Picking up '04.5, what to check?

[LEerkes]

Done lots of reading and have learned a lot - thanks to all.



Picking up the new truck on Saturday (I hope). I'll be checking the fluids (especially the diffs) and looking for tape vs. body plugs.



I'll give it a drive and feel for the "shudder" from start, "vibration" at 2000 (don't the 04. 5's have the new PS hose?) and listen for whiny rear-end.



What else? Is the paint really an issue on these trucks? Any fit and finish items I should check or dealer PDI issues?







Then I get it home... guages first I guess!! Do the A-Pillar 3 guage mounts interfere much with driving vision?

 

[gonzo2]

I think the paint is a problem on some trucks. Therefore check it, you should look for dings and scratches anyway. Definitely take it for a highway cruise if possible. There is no doubt in my mind that because these trucks are so quiet, we notice more small things than we used to as far as noise/droning etc.

You definitely don't want to accept a truck that has excessive drive line vibration. just my . 02.



Craig

 

[klenger]

I sold my old truck before I ordered my 04. 5. Then I car pooled with the wife to work for a month. When the truck was ready for delivery in Denver, I bought a plane ticket and flew in, and immediately went to the dealer and looked at the truck, verified that it had the Cummins 600 and all the options I asked for, and then did the paperwork, without even driving it. The Sirius radio was also installed before I got there. I figured that after all I had done to get to that point, I was committed anyway, and warranty would have to handle everything after that. I haven't found anything wrong with the truck yet after three weeks driving almost 2000 miles, or which about 200 miles was towing.



The above is not ment as advise, just my experience.

 

[LEerkes]

Thanks guys,



I know what you mean klenger... the dealer is 7 hours from home. Has to be a real issue before I'll walk because I'll be rather committed at that point also.

 

[RobertBolinger]

I think if you will look at the plugs vs. tape thing that you will find a mixed bag on whether the dealer covers it under warranty-they cost like $20 for all 16, so it's no big deal if you do have to pay. Mine had tape. The only problem I have is the hesitation that may be fixed by the March reflash...

 

[guava]

This is the first comment I've read about the tape vs. plugs. Which plugs do you mean and where are they?

 

[LEerkes]

guava,



As said above... . not that big a deal. The rocker panels have some holes in them that are covered with tape. They really should have rubber plugs but it isn't that big a deal. It looks like they either ran out or decided to save a buck or two. In most cases if you show it to the dealer they seem to be willing to fork over the 20 bucks for the rubber plugs under warranty.



Guys that have researched it say that if the dealer will actually go look it up they will see that the rubber plugs are supposed to be there and DC has been covering it under warranty. A few have also indicated that it just wasn't worth the hassle and they just paid the 20 bucks.



The holes in question are under the cab in the rocker panels. Lay on the ground under the truck and look at the bottom of the cab near the doors. There are 8 holes on each side. Might be difficult to locate since they seem to have taped over the holes and than sprayed the bottom of the truck. You should be able to see the tape outline- if it has the plugs in it you will definitely see those.



See - - I did learn something reading threads here!!!!Oo.

 

[DocDetonancour]

My truck had the tape and when I told the deler he was surprised and oradered the plugs. He had no clue that a truck would be delivered with duct tape.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I bought mine from the dealer's lot without even starting the engine. I made one trip back, for the rubber plugs and to get the computer programmed to eliminate the rolling door locks and horn chirp. I figured warranty would cover any problems, and it has, all zero of them.

 

[TravlinRam]

I just got on line and read about the tape covering the holes. I

just went out to the garage and sure enough there's tape.

Does it matter if there's tape covering or should there be rubber

plugs?







OTE]Originally posted by LEerkes

guava,



As said above... . not that big a deal. The rocker panels have some holes in them that are covered with tape. They really should have rubber plugs but it isn't that big a deal. It looks like they either ran out or decided to save a buck or two. In most cases if you show it to the dealer they seem to be willing to fork over the 20 bucks for the rubber plugs under warranty.



Guys that have researched it say that if the dealer will actually go look it up they will see that the rubber plugs are supposed to be there and DC has been covering it under warranty. A few have also indicated that it just wasn't worth the hassle and they just paid the 20 bucks.



The holes in question are under the cab in the rocker panels. Lay on the ground under the truck and look at the bottom of the cab near the doors. There are 8 holes on each side. Might be difficult to locate since they seem to have taped over the holes and than sprayed the bottom of the truck. You should be able to see the tape outline- if it has the plugs in it you will definitely see those.



See - - I did learn something reading threads here!!!!Oo. [/QUOTE]

 

[RobertBolinger]

Initially the tape is probably as good as the plugs, but someone on here reported theirs is already coming off. If you worry about things like that, I would get the plugs-I am going to-I just figure I've got a few months to worry about it.

 

[FParlee]

March Reflash????

(I think if you will look at the plugs vs. tape thing that you will find a mixed bag on whether the dealer covers it under warranty-they cost like $20 for all 16, so it's no big deal if you do have to pay. Mine had tape. The only problem I have is the hesitation that may be fixed by the March reflash... ) QUOTE. .



Question to RobertBolinger... ...



What info do you have on this March Reflash?



I have 3K on my 04. 5 and the mileage stinks. Are there other problems too? What does the reflash officially address?



Thanks!!



Fred

 

[Prairie Dog]

Can somebody post the part number for the plugs?



Thanks,

Scott

 

[DaleStevenson]

I pointed out the tape to my dealer and was told they had no idea what the plugs are but after reading this I will make a much LARGER point of the plugs. If I have to pay the $20 I will. As to the comment on the mileage, I only have about 600 miles on my 04. 5 and my first MPG check was only about 13. I have read that mileage and power will not get to its peak until 10000 miles. I also read in the owners manual that the more I "baby" the truck the longer it will take for the breakin. I sure hope the mileage gets considerably better, time will tell I suppose. Otherwise we really like our new truck.

Dale.....

 

[DHoleman]

If the milage is anything like my 01', it had gotten better about every ten thousand,all the way up to 50k.

I was always told to break it in the way you are going to drive it,because if you BABY it now then drive it later problems will arise.

Put the hammer down. or let the Misses break it in.

DHoleman

 

[LEerkes]

Part Number for an 04.5

PrairieDog,



Part number for an 04. 5 (assuming the dealer got it right) truck, set of 16 body plugs to fill the taped over holes on the rocker panels. Actually, I'm not sure if that's a set of 16 or an individual part number.



#4860953AA

 

[gonzo2]

LEerkes,

Did you get your new rig or what? Hopefully you will be nearly as impressed with yours as I still am with mine.

 

[LEerkes]

Oh yeah, that's what this thread was about originally wasn't it.



Yes I did!! And I think I'm as happy as you are. The only complaint I can come up with is that it's too quiet. Not even much noticeable turbo noise. Oh well, that's easily rectified, I'll give it some time though cuz the wife likes the quiet.



Can't wait to hook the trailer up behind it and give a towing report. Not many places I can go around here without some real hills. I did play with it a little on the trip home from Kellog, ID. For those in the area I gave it about 80% throttle coming up the Vantage hill. Started at 60mph and hit 95 in approximately 15-20 seconds (not a scientific test), never dropped out of OD, and the rate of acceleration did not taper off much. That was for fun, let's see what it does with 7000 #'s behind it. Will it be able to maintain 60 on the Highway? Before all you flatlanders say "no problem" remember that out here "Interstate" means a hairpin turn with a 25 mph speed limit followed by a 3 mile 8% grade, and "Highway", well it's longer, steeper, and has a stop sign half way up.



As you can tell, we go East/West rather than North/South.