POwer Steering Gone and Dodge says NO Warrentee Repair

[Monstar]

My power steering pump went out on last Thursday. Dealer finally looked at it and confirmed that it is the power steering pump. Now it gets interesting... .



1. They say that there are no pumps available anywhere in the USA. All are back ordered.



2. The power steering pump was filled with power steering fluid, and not transmission fluid. Thus they are denying my warrantee claim. I have never done anything but check the fluid level, never added or changed it. It must have come from the factory filled wrong.



Anyone have any ideas on what to do about this??? Can they deny the warrantee just because?? They say that the fluid was probably added during an oil change, but the oil has only been changed by me, never by any one else. I am ready to sell the truck. Why are there no parts available for a 2 year old truck???!!



ARRRRHHHHHH.



Charles



(Sorry for the rant)

 

[JHardwick]

The owners manual on my '03 says to use petroleum based power steering fluid. The general public does not have access to or even know about TSBs.



I think they would have a hard time fighting that if you did fill it with PS fluid.

 

[DieselFiend]

That's awefully messed up. I'd press to test on that one. The burden of proof is on them. Get a lawyer.

 

[BHolm]

I have to wonder what some of these dealers are thinking when they treat paying customers like this. How on earth did they determine the "wrong" fluid was in there? Do they do fluid analysis on the premisis? If you claim the fluid came that way, and you haven't changed or supplemented it, they need to honor the warranty claim.



First speak to the service manager. Tell him it is a legit claim and you want it taken care of asap. The next step up the food chain is DC customer service. Call them and start a case file. Granted they are a bit on the worthless side and may take some time to actually undertsand what you are even talking about but, sometimes they can find solutions the dealer is to stupid to persue.



I'm not sure I buy the line about no pumps availible. Even on my '05 which needed an injector, they beat the supposed two week wait and had one overnight. It is amazing what they CAN do if they just TRY a little.



Too bad you had this hassle. Get this resolved and find a new dealer. The guys running you around are a bunch of clowns and do not deserve your business anymore.

 

[daytripper63]

My power steering pump went out on last Thursday. Dealer finally looked at it and confirmed that it is the power steering pump. Now it gets interesting... .



1. They say that there are no pumps available anywhere in the USA. All are back ordered.



2. The power steering pump was filled with power steering fluid, and not transmission fluid. Thus they are denying my warrantee claim. I have never done anything but check the fluid level, never added or changed it. It must have come from the factory filled wrong.



Anyone have any ideas on what to do about this??? Can they deny the warrantee just because?? They say that the fluid was probably added during an oil change, but the oil has only been changed by me, never by any one else. I am ready to sell the truck. Why are there no parts available for a 2 year old truck???!!



ARRRRHHHHHH.



Charles



(Sorry for the rant)

How many miles on the truck?

 

[NavyDood]

04 owners manual and FSM both say ATF+4. If the fluid that is in there is any shade of red, then what leg do they have to stand on?

 

[Monstar]

There are 35,500 miles on the truck. Just under the limit.

 

[olznut]

That almost sounds as bad as my dealer has had a map light lens on national backorder since 10/05... .....

 

[JThiessen]

Man, if your only at 35K, they dont have a leg to stand on. Follow the advice of service manager, then DC rep, and on. Dont hire a lawyer until after you've spoken with the DC rep.



These pumps have been on back order for the last two years. I got the same story when mine went out at 37K.



How do WE get someone with power to put some heat on DC on these never ending issues. THe percentage of bad steering systems is far too high to not be a recall issue.

 

[olznut]

These people crack me up sometimes

 

[DPKetchum]

D. C. I assume reads these posts as they asked for the threads on the 07 4500/5500 be held off until March 1st !

 

[DMesloh]

Mine went out at 15k dealer had 3 instock, had the truck back in a couple of hours. No charge.

 

[DPKetchum]

The pumps are made by Saginaw and are the same as used by G. M. They fail often on G. M. s and I know a few G. M. trucks that 15k or so out of warranty were still done on a GOODWILL BASIS at no charge by the dealer without much fuss or muss.

 

[BHolm]

35,500 miles? Don't you have 7/70 coverage? You are a long way from out of warranty unless I am missing something.

 

[JCleary]

7/70 Doesn't apply to accessories like power steering, starter motors, clutch slave cylinders, etc.



It should, however, be covered by the 3/36.

 

[rbattelle]

D. C. I assume reads these posts as they asked for the threads on the 07 4500/5500 be held off until March 1st !

They did!? How so? What did I miss?



What is going on with this new "national backorder" story the dealers are handing out lately? And everyone's right - how the heck did they prove it's P/S fluid and NOT ATF. Heck, what is the difference between P/S and ATF? I'd bet it's not much.



I wonder if they're giving you the run around in the hopes you'll abandon them until after 36k.



-Ryan

 

[DPKetchum]

Read that eaither here or DTR. Thought here. D. C. contacted and asked to hold off on any info/photos on the 4500/5500 until March 1st. Just read that in last few days. A thread was shut down per a request.

 

[sag2]

Take a look at TSB 19-005-03 dated August 2003. It lists the type of PS fluid that was factory fill by vehicle line. If your truck was built in any of the truck plants, it had to come with ATF+4 as that is the only PS fluid they would have in the plant. I'm not saying your wrong, but I think DC is probably certain they did not put something other than +4 in it at the assembly plant. After it left the plant who knows what happened. PM me the last eight of your vin and I will check and see if any warranty repairs were done before you purchased it.

 

[24V-DSL]

Huh??



3rd gen trucks require ATF+4 instead of Power Steering Fluid??



Why??

 

[klenger]

If the pump is the same on that GM uses, does GM require Chrysler ATF+4 also? I didn't think so.