What is a STAR Part

[Fulton]

My truck has been at the dealership since Thursday because of Crank Position sensor failure. I am being told the reason it is taking so long is because the Crank Position Sensor is a STAR part. The service guy was not real clear as to what that means. Can anyone explain what is meant by a "STAR" part? Thanks.

 

[2Gen3Gen]

STAR is a part of Chrysler that controls parts from Chrysler that are priced WAY too much for them to keep stocked in any dealer such as injectors. It takes an act of congress to get anything from STAR. ... ..... STAR IS EVEL!!!! Any part on your truck that breaks or fails, falls under the evil "STAR" excuse. I feel that soon, the price of DIESEL will be controlled by STAR! :--)

 

[Bob4x4]

Any time engineering wants to track failures,learn what is going wrong,or thinks parts are being changed with out need (proper dignostics)parts will be restricted. The star hotline will in some cases release parts and in some cases actually order the parts they deem necessary. The process does not add much time if the tech is on the ball. There are times when those same parts are on back order ,then that is out of the dealers hands once they have upgraded to a vor (vehicle off road)status. The 3rd gens have been very trouble free compared to the 2nd gen 24v's. Of course when it is your baby down that probably doesn't carry much weight.



Bob

 

[TX Gooseneck]

A star part is a brillant idea to leave the customer stranded. When my transfer pump when out it was listed as a star part. To go through DC to get, I would have been stuck in Montana for over a week (not normally such a bad thing, but I needed to be in the office) so I had to go to cummins, spend twice as much and fight to get it covered under warranty.



DC's thought process is they force the tech to run certain test to eliminate certain parts like, transfer pumps. But the people who get forced between the rock and the hardplace are the consumers. Had DC been willing to pick up my flight, hotel, or rental car, that would have been one thing, but I was told I was SOL and to wait it out. Thank God Cummins doesn't have star parts

 

[JStieger]

I am being told the reason it is taking so long is because the Crank Position Sensor is a STAR part.

That's kind of weird that a crankshaft positions sensor is a STAR part???



A few weeks ago I bought a camshaft position sensor from Cummins Intermountain and it was the same part number as the crankshaft position sensor. P/N # 3408529 for $25. 81 plus tax



What year is your truck? Maybe the sensor is different on my 2003...

 

[2Gen3Gen]

I rest my case! I just hope only a few of us get caught up in the STAR part wait. . Just in case, I highly recomend joining AAA plus and then the AAA pays for lodging, meals and if so needed, get you home and then deliver your truck once its fixed. They will also tow you up to 100 miles! Not All AAA offer this option, such as Oregon, so that is why Im still a member of the Calif AAA. Its one of the best around! Ive actually used the Hotel and meal option while my truck was towed to Reno from Truckee on a break down. Had 3 wonderful meals and was put up in very nice hotel until my truck was on the road again.

 

[DLeno]

There are probably many different business objectives behind the STAR program. one is inventory control. the other is probably the additional rigor and attention given to warranty coverage (removes dealer discretion).

 

[klenger]

So what happens if you want to buy a "Star" part out of warranty?

 

[TX Gooseneck]

There are probably many different business objectives behind the STAR program. one is inventory control. the other is probably the additional rigor and attention given to warranty coverage (removes dealer discretion).

I'm sure it is, but as an owner of a business that relies on customers, if something breaks, I do my best to take care of it, whether that's bringing it back or having it fixed locally. I think the penny pinchers are not taking into account the ones that really get hosed, ie, you and I.



Klenger - you still wait. I paid for the part and was reimbursed from DC. Had I been out of warranty, I would have been courtesy shuttled to Cummins to buy the part

 

[CORed]

I thought that if STAR is involved, the part is being considered as "under warranty". Thus the close (i. e. rediculous) scrutiny. Otherwise, it's just the normal parts counter for you and whatever they have in stock or not in stock...

 

[Fulton]

Thanks everyone for the information. I got my truck back today! The part was $32. 34 and . 3hrs in labor all covered by warranty of course. My truck info did not show up in my signature(not sure why) but it is an 05, 3500 and had 3990 miles on it when I got the P0335 and P0336 codes. Thanks again.



Jeff

 

[scotty1]

S. T. A. R.



S. tupid, T. errible A. nd R. ediculous stall tactics and excuses to make us wait for parts.

 

[sag2]

Retail STAR parts just require a vin and miles to order. Most parts still come from the depot that is closest to the dealer. There is nothing from that keeps a "good" dealer from stocking the parts and replenishing his stock with the part STAR sends them for the truck in warranty. There are several dealers that do that, and they get great word of mouth advertising.

 

[DLeno]

sag2 -- then there must be a difference between a "STAR part" for retail and "STAR approval". the fuel rail pressure relief valve, for example, requires STAR approval. my dealer told me it was not available retail -- to get one you have to have a service event and an approval process.

 

[sag2]

Just some more food for thought, if injectors were not STAR restricted, a truck with one bad injector would most likely get six. At $400 each plus 40% dealer profit, that is $2800 spent for nothing. How about a $3000 engine controller? Same story.

So all you guys that think they should give the dealer free reign to replace anything they want, remember you are the ones that say how stupid the dealers are and can't fix anything. That is why the trucks cost $40,000, because all that wasted warranty money is passed on to you and I when we buy the truck.

So be careful what you wish for!

 

[sag2]

DLeno

Not correct. He calls STAR and says he needs a part for customer pay. Gives them a VIN and miles, and they send the part. Simple as that.

 

[Tim]

I don't see why you should have to provide any information such as mileage to them to order a part. I feel really sorry for those of you that this affects.

 

[DLeno]

cool. I'l have to ask my dealer parts guy about that some time.

 

[TX Gooseneck]

At that point buy aftermarket. For me to buy a new factory turbo the cost was $3800. Aftermarket was $1100 shipped.



From what I was told, dealers are not allowed to have star parts in stock. It is on an as needed basis, and according to DC, the dealers don't need stock.

 

[JStieger]

From what I was told, dealers are not allowed to have star parts in stock. It is on an as needed basis, and according to DC, the dealers don't need stock.

I'm posting this tongue-in-check - they never have ANY parts in stock in my experiences! Examples from the first few months of ownership:



First visit = Yes you do have a leaky pinion seal that's spraying oil everywhere, but we need to order a seal first.



Second visit = Well, we changed out your seal even though it is OK if it seeps.



First visit = "Why yes that is a crack in the alternator bracket (as I applied some leverage on it) - please come back next week when we have the bracket in. "



Second visit = "Well we found no crack, but we changed it out anyway. "



First visit = "Oh! Your new pinion seal is still spraying oil everywhere. We'll order another seal for you. We have a new yoke, but no seal unfortunately. "



Second visit = "We changed the seal, but we must say that you ran over something that jumped up and punctured the seal. The yoke looked good!"



Since then I started BOMBing my truck and do my own maintenance out of my own pocket. Currently at 43,000 miles and only go to the dealer to buy ATF+4... . (which they had tons of it in stock!!!)...