Warranty

[zues]

I was at the local Dodge Dealer and asked the service writer if I took off the cat and muffler would I void my warranty. He says yes.



The reason I wonder is because there is a 2001 truck in for repairs. The truck has 21000 miles and has a hole in one piston and one valve. Cummins says he is on his own because the owner put on a fresh air intake.



One reason I want to remove the CAT is because it is 1/8 inch away from a crossmember and clunks every once in a while.



By the way there was a brand new 600/325 engine on the floor ready to put in a truck. All the computers and wires are on the engine. The only thing the dealer needs to do is put all the fluids in it.

 

[RustyJC]

Cummins says he is on his own because the owner put on a fresh air intake.

A subtle but crucial point - Cummins doesn't give a hoot one way or the other, because Cummins doesn't warrant the engine. Dodge buys the engine from Cummins without a warranty. Any warranty work done on the engine is funded by (and, unfortunately, decided by) DaimlerChrysler.



Rusty

 

[Bob4x4]

Rusty,

Not true,Cummins is involved. Star has Cummins employees on staff to aid in diagnosing and oking repairs. Their first question is always... . has the vehicle been tampered with. Cummins has also monitored this site in the past and may still be watching.



Bob

 

[RustyJC]

Rusty,

Not true...

Bob,



Those are pretty strong words. The fact that Cummins might or might not have technical advisors resident with STAR has nothing whatsoever to do with who holds the financial responsibility for the warranty. I stand by my statement - Dodge provides the warranty, not Cummins.



The following is from Cummins' website:

What is the warranty on the Cummins engine?



The warranty coverage for the Cummins Turbo Diesel in the 2004 model year Dodge Ram is seven years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, and is handled by Dodge dealers, not Cummins. See your local Dodge dealer or www.dodge.com for further details regarding this warranty coverage.

Rusty

 

[Bob4x4]

Rusty,

I did not mean to imply that Cummins had any financial responsibility,just that Cummins coaches D/C on what modifications should or should not be accepted w/out warranty concerns.

Cummins is VERY conservitive when it comes to up-rates. Cummins does give a hoot, they are very concerned about their reputation being tarnished be it in a Dodge,Ford,or Peterbuilt. If you go back aways to Jnutters engine meltdown,Cummins knew about his Mods and they are the ones that made the determination on not covering his repair bill.

Try to get a Cummins dealer to install 100hp injectors in your out of warranty engine and you will see what I am talking about.



I am My own warranty.



Bob

 

[ttreibel]

Rusty,

Not true,Cummins is involved. Star has Cummins employees on staff to aid in diagnosing and oking repairs. Their first question is always... . has the vehicle been tampered with. Cummins has also monitored this site in the past and may still be watching.



Bob

If Cummins(and or Dodge) is watching this site then I will tell you the stock airbox and filter just plain $uck eggs. I have used them now for 32K, I on my 3rd filter and the turbo blades are dirty and the intake tube is also dirty they let dirt by and come nowhere near the 30K that was written in my manual. I have the stock box and only used Mopar filters from the dealer I should be on my secound instead I am on my 3rd I have one more filter then I am onto a better system with or without the DC's blessing.



I am begining to think most of these waranties are not worth as much as the paper there written on!! Oo.

 

[Matt400]

I stand by my statement - Dodge provides the warranty, not Cummins.



The following is from Cummins' website:

All that means is that DC provides the warranty to the customer, it does not imply that Cummins sells their product to DC with no warranty. If the engine is under warranty Cummins will pop for the engine.

 

[TCDiesel]

DC locks cummins out of their own engines,Cummins does not certify any DC techs,That why I have so much fear of the dealer techs,It"s like the missing link,If you by a peterbuilt the dealers have certify cummins tech that are authorize by cummins to do warranty repairs or service, Not so with DC deralers, What makes me disgruntle is DC does not authorize cummins to do any warranty work or repairs . What upset me more is why DC does not allow cummins to change engine programing even when the truck is out of warranty. It"s like being married to a person you can never divorce.

 

[FDavid]

According to Cummins, "Dodge dealers handle ALL warranty work on the Cummins Turbo Diesel. However, some Dodge dealers have relationships with Cummins distributors and "sublet" warranty work to them. "

 

[DPKetchum]

I worked at a D. C. dealer four years in service. Was told MANY times that the engines are bought kinda AS IS from Cummins. Was told Cummins does NOT reimburse D. C. for any engines or repairs. Bet D. C. gets a better price and what not. Was also told back in 2000 from D. C. DO NOT sublet any repairs to Cummins. Do them IN HOUSE. Do be honest the few back then we did sublet out to Cummins we were treated like the red haired step child and our customers treated even worse. They(Cummins South)charged some outlandish prices,they were NOT fixed first trip or second for that matter! Were arrogant and RECHECK was NOT in their volcabulary. I do HOPE D. C. is not using the AIRBOX thing as a excuse as is Ford. What I've read on these WEB sites as well as hearing through the grapevine is a abnormal amount of engine failures(lots more then posted) due to burnt pistons and valves because of INJECTOR FAILURE. (not due to towing and high EGTs but normal driving and injectors hanging open)Some as new as 400 miles some as high as 230k. They NEED to build these with a EGT gauge from the get go. Would save money and headaches. When sales is SLOW warranty money gets squeezed to a trickle by the book kinda thing. Had a D. C. rep in mid 03 tell me and my neighbor that a TSB on the AIR BOX was forth coming. They KNEW it was a poor design. Oh WELL I guess they scratched that idea.

