Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) This site rules,..but nobody knows!

[RobbyRam]

I'm sure there are several thousand TDR users who are getting well informed information and tips on this great site, as I thankfully have, however, in my 82k miles traveling the past 3 years with my Y2K Turbo Diesel Ram, I've come across more than a few Dodge Ram Diesel owners who have NEVER even heard of the 'TDR,' much less subscribed to the site.

I guessing there are hundreds of thousands more. Are these uninformed owners also having lift pump problems, P1693 engine check lights, pull to the right problems , plus many of other of the complaints we have here on the 'TDR' but just robot-like go to the dealer and have their trucks fixed under warranty without so much as a peep out of the service writer. Are we, on the 'TDR', paranoid?? Or are we just a sampling core of 'whiners' where as the vast majority of Ram owners are satisfied with their trucks and their dealers?

This in really not meant to stir up a pot as I'm sincerely curious.

Gallup polls sample only a few thousand people to be confident on the outcome of millions. Is this the purpose of the 'TDR', or are we just a bunch of owners that are the 'ONLY' ones that have issues with our beloved RAMS?

Sorry if this posted in the wrong forum.

Bob in Sacramento

 

[midwestdually]

definitely thousands... . never really knew much till the magical internet showed up at my house and i did a search

 

[JR2]

I do my best to spread the word... tell every CTD driver I talk to about the TDR. I have business sized cards for our Bombers club in Alaska and have the TDR address on the bottom of them... pass em out all the time. I usually put them on trucks with gauges as those guys may be more interested.



And yes I think you are correct. . there are tons of guys out there that have no clue and don't care to. They bought the truck to pull a camper and if it breaks it goes to the dealer to be fixed, end of story. That is why we need to get the word out.



There is always the photo copy memebership drive page in the Mag... use it too.

 

[2-ND TIME]

our trucks

12 black





This is the LAST dodge truck truck and I envey thoughs that don't have any problems or are able to find a dealer that has the knowledge to fix them the first time.

 

[Texas Diesel]

Your last Dodge truck? We are in the process of buying our 7th Dodge (whole family) in a row, what brand do you think is better?

There will NEVER be a GM anything in my garage, as for *ord, only if they start using a real Diesel engine.



The worst part of DC is the GM reject "engineers" they hire

 

[phoekema]

keeping it in perspective

RobbyRam,

Just a comment re: the problems we hear about on this list. I think it is important to keep things in perspective and I will give you an example:

Several years ago I worked for Burroughs (since changed to Unisys) as a field engineer going from customer to customer repairing computers. After a particularly bad day I came back to the office and mentioned out of frustration "what a bunch of bad equipment we have out in the field". My manager asked a couple questions which put things back in perspective. First he asked how many units did I fix that day. I answered 10 to which he asked how many units were in my territory. The second answer was about 300+. Then he responded, "so 290 of the 300 ran just fine today, didn't they?". We all need a dose of reality and perspective at times.

Another thing to remember is this TDR group of which we are a part is somewhat unique in that we tend to push our trucks harder with upgrades etc and we probably expect more from our truck than the average customer.

I am not trying to put you down by my comments, just reminding us all we need to keep our perspective. This is truely a great group of people and I would rather read the comments on this list that read the daily paper... ... ... . at least this list has some good news mixed in.

 

[RustyJC]

1996 Dodge 3500 SLT extended cab V-10/automatic/3. 54 rear axle. Towed 5vers for 46,000+ miles. Sum total of warranty-type failures: OEM battery and oil pressure sending unit. Sold to purchase 2002 truck below.



2000 Durango SLT+ 5. 9L (wife's ride). Back to dealer soon after delivery for a squeak - repaired. No warranty failures since - just normal maintenance for 24,000 miles.



2002 Dodge 3500 quad cab Cummins HO/6-speed/4. 10 rear axle. Never back to dealer since purchased. No problems whatsoever in 11,000 miles. Tows a 13,500 lb 36' 5ver 90%+ of the time.



So, what's my point? ALL Dodges aren't bad! To be fair, though, my 2003 Acura 3. 2TL-S work car hasn't been back to the dealer since its purchase in May 2002, either.



Rusty

 

[rmrc]

Re: keeping it in perspective

Originally posted by phoekema

RobbyRam,

Just a comment re: the problems we hear about on this list. I think it is important to keep things in perspective and I will give you an example:

Several years ago I worked for Burroughs (since changed to Unisys) as a field engineer going from customer to customer repairing computers. After a particularly bad day I came back to the office and mentioned out of frustration "what a bunch of bad equipment we have out in the field". My manager asked a couple questions which put things back in perspective. First he asked how many units did I fix that day. I answered 10 to which he asked how many units were in my territory. The second answer was about 300+. Then he responded, "so 290 of the 300 ran just fine today, didn't they?". We all need a dose of reality and perspective at times.

Another thing to remember is this TDR group of which we are a part is somewhat unique in that we tend to push our trucks harder with upgrades etc and we probably expect more from our truck than the average customer.

I am not trying to put you down by my comments, just reminding us all we need to keep our perspective. This is truely a great group of people and I would rather read the comments on this list that read the daily paper... ... ... . at least this list has some good news mixed in.

I couldn't agree with you more!!!! Well said!

 

[BigMo]

The hits on this site FAR, FAR exceed the membership. Just because we don't have 200,000 members doesn't mean there are not 200,000 people who may have visited this site. NO, not all who visit have Dodges.



Also, those who are members of TDR probably take a little extra interest in their vehicles. I, for example, am what I would call a "TDR lite" member. I love this site, it is the greatest resource I have for my truck information, but I have other hobbies and interests. My truck is NOT my main hobby (oh dear Lord, protect me now! ).



However, I "LOVE" my truck and I enjoy being able to tinker with it a little bit. I also really enjoy just "knowing" my truck better than the average driver.



My point is, TDR's impact is probably larger than the membership numbers suggest AND that TDR members are more vocal BECAUSE of their passion for the trucks.



As my son would say, "it's all good!"

 

[Wheaties]

Interesting experience. I stopped by the local Dodge dealership to ask if I could have my lift pump tested, the fuel gauge was telling me it was on it's way out.



Someone else had been there about an hour before me and told him about the TDR for the first time. He says, you're not one of those TDR members are you? These guys know more about their trucks than we do!!!"



Course I got the link for the TDR from the DodgeTruck web page... .



Matt

 

[BigMo]

Originally posted by Wheaties

. . . you're not one of those TDR members are you? These guys know more about their trucks than we do!!!"Matt

Boy, that's the truth!!!



(except maybe the dedicated Cummins diesel mechanic my dealer has!! He's the ONLY one allowed to work on the Dodge Cummins at my dealer and he's GOOD. ) I guess I should be careful here; I don't want him to get an inflated ego - he reads TDR!!