Transfer Case Failure x 2

[TCDiesel]

I agree with your assessment. I've maintained this was a suspected the problem from the start.
No one is listening and FCA has denied the warranty. I'm disgusted with their behavior. Get off your A$$ FCA and figure it rather than blame me for operating the truck as designed.

The pictures clearly show what happened... Warranty denied would beech of contract. You have to sue FCA and the selling Dealer in the court of Jurisdiction. I'm sure FCA will cover it once that card is played.

 

[SCF Truck]

The pictures clearly show what happened... Warranty denied would beech of contract. You have to sue FCA and the selling Dealer in the court of Jurisdiction. I'm sure FCA will cover it once that card is played.

My dealer called. My truck has a new txfr case. They want the loaner truck back ASAP. I want assurances my truck wont break again. I dont want to return the loaner until then. The dealer has stated from this point forward I need to work with FCA. They are out of the picture.

Should I take return of my truck or push back? FCA owes me an explanation. And I'd just as soon get FCA to buy it back so I can get a new truck.

I dont want the loaner. It's a crew cab with an 8ft bed. Doesn't meet my needs.

 

[SCF Truck]

The pictures clearly show what happened... Warranty denied would beech of contract. You have to sue FCA and the selling Dealer in the court of Jurisdiction. I'm sure FCA will cover it once that card is played.

Are you saying I need to have another failure before I can pursue lemon law? The truck has been repaired the second time by the dealer at their expense. But the service manager implied the FCA was going to put restrictions on my future driveline warranty whatever that means. I need to see something in writing regarding that. Crazy.

 

[jhenderson]

Generally speaking it’s 3 times in for the same repair before you can persue the lemon law.

 

[nukegm]

in colorado the lemon law is 3x in one year or 30 days out of service. my 2500 18 was out of service 29 days at 6k miles for hydraulic clutch failure - multiple. cheers and good luck to you!

 

[TCDiesel]

Are you saying I need to have another failure before I can pursue lemon law? The truck has been repaired the second time by the dealer at their expense. But the service manager implied the FCA was going to put restrictions on my future driveline warranty whatever that means. I need to see something in writing regarding that. Crazy.

No your good, its unlikely they will restrict your DL on the TC. And its unlikely the dealer is paying for the repair, if you want I can check the VIN for clear status and who paid for the repair.......Now that being said if the installing Dealership did NOT follow Protocols they should R/R at their expense.

email VIN to todd@tcdiesel.com and next week I will check it at My office when I get there next Week, We are moving into new building so Be patience.

 

[SCF Truck]

No your good, its unlikely they will restrict your DL on the TC. And its unlikely the dealer is paying for the repair, if you want I can check the VIN for clear status and who paid for the repair.......Now that being said if the installing Dealership did NOT follow Protocols they should R/R at their expense.

email VIN to todd@tcdiesel.com and next week I will check it at My office when I get there next Week, We are moving into new building so Be patience.

Todd, I'll email you the VIN. Thx

 

[sag2]

That one set of photos does not show what caused the failure. All you can tell is the shift fork broke. You need to see the other TC parts to determine if it has the identical failure, or something different. Did they pull them both down?

 

[Ozymandias]

I'm sure it's the shifter linkage that's set miserably wrong. It just can't be something else.

And there is !NO! measuring involved setting that linkage.
Just losing the Nut, check the position of the Lever for proper end play -and- check that TC is fully in gear, an reset the nut.
That's a 2 min job in the driveway.

 

[Ozymandias]

And to my knowledge in general, this TC is the most robust design in the Class, it is the same that is used in all HD Rams, up to 40000lbs GCW. Everywhere.
It is rock solid.

Buy a Ford HD and you get exaxtly the same TC.

 

[NIsaacs]

If you feel the detent when the case is shifted it’s not adjustment. Particularly since 2wd is not at either end of the pattern.

I agree with this.

 

[Wayne M.]

I don’t know why, but I haven’t looked at this post at all until last night.
*ON SOAP BOX*
I am shocked and dismayed at the failure analysis and the general forensics on part of FCA, and the dealer.
I guess this is a snapshot at the mechanical aptitude and general attitude in the field today. This is the problem when we have issue free cars that go cradle to grave with nothing but typical pattern failures. It brings upon an indifferent complacency on the service end that is unacceptable, and add on the situation caused by technicians (there are hardly any more Mechanics- and yes there is a difference) having to punch tickets at a feverish pace to make a buck, that they CANT put the effort in to solve an issue such as this. I bet any deviation from a published service procedure is also a no no.
The result is a truck that won’t get fixed, that won’t perform properly, a customer who won’t get satisfaction, and a service department who (among us at least) is viewed as incompetent.
*OFF SOAP BOX*
Personally, I’d like this truck, a half hour and a creeper, please.

