***urgent Check Your Rear Differential**********

[proudrammer]

Check you rear differenial for lubricant. From my earlier post it was felt my transmission was gone... . MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD NO LUBRICANT AND THE ASSEMBLY FRIED... . the transmission is fine



This is nothing less than total neligance on the part of DC and the stealer... part of the PDI is to check all lubricants... ... there was no sign of seapage from the side axles, plate cover or pinyon seal.



Awairing a list of parts... I told DC that I wasnt a toatal new rear end assembly... given the housing for the side axle and all gears are fried.



I have no time frame as of yet... but given this is a new axle system... . the dealer making the repair feels parts could be long time coming. Hopefully this is not the case... but if it is. . DC can take this truck and find me another



I will keep you posted... . but good news... . our trannys are fine





A Proudrammer (Once Again!!!!)



'03 2500 quad laramie auto 4X2 loaded with everything except heated seats. Atlantic Pearl Coat, Slate leather interior.

 

[proudrammer]

Sorry for the spelling errors boys... I am just so happy I forgot to proof read



Proudrammer

 

[SOOT]

Hopefully They will take of it quickly

 

[Whitmore]

Proudrammer

just to cover your butt if they refuse a total replacement, ask for the prep paper or check sheet, when they get it in from the factory they have a check list and fluid levels on all boxes is part of it, so if they checked it off you have a 100 % gaurentee of replacment, its a shame they didnt do their job right the first time .



Cheers, Kevin

 

[Pit Bull]

Where was your truck made?

 

[JakeGMCHD]

proudrammer,

Sorry to hear about your trouble. I see Dodge is like GM in the lubricant department. Every truck I have bought I ask the stealer to put it on the rack and pull all the plugs. I have found the transfer case low. I had a couple friends burn up their transfer cases because they had no fluid in them. I hope they do you right and replace the whole axle.

 

[proudrammer]

Pitbull:



My truck was made in Mexico.



DC is looking for a new axle... . none available in Canada... . could take 5 to 6 weeks. I told them to take the truck and find me a new one... . they said it was not an option. Dealer is working with regional representative to work out this issue... . but one thing is for sure... . I am not paying this kind of coin for a truck to be driving a mini-van until they get mine repaired. I asked for a refund so I could order another truck... not an option.



Called the consumer assistance line and opened up a file... DC is claiming that this is a dealer mistake... it is up to the dealer to correct the problem as it is not a warranty issue... . I told DC that if they have a problem with a dealers PDI, deal with it and take away a few stars (for what good that does other than determine the % of hold back on the list price the stealer can benefit from) but I am the guy in the middle that handed over 40g's Canadian less than a week ago... . get me a new truck or fix the one I have in a reasonable time!!!



Needless to say this has been a stressful day... . but I still have faith in these trucks... I just love them!!



Apparently when my axcle seized, the wheels studs cracked offf..... we are lucky that we were not in an accident. I inormed DC of this and they maybe putting out a recall for '03 owners to have a stealer check the fliuid levels in the differential.



I will keep you posted..... on this issue... . anyone have any comments on dealing with the stealer or DC on this issue?



Take care and Ram Safely



Proudrammer

 

[WadePatton]

WhatEVER you do don't let them dick you around like GM is doing Mike G.



http://www.goodsamclub.com/forums/i...ad/CFB/1/TID/342064/DoOnePage/Yes/page/12.cfm



short version- He buys a Durastroke and hooks up his 5th wheel for the very first time and the driveline blows. GM has taken 5 months to do the buy-back replace deal, is charging money for it, and Mike G. still doesn't have a truck, but is faithfully making payments and driving a loaner--which won't pull a 5er.

 

[rbattelle]

:--) That's all I have to say about that. :--)

 

[Dean Upson]

I just read the whole story (saga) of Mike G. It would make a good country western song or ad for Dodge. The man has the patience of a saint.



Dean

 

[Pit Bull]

Yours went south at a little over 500 miles, my truck has 650 miles on it and I don't want to check. If they screwed up and did not fill the diff. I want it to burn up and get a new one installed. If it has been low or empty for 650 miles and I see it is low/empty and fill it up, it just might survive until I am out of warranty. I made this mistake with my wifes Lexus when the dealer forgot to fill it up with oil after a service. I should of kept driving it until it died instead of turning around and having them fill it up. They gave me 30K mile additional warranty and it started smoking and using oil at 35K additional miles.