 

[RustyJC]

If the engine is under warranty Cummins will pop for the engine.

Here's a challenge. Pull into Cummins Southern Plains here in Houston in a 2005 Ram with 500 miles on it and a toasted engine. Tell the Service Manager you want Cummins to replace the engine under warranty at no expense to you. I think you'll be in for a big surprise.



As has been stated several times, Dodge purchases the engines from Cummins with no warranty. This is a corporate risk management decision that DC has decided saves them money - it's cheaper to carry the warranty risk themselves than to pay Cummins to do it in the price of new engines.



Rusty

 

[Matt400]

Here's a challenge. Pull into Cummins Southern Plains here in Houston in a 2005 Ram with 500 miles on it and a toasted engine. Tell the Service Manager you want Cummins to replace the engine under warranty at no expense to you. I think you'll be in for a big surprise.

Of course that won't happen, Cummins didn't sell the consumer the product. That would be like getting towed to AA for an replacement axle, you know you have to go through a DC Dealer.

As has been stated several times, Dodge purchases the engines from Cummins with no warranty. This is a corporate risk management decision that DC has decided saves them money - it's cheaper to carry the warranty risk themselves than to pay Cummins to do it in the price of new engines.



Rusty

If you say so Rusty, I sure find that hard to believe DC would offer the longest engine warranty out of any of their products and do it with no kind of kick back from their supplier. News to me.

 

[RustyJC]

Matt,



I work for a manufacturer of engines, compressors, gas turbines and turbochargers and know how warranty budgets are established. It really is just, as I said, a question of risk management.



The conversation probably went something like this:



Cummins: Mister Dodge, it's your choice. If you want me to carry the warranty obligation, I will. On the other hand, if you choose to carry the warranty obligation, we will give you a 3% discount on every engine you purchase.



Now, the Dodge accountants and actuaries went back into a room, calculated the value of the 3% cash in hand against the net present value of future warranty claims and took the discount.



Rusty

 

[turboost]

I don't see how it is possible to void a warranty b/c of no cat. I doesn't affect the engine ( other than possible lower EGTs). There is no electronics that depend on it. It doesn't tamper with the fuel or computer.



Before I removed mine I read through the owner's manual thoroughly and could not find anywhere that said warranty is void by removing the cat. convertor. I would request a reason from the tech to explain how it could harm the engine. I did and all I got was backpedaling and some answer having to do with the O2 sensor. I told him if he can show me an O2 sensor then I would leave the cat on. Needless to say its off now.

 

[DPKetchum]

The warranty claims on Cummins engines is also very low. AS RustyJC mentioned D. C. assumed the risk factor and at pretty good odds. Dodge has been their own warranty station on Cummins engines from the get go.

 

[SRH]

your Big problem

Here is your Big problem. http://home.comcast.net/~scjn/wsb/html/view.cgi-photos.html-.html :--)

 

[lcrawford]

my truck is stock and Im happy with it but I want to install EGT and boost guages mostly for the cool factor will this void the warranty

 

[TCDiesel]

First I think we should define the diffreneces from warranty repairs being denied and warranties being voided, Some dealerships find reason like gauges to deny warranty repairs if they wish. NO DEALERSHIP CAN VOID YOUR WARRANTY,THEY CAN ONLY DENY TO THE REPAIRS. Example I had a good relationship with Blaine Dodge {even though they new I was A POWER Installer}until I needed front axle repairs under warranty the service manager deny to to the repairs,To make along story short I went to another dealer who was more than happy to due the repairs under warranty, Only DC can void your warranty,Most of the time DC only will void your warranty is for Odometer tempering or fraud. When it comes to engine mods reputation is more important than HP.

 

[zues]

I have a buddy that is a service writer (not for DC) and he says there can be a lot things covered under warranty. It depends on how the service writes up the repair. If the dealership is slow more warranty work will be performed.

 

[DPKetchum]

Its all in the pen! Warranty work is good money. So if its slow guess what! I know a certain Dodge gas truck that between 28k and 36k had a weak battery,minor skip,seepage from rear diff. cover,a tsb for a whistle noise in reverse,minor coolant leak repaired. (new battery,plugs&wires rerouted(tsb),diff. serviced,updated valve in trans/tsb(new fliud&gasket)resealed thermostat housing and new coolant) damn I guess it missed its 30k service certain things if someone is smart can also be done for customers in the way of customer satisfaction and it be legit instead of causing a headache. Known of a couple of pilot bearings howling in a few diesels and customer opted to BUY a clutch assy(parts)and have them installed as GOOD measure while the "warranty"pilot bearing was repaired. Seemed smart on their end. The pen is pretty mighty at times. If any one from D. C. reads this YOU KNOW it happens and saves a call to the 1800 NO HELP line.