff lube can cause a rear brake to grip exceptionally well
• rust on front brakes - it'll wear off unevenly, causing steering pull. Try turning off OD, lightly touching the brake and waiting for the TC clutch to re-engage, then apply pressure to both the brake and the go-pedal for 15-25 seconds. If this cures the pull, your only option may be to try different brake pads; such rusting is the nature of metallic brake pads, and some brands may not be as bad as others.
• Worn output shaft bearing on the steering gear - Darin's accessory may well make a fair difference. I expect to buy one of his devices and install it on my truck - I believe it'll make a big difference in the steering and at least some difference in the braking.

Afraid I haven't got any answers for you, and only raised a whole new bunch of questions.

Fest3er

 

[MCrossley]

some very good questions... My roomates father owns a auto repair shop in Los Gatos and he has checked out everything for me we have tried the different pads cleaned everything I have had the steering box replaced before my tires are checked weekly for tire preasure balanced and roated every 5k so I have pretty much been down alll the roads.

 

[rthomsen]

Re: Re: Lemmon law blues

Originally posted by Pit Bull

Rich, bummer. Seems like you would of come out about the same or better if you would of taken it to another dealer and traded for a new truck when you figured you needed to do the lemon law? What are your thoughts??

Pit Bull



When I started the lemmon law process it tied my hands. If I stopped the process and sold the truck it would have made me liable for anything that would have gone wrong with the truck without disclosing it to the next buyer. The way it worked out Ford had to make up a contract stating the problems with the truck, this contract made the truck a piece of salvage material and it had to be sold as is with the lemmon law arbitration findings stated. It also had to be sold on a salvage title only. And besides the legal problems it ran so bad that I dont think any other dealer would have been interested in it.



See Ya!

Rich