Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) What they DON'T tell you about buying a Dodge Cummins...

[SLightfoot]

Disclaimer: Very sorry if this comes across bitter and disgruntled, but that's the way I feel right now and I just have to vent a little.....



I love the Cummins as much as the next guy, and love the power, but MAN can these things drive a guy around the bend in a hurry.



So you buy a new truck for $50K plus with the all mighty Cummins thinking you've got a really strong truck good to go for years.



WRONG



Here's what I wish I knew I needed to buy to keep my truck running and not leave me totally stranded somewhere: (in CDN dollars)



1) Code Reader $200. 00

2) Spare Lift Pump $175. 00

3) Spare APPS $575. 00

4) FP Guage $150. 00

5) Spare VP44 $1500. 00

6) HyrdoBoost Pump $600. 00

7) Specialty tools $150. 00

---------

Total: $3350. 00



I'm sorry for my bitter tone of my post, but for the past month, my normally good truck has developed one problem after another, all very expensive ones. It's making it REALLY hard to love this truck.



Picking up a code reader tonight to figure out why my truck decides to stop running on the highway and go into limp mode. I've got to figure this out...

I've already had to purchase 5 out of the 7 in the list above in the past month, with a gut feeling I'm going to be doing the other 2 in the next week also. Ughhhh...



I'm really frustrated right now since very soon I have to hook up the fifth wheel, take my very young family on a journey through the mountains where the nearest service station is hours away. Now I'm petrified of this thing leaving the whole family stranded precariously far far away from anywhere.



I'm sure there are others who've been there too... ...



Rant over. Maybe I'll feel a bit better now... .



Cheers,



Shawn

 

[Texas Diesel]

I can certainly understand your frustration. But with 3 Dodge/Cummins in the family we have replaced (of the parts you mentioned):



4 LP's

1 APPS ( got from Mopar4Less for around $375US)

(Fuel pressure tested is need for just about all models now, so it's not model specific)

(Code reader is needed for a computerized models now too)

Specialty tools? All OEMS have them.

1 Hydroboost on the 98 is failed.



Believe me I understand. My first truck was a lot queen too, had 3 NV-5600's before I got a good one.



All trucks have over 100,000 miles, the 98 has nearly 200,000 on the original alternator, water pump and transmission, even has the original vacuum pump and PS pump.



I just went through this with a new Truck Camper, the Onan generator wouldnt run or stay running. They put a new one in and it did the same BS.



Turned out to be a dead bug in the regulator vert line. Works like a champ now. We were at the point of selling the camper before they got the 'bugs' out.



Sorry to hear about your trouble, once you get the bugs out you will love it for X hundred thousand miles.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

8 years... $3350... just over $400 a year...



just over a dollar a day...



I know it sucks, but the problems w/ the 24 fuel systems are well documented.

 

[PRout]

I'm sorry for my bitter tone of my post, but for the past month, my normally good truck has developed one problem after another, all very expensive ones. It's making it REALLY hard to love this truck.

I also feel bad about having to agree with you on this.

Dodge/Cummins has not backed their loyal customers, or their reputations on the VP44 / lift pump catastropic failure issue.

It is understandable to have a poor design with bugs, but what matters is what they do about it to make it right afterwards. Thats where the reputation is made or broken. IMO they have failed miserably.

Im not talking about failures due to adding t-tap boxes. Im talking about the poor sucker with a stock truck that knows nothing about their failed lift pump and takes the family out on a trip with the trailer on back that winds up stranded with a dead rig, and a major towing/repair bill.

Then on top of that to read how DC denies VP44 warranty repair due to an upgraded vulcan fuel line kit is the "insult to the injury".

In summary, they are making big bucks on failed VP44 replacements, at some of the most loyal supporters' expense.

But... I try not to have an attitude about it. .

 

[Nate]

Hydroboost pump? What the heck is that?



The power steering pump is about $100 and the hydroboost is about $270.

 

[CMBOld]

with ya

After spending thousands on an ATS transmission,then nearly three grand more on a fass fuel pump and inlector pump,I'm expecting my 53 block to crack any day now!!

 

[SLightfoot]

Well, I just discovered last night that I can add "Cracked Exhaust Manifold" to my list now.

 

[Beach]

Hey CMB, I just broke my input shaft on my stage 4 ATS transmission, and all I did was floor it at 50mph. Since that's one of the few thing's that seperates a 4 from a 5, and it's not covered under warranty, I'm looking at a $2k repair bill on something I thought would'nt break. Now I'm upgrading to a billet shaft and the new 5 disk torque converter, and maybe I'll be done! When doe's it end!? I've been down the VP44 road and the APPS one too! Get's very old!

 

[willysrule]

don't matter what emblem or motor it has, your still gonna wrench on it...

