transmission Fluid Line Leak - Less Than 2200 Miles on New Truck!

[JJPage]

With the demand for this elusive hose, back order status, everything about this situation, has me already doubting the integrity of the new hose assembly. There must be a quality issue with the crimp on this hose assembly.

I would request the old/faulty hose assembly when you get the truck back, take it to "House of Hose" or similar, and have a new line built for a spare, to carry with me. Kind of like the #4 injector line for the 5.9's....Can't believe the cost of these rigs, and still have to carry a ditty bag of parts to prevent a situation that JL is currently in. JL, Sorry I even joked about this in my previous post, hope you and your wife can be on your way soon. Jess

 

[JLandry]

...hope you and your wife can be on your way soon.

Thanks Jess.

I'm trying to keep our experience in proper perspective...

Think of the countless thousands of these 2013/14 trucks on the road without any leaking transmission cooling line crimp connections.

John L.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Exactly. Given the complexity and millions of parts, you sort of have to expect at least one part to have an issue. It is a lot easier to accept when it is a peripheral part, not something like a blown engine, trans, or differential.
What might surprise you folks is that the three Ram diesels I have bought new, 1997, 2004, and 2013, were all purchased without a test drive at all. Faith in Chrysler, belief that a test drive is not all that important, or sheer stupidity? Take your pick, lol.

 

[gsbrockman]

A few pics of my old line that was damaged in an accident January 24th :

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[JLandry]

That's the culprit!

Mine's leaking at the crimp connector indicated... the one underneath in the picture.

John L.

 

[gsbrockman]

I can only wonder if potential leaking lines are going to become more of an issue for those that opt to NOT remove the intake ductwork for oil filter removal during routine oil changes. I've read of so many guys stating that "it takes too long / it's too much trouble" to remove the intake ductwork as opposed to yanking it out the side. Granted there is a drip trough (similar to my wife's 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited HEMI) but I could never imagine attempting the oil filter removal from the side.

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That's just not enough real estate for me to trust to remove the oil filter from the side----personally.

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/2...-first-oil-change-diy-tips-4.html#post6476674

 

[JLandry]

That's just not enough real estate for me to trust to remove the oil filter from the side----personally.

Wouldn't some sort of oil filter relocation kit be nice in this case?

John L.

 

[gsbrockman]

Wouldn't some sort of oil filter relocation kit be nice in this case?

John L.

Not in my opinion......it takes maybe 6---8 minutes tops to remove the ductwork.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I always removed the intake hose from my 1997 to r&r the oil filter. It is almost as easy on the 2013, especially after you replace the pesky spring clamp on the little vent hose with a worm drive clamp. People are just making a mountain out of a molehill, imo, when they say the oil filter change on the new ones is miserable.

 

[JLandry]

People are just making a mountain out of a molehill...

Maybe the same can be said about the lack of having a cap on the fuel filler port.

John L.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Well, I fixed the cap issue with a $2 ABS plumbing cap, so I can't screw up and get some DEF into the wrong hole. I hear that some home supply stores carry rubber plumbing caps, and that could be even better.

 

[DonFitzwater]

The dealer should have sent the hose assembly to a high-pressure hose shop for rebuilding. They could use a new piece of correct hose and new crimped ends of the correct style and strength. Such a repair would have been as good as new.

This is what would happen here in Alaska.......and our local hydraulic shop gives you a lifetime warranty on every hose they build....hmmmmm, wonder why it's so hard for dodge to have a hose made that lasts?

A hose built by a high pressure shop would probably outlast the truck!

 

[gsbrockman]

....hmmmmm, wonder why it's so hard for dodge to have a hose made that lasts?

Initial cost per unit & economies of scale.....

 

[DonFitzwater]

Initial cost per unit & economies of scale.....

Good save on the use of the word "initial".

 

[JLandry]

Great news!

Just talked to the service writer at the dealer...

The part is finally in and the truck is up on the rack.

They hope to have the it ready for us first thing in the morning... with a slim chance it could be ready even this afternoon!

I can hardly wait!

John L.

 

[JJPage]

I would believe they would want you on your way...how long can it take to install the assembled hose, top off and test? Hopefully you get your truck this afternoon, Good Luck!

 

[JLandry]

...how long can it take to install the assembled hose, top off and test?

I know, but with everything that's gone wrong so far, that last thing I want to do is pressure them into rushing the job and botching something. I've already seen the results of THAT and it wasn't good.

A few more hours of waiting shouldn't kill us... well I hope not anyway.

John L.

 

[Darmeisner]

"...Baited breath."

I hope your absence here means your readying your rigs to move out or have done so already?

Dar

 

[JLandry]

We're supposed to pick up the truck at 9:00am Friday morning. Our plan is to immediately drive it back to the RV park, hitch up our travel trailer, and get the hell out of Dodge (or Ram might be more appropriate I guess).

That's assuming no more transmission fluid leak of course. I'm trying to think positive!

I'll post an update once I have the truck back for real.

John L.

 

[JLandry]

Houston, Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed!

We just picked up the truck and are on our way home (we've stopped for fuel).

Everything looks great this time. The dealer washed the truck and pressure washed the splattered transmission fluid out from the wheel well and under the frame.

I spoke to the mechanic, and he explaned the new transmission cooler lines are constructed differently than the originals. He said the crimp connections look different now (improved?) and additional clamps have been added along the lines to secure it more places along the frame. From what I can see of the lines by looking under the hood, there's also an additional protective layer where the pressure line passes by the alternator, presumably to prevent chaffing through. Knowing all this makes me glad we waited a couple more days for the replacement part instead of letting the dealer continue to mess with trying to patch the original.

Back on the road again...

John L.