 

[jgillott]

Wayne, you hit the nail on the head on several points. First is the prescribed service procedure. You and I have discussed this previously. Here is the problem, follow the repair procedure from beginning to the end and the vehicle gets shipped back to the customer. It's like building a Lego for these service technicians. I'm not sure that they have the ability to deviate from that script or do any additional trouble shooting on their own in many cases.

Second, is the incredible demand on these guys to make a living. If they are assigned a job, they get the job done and move on. That's the only way they are making a $. They are not going to spend 5 hours on a 2 hour job to get it right. There just isn't any motivation to spend that time.

 

[mwilson]

I've been around this forum for a long time and I believe that this is the first time that someone has had a warranty repair denied for being over loaded. Does anyone remember another time?

I do not either...

The OP is getting you know what blown up his you know what....I’m having a hard time thinking that the dealer covered the second TC. I’d sooner think some policy money was applied..

Regardless, get rid of it....all parties are hoping it stays together this time until the warranty period is done....

 

[Wiredawg]

At this point in this thread, there isn't much to say that hasn't already been said. The TC is a component on the truck, everyone else driving 4x4 Ram 2500s and 3500s has this same component, even other makes. Before I would loose my butt on trading or selling this truck, I would either learn the the maint procedure and analyze/fix myself, or take it to a highly rated 4x4 shop.

As for the loaner, you could be charged for it if the dealer says your truck is ready and you don't bring it back. Go get your truck and do as I recommended or do nothing and drive it. Just my two cents.

Ron

 

[Newsa]

Research your state's lemon law. Keep records of your weigh station visits.

If the lemon law in your state says 3 fixes and you can pursue lemon law buy-back..... Just drive it until it blows again and declare lemon law.

 

[SCF Truck]

That one set of photos does not show what caused the failure. All you can tell is the shift fork broke. You need to see the other TC parts to determine if it has the identical failure, or something different. Did they pull them both down?

These are all the photos I have. Service told me they sent the first txfr case to Chrysler wo opening.

What I can say is both txfr cases failed the exact same way. Coasting down a hill with a loaded trailer using tow mode and engine braking.

I'm nearly certain the linkage was not properly set thereby resulting in incomplete engaged gears (as seen by the wear marks on the gear photo). It's my belief the gears become disengaged from reverse engine torque. The only thing holding it all together is the shift fork. Then it soon fails from all the forces and that's it.

From my early post one can see the shift linkage photo I took just after the second failure. I saw zero evidence that linkage was adjusted after the first dealer txfr case was installed. I then specifically ask the service manager if the tech ck it. He said the tech measured it and determined it was within limits and therefore didn't need to make any rod linkage adjustment.

I since told the service manager to get out of his office and personally test drive it. Ck the linkage for proper engagement. He's told me was a trained mechanic at factory school and wrenched at this dealership for a long time prior to becoming the manager. I've told him I did aircraft maintenance for 25 years in the Navy so i know how mistakes happen and know when to raise the BS flag.

Regardless, my plan is to pick up the truck next week and take it home to a independent mechanic friend and put it up on his lift and check the shift linkage.

Also planning to file a lemon law complaint in hopes of getting FCA to buy back the truck. I know it's a long shot. But I'm pissed that FCA and the dealer wont stand by the product and keep pointing the finger at me and that they aren't coming clean with the full story.

Incidentally the service manager has asked me not to give the FCA customer survey on this repair low scores as it directly affects his pay and the service writer's rather then the dealership. I believe him.

More to follow...

 

[Wayne M.]

SCF!! I can’t believe this post!
They asked you to keep this hush? And this is exactly what I was getting on about before. The “tech” measures a rod and if it’s 10 and it calls for 10, it’s good. Never mind that POSSIBLY the detects in the shifter don’t agree with the range of the transfer case, thus holding the gear out of range.
I would have already done my own investigation, documented it, and proceeded to rake these guys over the coals with FCA.
I say, if you otherwise like the truck, and you think you can find something like this, then go for it!
On the other hand, your conditions upon failure, as you describe is a odd circumstance. I think it would stress the case in a uncommon way. I wonder if that shifter wanders coming down that hill? If a heavy “coasting” load is the kryptonite of that unit?

 

[Cummins12V98]

"As for the loaner, you could be charged for it if the dealer says your truck is ready and you don't bring it back."

YES as my experience they did charge me $100 at time and gave it back when I returned the loaner.

 

[NIsaacs]

The “tech” measures a rod and if it’s 10 and it calls for 10, it’s good. Never mind that POSSIBLY the detects in the shifter don’t agree with the range of the transfer case, thus holding the gear out of range.

This is bothering me. If it jumped out of gear in 4 hi or 4 low, I would assume linkage adjustment. But, since 2hi is not on either end of the shifter travel....???
The shift lever has nothing to do with where the fork position is, it just moves the linkage/fork to the next detent. If 2hi was not engaging the detent, then the linkage would need to be so far out of adjustment that neutral, or 4 hi would also not be available.