 

[Cummins Thunder]

We need more positive threads like this one



CJ

 

[Texas Diesel]

My brother dumps all his PowerStrokes by 100-150k miles because they cost him so much to maintain. At stock power levels too. Once he added a fuel box and put a rod through the side of the block. He got to write the dealership a check for $17k :-{}



Now he just gets a new one every two years.



This is not to support Dodge / Cummins refusal to warranty known defects like 53 blocks and LP problems and a host of others. Dodge / Cummins is (IMO) the best out there despite poor coverage by the OEM's.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Dollar for dollar out of the big 3 contenders in the us med duty diesel segment, Dodge still has the LEAST ammount of dollars spent on major repairs. Mostly is inherent to the straight 6 design. Simplistic , strong , fewer parts , better mileage , not to mention durability. Ask some of the V-8 diesel owners (Especially with the advent and of any new design engine Weather the CRD , 6. 0 , or the first gen d-max) Dollars rack up quickly on the v-power rigs. Read a bit on the other boards and in fact ask some that have come over here ... I think the picture should sharpen up for ya.



I am not saying that our trucks are gold and need a lil' carpet mat thingy to kneel on and pray in front of it because that is so not so. I am saying that they all have issues . . ours happen to have the least expensive issues. Especially when you re engineer and address them yourself using some of the fantastic research and development that many vendors , members , and tinkerers (<-- where's Doc anyhow??) have spent countless hours working on for a better ownership experience.

 

[SLightfoot]

Hey, all threads can't be positive.



This is a thread just to vent a bit.



It's healthy to have a catharsis every now and then.



But you know what sent me off the deep end today?



Went into Cummins today to pick up a "Campaign" lift pump for my truck.



Reading the note that comes with it, Cummins states that as a result of a potential "stall" condition due to fauly lifts pumps, which I was told poses a safety risk, they will replace all of the lift pumps prior to this version (faulty or not), and ALSO replace the injector pumps as they note that a failed lift pump will put the injector pump at serious risk, and therefore should be replaced also under this program.



All of this cummins does free of charge... ... ... ... ... .



EXCEPT for our Dodge trucks... . why?

Because it's supposedly covered under a Dodge "warranty".



When was the last recall notice you saw from Dodge calling back your truck to replace the old lift pump and replace a potentially damaged injector pump whether you have had problems or not?



The very engine manufacturer of our trucks is out there waving a big red flag for this issue, and we're hung out to dry.



I think a lot of the issues and resulting frustration many of us are feeling would have been greatly reduced if this type of program was passed along to DC customers.



Gotta say though, dealing directly with Cummins today was a very nice experience.



Shawn

 

[Sled Dog]

Hey, all threads can't be positive.



This is a thread just to vent a bit.



It's healthy to have a catharsis every now and then.



But you know what sent me off the deep end today?



Went into Cummins today to pick up a "Campaign" lift pump for my truck.



Reading the note that comes with it, Cummins states that as a result of a potential "stall" condition due to fauly lifts pumps, which I was told poses a safety risk, they will replace all of the lift pumps prior to this version (faulty or not), and ALSO replace the injector pumps as they note that a failed lift pump will put the injector pump at serious risk, and therefore should be replaced also under this program.



All of this cummins does free of charge... ... ... ... ... .



EXCEPT for our Dodge trucks... . why?

Because it's supposedly covered under a Dodge "warranty".



When was the last recall notice you saw from Dodge calling back your truck to replace the old lift pump and replace a potentially damaged injector pump whether you have had problems or not?



The very engine manufacturer of our trucks is out there waving a big red flag for this issue, and we're hung out to dry.



I think a lot of the issues and resulting frustration many of us are feeling would have been greatly reduced if this type of program was passed along to DC customers.



Gotta say though, dealing directly with Cummins today was a very nice experience.



Shawn

Drive up to Moraine Lake, climb the rock pile. In the morning, before the tour busses arrive. Everything seems a little better there.

 

[BigPapa]

EXCEPT for our Dodge trucks... . why?

Because it's supposedly covered under a Dodge "warranty".

That's part of Dodge's deal with Cummins, no Cummins warranty.



I feel for you guys. We've got a guy here in middle TN that had the dreaded 53 block crack. Dodge said they'll pay for the parts but he has to pay labor.



Scott

 

[CHornsby]

Well, I just discovered last night that I can add "Cracked Exhaust Manifold" to my list now.

I've got an extra one with a hole for a pyro if ya need one.

 

[SLightfoot]

I've got an extra one with a hole for a pyro if ya need one.

Sent ya a PM.



Thanks,



Shawn

 

[CMBOld]

Thanks for the info Beach, looks like no more shifting locked for me! My truck is stock as far as engine power so I SHOULD be alright. We tow a 4000 lb boat 2000 miles a year so it's not worked hard. Anybody know anything about the new Fass indicator light instead of a guage? My diesel guy says 230. 00$ out the door, or is a guage the best way to go? truck staying stock.