Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Rant: DC parts prices are absurd

[JGK]

And I'm being nice when I say that!



I'm sorry, but I must rant a moment about their pricing practices.



In brief, one of my throttle return springs broke Sunday morning. There are 2, side by side, at the linkage back by the governor. Went to the local Cummins shop today. $4. 73, but they have to order them from the factory. They are exclusively used on the Dodge Ram application. They suggested the local stealer (boy, if that ain't a proper description).



Get this. Stealership wanted $28 and change! Yes, that is twenty eight dollars! They can't be serious. But they are. I knew they'd be more, but not 6 times as much!



I will order the Cummins part, just to keep the stock feel to the pedal. I got a temporary at Ace Hardware for 48 cents. Thank God we can get engine parts somewhere besides DC.



Below is a picture of DC's "golden" spring.



OK. I'm done. I needed to vent. (Filthy thieves!)

 

[M Barnett]

I think your stealer parts guy made a mistake. I bought a kit from my stealer, and I believe it had new ball joints and throttle rod and new springs for the $28. Another time I bought the spring you show from the stealer and it was like $4. 00 So I think somebody made a mistake.

Michael

 

[jerryrigg]

Just to add to your rant...



I added the CIPA heated/electric mirrors... went down to the Stealer yesterday to see about getting the factory switch for heaters... . 1/2" x 1/4" push-on/push-off switch $138 oh forgot to mention it also says mirror on it.....



a little history... back in May I inquired about buying a New 24Valve in a crate and the Dodge PCM, are you sitting down...

the dealer quoted me $18,000... well doing a little math that means my 3500 is only worth about $20K without the motor but if you build one through the parts department at $138 for a small switch, $28 for a spring, $200 per headlight assembly I fiqure the truck is going to cost about $50K in parts add the CTD and your up to $70,000, add your time or theirs to put it all together at say $50 per hour assume 4 weeks to do it so 160 hours makes $8,000 adds up to $78,000 plus 7% tax comes to $83,460.....

oh well I guess D/C is really taking it in the shorts to sell them new to us at $40 grand, next time a fuse blows I guess it would be cheaper to buy a new truck... ... .



-Matt

 

[JGK]

M Barnett,



You may be correct. I'll call another stealer here in the valley and get a quote from them, just to double check.



The outfit I went to last evening also quoted me around $400 for a new fuel shut down solenoid - which is the only way they sell it - when I went in and inquired about replacing the rubber boot.



These guys are nuts.



Thanks,

-Jay

 

[redram]

Stealer in Houston charged 18. 00 for a 6 inch section of fusible link when my shutdown solenoid fried due to what appeared to be worn starter contacts. (this happened before the recent recommendations to replace at 100,000)



It was the bare fusilbe link, no wire connectors or shrink tubing.

It wasn't even in a DC / Mopar package but bulk from a drawer!



Picked up the same wire from O'reilly's auto Parts for 2. 59 which included a section of shrink tubing and already had a wire connector soldered to one end.



i returned the DC link to the stealer and show'd the Parts manager the O'Reilly bil and the guy says, and I quote"Yeah, but it's not an OEM part!" I gave them there "20% restocking fee (so the parts guy could throw it in the cabinet drawer).



Stealers, you gotta love em.



And they wonder why people look for alternatives.

Hell, even if Cummins charges the same price they get my business jsut because I don't feel all bent over!

 

[JGK]

M Barnett,



Called another stealer down the road. You'll like this. Their quote for the spring is $34. 10 - about $6 more than the first outfit! I double checked with him to make sure we were talking about just a little spring with 2 plastic ends. Yup. That's the one.



Un-freaking-believable.



I can only hope that who ever sets these prices will get theirs someday.



JK

 

[Bob Wagner]

JK, Have Rip get you a price, you might be surprised

 

[PHaller]

Wow! I just ordered the updated springs for the pump. They look like a spring inside of a spring with plastic coated hooks at either end and they were 4$ each from the dealer. No, unfortunatly, I do not have the part #.

