Archived Truck in shop waiting on Dodge Rep, Long

[jeepguru]

Ok, I have a 2004. 5 quad cab 4wd shortbed auto w/ 23501 miles on it, purchased in Feb 04, and its still bone stock. I have had a few small problems but nothing major until last week. After towing 6K lbs for roughly 10 hrs the check engine light came on, after a call to the dealer they said keep driving and bring it in ASAP. Next day they run the codes and it comes back low voltage to the CPS, but the light is off at this point so dealer checks milage and says bring it back as soon as it comes on. Three days later after a hard accelaration the engine studders and the light comes on, well the dealer couldn't get it in right away so I kept driving, 62 miles later the light goes off. Next morning drop it off at shop for CPS and PM(oil change, fuel filter, air filter). Well I was planning on leaving with the truck to tow my rock buggy to a competition 600 miles away, and they said they'd have it done. I proceed to my shop and the wife was going to pick it up and bring it to me and thats when all hell broke loose.



Within 1/2 mile of leaving the dealer the light came back on, but right after she got on the interstate. She said at first it seemed fine but when it shifted to OD it immeadiatly shifted back out and never returned to OD. She let off the throttle because the engine was reving so high and tried to slow down, well the truck wouldn't slow down even with brakes it sped up to redline and above in 3rd gear at 75, then started pouring black diesel smoke so bad the entire rear view was completely blocked. She tried to get it to neutral to slow down but it wouldn't shift out, finally right before the ramp it went to neutral, over-revved, then tried to idle but was bucking and kicking terribly. She used the e-brake to stop the truck and called me hysterically scared after she about wrecked twice trying to get people out of her way when she couldn't stop.



As of now the dealer has it and I have a rental Hemi(blah). They said it blew the freeze plug out and they would have to take the head off to replace it, well the head gasket is on national BO and they have no idea when it might be available, so I'm waiting on the regional Dodge rep to come and decide if Dodge needs to buy me a new truck. Meanwhile I have made it perfectly clear that I would not take my truck back and that I expected a new truck from either the dealer or Dodge.



Anyone got an idea what went wrong? It obviously way over-fueled itself, and some one else mentioned a burnt tubro, any other ideas would be appeciated.



Justin Smith

Rock Solid Racing



PS Sorry for the long first post.

 

[John - K5AWO]

First off, give my condolences to your wife. I can fully appreciate her position. That could have ended up with a fatality.



Secondly, I fully agree with your decision. That truck is toast as far as you are concerned. I wouldn't be able to trust it ever again.



Third, contact a lawyer and get him involved as a primer so he can be put in action fast if you get any lip from Dodge. He will just love the liability issue and maybe take it up w/o a check from you. His advise as to how to handle the discussions with the Dodge rep will really grease things.



The last thing Dodge will want is bad publicity. Contact the local TV station and find the snoopiest, dirty tricks video investigator they got. This little trick took care of my problems about six months ago. The lawyer never got called in. The media has a lot of leverage.



When this is over and done with, you should have a new truck minus the "use" of the one you had. Not such a bad deal when it comes down to it.



Luck to you,

John

 

[JWChessell]

Talking to a lawyer is good advice, but I'd pick a "lemon law" lawyer rather than a "liability" lawyer. Liability is a good legal theory provided you have damages , but your only damages are a poorly running truck, which is "lemon law. " Damages are things like physical injuries, wiping out someone else's car, going throug the wall of someone's house, and so forth. Without "damages" -- out-of-pocket costs for injuries or damage to property incurred -- all you will recover on a "liability" theory is nominal damages, meaning $1. 00.

 

[John - K5AWO]

Legal issues are out "my league", that is why i suggested advice, your point is well taken. J W.

 

[jeepguru]

Well thanks for the advise guys, and yes I have already researched "lemon law" lawyers, but hopefully it won't come to that. Both Dodge and the owner of the dealership have seemed like there actually going to make good on it. I have already picked out an 04. 5 Dually 4wd, 4dr, in midnight blue sitting on their lot as my replacement. They are supposed to let me know something tommorrow.



Yes we're very lucky something worse didn't happen and that it was my wife driving, who knows what to do in panic situations and has had an engine blow on the interstate before so she handled it very well given the problem. Dodge and the dealer are very lucky nothing worse happened or they'd be in real trouble.



Anyway thanks guys and if anyone has an idea what happened let me know.



Justin Smith

Rock Solid Racing

 

[AKAMAC]

Sounds like it blew the oil seal on turbo.

"Dat wernt fuel smokes honey, dat were oil smokes"

Thats one heck of a way to ride out a run-a-way. Glad the wife came out of it OK.

 

[rashwor]

Glad everybody is ok.



I agree. That sounds like a seal leak in the turbo and you were running on engine oil for a few seconds to minutes. This is about the only way a diesel will run away with itsself. There have been reported problems with the turbos on the 3rd gens blowing... I think most were on bombed trucks, but this should not be a problem and it does show the potential that these turbos may not be up to par. I expect to see revisions or a different turbo on the 3rd gens before long.



Advice: Lawyer and settle for nothing less than a new truck. This could have been a real safety issue where people were hurt or killed. A lawyer can make this crystal clear to all and the price of a new truck will seem cheap.



Good luck! Keep us posted.

 

[Joe Mc]

Gal your wife is OK. Wow! She really handled that well, she's a real "'keepa".



Stick to your guns! New truck of your choice. If not then get the media involved. Make sure both you and your wife are on camera. Then mention where you bought the truck and their responce to your problem. Then seek legal advice.



Hopefully it won't come to that. Keep us posted.

 

[Bertram65]

I be pretty angry if it happened to me but being 5 months old and having 23,500 miles on it I doubt lemon law could be used, also it has to be a recurring problem that cannot be fixed. I would think a new engine is in order but I would be real surprised to see them give you a new truck. Post up when they let you know how they are going to handle it.

 

[Bill Lins]

You could always contact the NHTSA- they LOVE to hear about things like this.

 

[catoiler]

Updates... What happend???

 

[jeepguru]

Still waiting on regional rep to come by. The engineer from Dodge came by Thurs, but he could not make a final decision without the regional rep. They are supposed to have an answer early next week.



I really just want a truck ASAP, I actually had to stop at a gas station and pay gas prices!!

 

[motohead84]

any new updates?