 

[lgibson]

My grandad bought a new 77 dodge van, with a Dana axle, and it was dry from the factory. At around 1,000 miles it started humming so he took it back to them. They filled it with oil and let him drive it till a replacement came in. He never went back, go busy and forgot about it. I got the van with just over 100,000 miles and drove it to over 250,000 and gave it back to him. Same rear end it just hums a little. Most reliable vehicle I have every owned. The 318 was getting tired so Gramps got it back for use around the farm.

 

[chessie-system]

Its good to hear that the transmission is not the problem. But a bigger concern is why would the wheel studs crack . If the ABS fails and I do a panic stop and lock up the wheels are they going to fall off That sounds like a bigger issue than the lack of lubrication. I will be checking it myself today

Jeff

 

[Tardog]

Proudrammer, Tell your dealer to rip a complete rear end out of another truck and bolt it in to yours, That way you'll get completly new and they won't have you breathing down their necks. That will give them time to find a new axle for the now "parts truck". A buddy had a similar experiance with one of the earlier D50's dodge p/u. Except his was a transfer case. They said first that he would have to wait for parts from Japan, he said 'like hell". needless to say they yanked one out of the trucks on the lot and on his merry way he went. Good luck, Cheers

 

[Rosco]

I checked my fluid today and it was about 1 inch below the fill plug on level ground. Now the owners manuel says the fluid should be at 1/4 inch below the plug, do you guys think that 3/4 inch difference is a concern enough to show the dealer or should I just add some more fluid and keep on truckin. Also I have noticed a driveline shudder when accelerating from a stop while turning left or right. It does not shudder under straight line acceleration, is this the limited slip rearend, do your trucks do this, or do I have some other driveline problem.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Proudrammer, I don't know where your located, but here in Washington State the lemon law kicks in after 30 days. If they cant get parts in that time frame they have to buy you another truck!

 

[proudrammer]

Boys:



The story line has changed... . they are now saying that there was sufficient lubricant in the differential... . it was the bolt that attached the hub to the axle which failed as it was found in many small peices inside the hub



If this is the case, why did the side axle and housing split and crack?? I fully beleive the original version that there was insufficient lubricant in the unit which caused it to over heat and fail.



In any event. . DC is flying in a complete new assembly from a unit in Mexico... the old unit is being sent for engineering testing... this will determine if there was sufficient lubricant at time of the failure.



Given the last version of events... . I took it upon myself to call Transport Canada to inform them of this incident and possible vehicle defect... they are also to launch an investiagtion along with the Amercian authorities. The wheels were about to fall off my vehicle... if the dealer is stating that there was a major defect in the differential assembly it must be throughly investigated to ensure no other unit could be put into a position I was exposed, which could cause an accident and loss of life.





I will keep you posted. In the mean time any member with a unit with any type of drive train vibration, I would take it to a dealer to completely check the differential. Those who have found their units with possible low fluids, call the customer assiatance line and open a file and get a dealer to add the proper lubricant to ensure there is no warranty issues.



One thing I can say in all of this is that all levels of DC have been very professional to deal with on this incident... I really think that they do care

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by eowens

I checked my fluid today and it was about 1 inch below the fill plug on level ground. Now the owners manuel says the fluid should be at 1/4 inch below the plug, do you guys think that 3/4 inch difference is a concern enough to show the dealer or should I just add some more fluid and keep on truckin. Also I have noticed a driveline shudder when accelerating from a stop while turning left or right. It does not shudder under straight line acceleration, is this the limited slip rearend, do your trucks do this, or do I have some other driveline problem.

I would take it in and get a copy of a work order stating that the fluid is low and the LSD is shuddering (good documentation if you ever have a problem). Then have them add some limited slip additive and top off your diff. I did not notice if yours was a 4x4 but if it is I would have that checked also.



By the way this thread made me look at mine Mine were both full. Of course mines a "new" 2002 and they did not start their new quality program until the 2003's :-laf

 

[kbarlow]

Originally posted by Pit Bull

Then have them add some limited slip additive and top off your diff.

The manual says additive not required.



Cheers Ken

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by kbarlow

The manual says additive not required.



Cheers Ken

Forgot the 03's have a new axle made by American.