-Paul R. Haller-

 

[WadePatton]

After trying two different parts houses for a fuel filter, I stopped at a nearby dealer and purchased one. This was right after I got my truck and the first one I'd ever bought. I didn't flinch and the $43-odd dollar price tag.



Then I found one at my local parts house for $11! Later I find out that Geno's sells the Fleetguard version for $13.



Double price wouldn't have bothered me, but 4X?! I took it back, told 'em my mechanic already had one. So geez I'm guilty of telling lies to the dealer. NEVER been back there.

 

[Todd T]

the thief is OVERHEAD!! cut down on that and you can introduce a realistic price to the market.

 

[NETim]

heater hoses

Since the truck is going on 6 years old, I decided to replace every rubber hose piece on the cooling system.



I bought Dayco lower/upper radiator hoses from Geno's for about $12 each.



There were four straight runs in the system. Got 3 feet of 5/8" ID heater hose for about $3.



I had to order the 5/8" ID 90 degree elbows (4 total) and the 1/4" ID "U" shaped bypass hose from the stealer. Couldn't find them elsewhere. <B>$148. 68</B> for those five pieces!



Next time I think I'll find some 5/8" molded 90's for some other app and cut them to size.



Tim

 

[Scot]

Tim,

I believe a 302 Ford bypass hose would work for the 90's.

 

[Jeff H]

The throttle spring cost me 5 dollars. I've been using a carburator spring off an old 72 gmc. Most auto stores have a good selection of springs for ya.

 

[JGK]

Todd T,



While I agree with you that overhead will certainly impact price, I can't imagine that DC's overhead is so high they can justify these prices. They are just plain greedy. And it's not just DC that does this. The car manufacturers and dealers know they sort have you by the you-know-what when it comes to parts so they stick it to you and it becomes a great cash-cow. I just feel bad for all the other TD owners who don't know they could save serious dollars by getting parts from Cummins and putting them on themselves. Even if they have to hire a mechanic to do it, they'd still be way ahead of the game in most cases.



-JK

 

[Bill Lins]

Shameless plug starts now

Originally posted by JGK

I just feel bad for all the other TD owners who don't know they could save serious dollars by getting parts from Cummins and putting them on themselves. Even if they have to hire a mechanic to do it, they'd still be way ahead of the game in most cases. JK

All they gotta do is subscribe to the TDR! Best $ 35. 00 I ever spent! (Shameless plug ends).

 

[C. Harlan]

NEVER GO TO THE DC STEALERSHIP IN ODESSA, TX... I had a pin switch go out and needed a new one, as I have $2600 worth of stereo system in my truck... . I didn't know any better, so I paid $31 for a pin switch that I got back here in San Antonio for $4. Oh man, was I p*ssed off!!!! I never got to send them a rude letter, but I can tell you to never go to that stealership in Odessa!!!



-Chris-

 

[Hammer]

JGk...

Are You sure the needed parts are not part of your throttle linkage recall???. The reason I ask is mine were replaced with the rods and cable. I know the dealer did a really crappy job when it was done and I am trying to have their 5 star rating removed but the parts were all changed including the springs. This might be something you need to look into... ... ... Andy

 

[JGK]

Hammer,



I had the recall work done in August. To be honest, I don't know exactly what was replaced, but as I remember I think they said it was just a few linkage parts. I don't think the cable was replaced and it looks good. They may have replaced the springs but they look like they've been there a while.



The work order says:



"Recall B15 diesel throttle linkage replace.

Recall

Replace throttle linkage (with manual transmission)

14B15183 1. 1"



Part number listed: CBKRB150



It's no big thing. For $4. 73 from Cummins, I'll just replace it be done with it.



Actually, the spring I got from Ace Hardware was a little stronger, so I removed the second spring which hadn't broken. Now it feels like stock again. I may just keep the new one as a back up and leave 48-cent one on by itself.



-Jay