Wow

[jdaigle]

Warning, Warning…. . this will turn into a rant!!!!!

After several weeks of great anticipation, my new 2006 Megacab 3500 4x4 Laramie had finally arrived that I had ordered from Tomeygun. My wife and I boarded a plane in Houston, TX on Sunday, November, 20th heading for the great city of St. Louis. We were very excited to visit St. Louis since neither of us had ever visited St. Louis before and to see the new truck since we had never owned a dodge…we’ve always owned chevys…make note!

Tomeygun graciously picked us up at the hotel bright an early on Monday morning and headed to the dealership getting more excited every second. We arrived at the dealership and Tomeygun had everything ready to go……. signed, sealed and delivered, we were in and out in less then a hour and feeling like we had just won the lottery. The truck was truly huge and truly beautiful.

We spent the rest of Monday site seeing in St. Louis and looked forward to heading to Louisiana early on Tuesday morning to see the family for turkey day and to put some miles on the big bad dodge.

We got on the road early Tuesday morning for the 750 mile journey to Louisiana and I had a grin on my face the whole way…. the 4 tons of Cummins beauty was purring, the wife in the back watching movies on the DVD…. life was good. I’m asking myself why did I wait so long to buy such a grand truck…. life was good.

On Friday, I decided to put the truck to work, I mean that’s why I bought the truck in the first place was to work, not just cruise down the highway. I hooked up my 20ft, 12,000lb utility trailer that I use to haul concrete rip/rap (broken pieces of concrete) that I use for a bulkhead on some river property I have and headed to a land fill where I load the concrete. Man, the Cummins is purring and I’m loving life.

I load half of the trailer, then need to move the trailer back about six feet, so I hop in the truck and put it into 4lo because the ground is very uneven and I wanted to place as little stress on the drive train as possible. I place the trans in neutral and switch the 4wheel drive indicator to 4lo-- Just like my chevy. The transfer case engages, I place the trans in reverse, and back up six feet. Man, the Cummins just idles back, it appears much easier then my chevy ever did…. I’m pumped…. life is good.

I finish loading the trailer and can’t wait to head down the road and see how this 4 ton pulling machine works. I hop in the truck, crank up the Cummins, wipe the grin off my face then place the trans in drive so I can get to some level ground before I take the transfer case out of 4lo. I give the go peddle a little juice and nothing…I’m not moving. I look around in somewhat disbelief that I must have done something wrong…I make sure the truck is in drive, which it is, then give the go peddle a push……nothing…. I’m not moving!!!!!

I look down at the 4wheel drive indicator switch and notice that the N is lit on the 4wheeldrive indicator signifying that the transfer case is in neutral. I’m like neutral…. . who the hell put it in neutral…. I just had it in 4lo because I backed up six feet!! I then proceed to get the owners manual out thinking that I may have missed something even though I’ve been driving 4x4 for more then 15 years, I may have missed something. Well after reading the manual for more then an hour I come to the conclusion that the transfer case is in neutral!!!!

I’m also clueless on how the freakin transfer case got into neutral in the first place because after reading the manual it’s easier to suck mud through a straw then to put the transfer case into neutral…. . stop the engine…. press the brake peddle…. . get something pointed to stick into the freakin tiny hole…. wait 4 seconds…lights will blink the earth will shake…yada…yada…. yada. I only put the SOB in 4lo.

So at this point, I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere with several tons of concrete strapped to a 4 ton, $54,000, 5 day old truck that can’t move itself an inch to save it’s freakin life!!! I figure the best placed to start to try and resolve this situation is to contact Tomeygun.

I give Tomeygun a call and explain the situation to him and he tells me the service department is closed but that he will try and see what he can find out and will give me a call back. He tells me to try and disconnect the batteries so the computer can reset itself. Then he calls me back in about 30 minutes and tells me he’s got some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that DC has issued some kind of recall, service bulletin whatever you want to call it, which states that the transfer case can inadvertently switch to neutral and that a “Flash”, the good news, will fix the problem.

I’m like a “Flash”……. . I’m in the middle of freakin nowhere and I can’t much less flash myself much less have DC do it!!!!!! Tomeygun suggest I contact the local dodge dealership for assistance. I manage to find the number to the local dodge dealership and explain to the service manager the situation. He tells me that he is short handed because of turkey day and that he can take a look at on Monday!! I’m like dude, I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere, I’ve got several tons of concrete loaded on a trailer hooked up to a 4 ton, $54,000, 5 day old truck and I’ve got to be 250 miles away in Houston on Monday for work……. can you please try and help me out!!!!!!! He finally understands the situation and says he will send a tech over to take a look at the truck…. . I’m like thanks I really appreciate it.

Two hours later this tech dude shows up the star tool and starts flashing and flashing and flashing…I’m like hey. . making any progress????? An hour later he tells me that he is going to have to go back to the shop and get…. guess what……a freakin flash he does not have…. . I’m like you got to be kidding me!!!!!!

ANother 2 hours later……. . the service manager shows up in his personal car and tells that he has a wrecker coming to pick up the truck that apparently the motor on the transfer case that switches between 2lo, 2hi etc is burnt……I’m like burnt……. the ********** is only 5 days old…. . you mean to tell me that sh** on this truck only lasts 5 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say at this point I’m about to come unglued!!!!!! I then call my friend to come and get me and the loaded trailer with his 1 ton ford.

You guessed it……2 hours later the wrecker shows up ( a ford) and the driver says, man that’s a big truck and it has a Cummins, I hear that that is a great motor. I say, yea man, it’s a great motor, it powered the AC the whole time I’ve been stranded on the side of the freakin road…I don’t know what I would have done without it!!!!!!!!! At this point my friend shows up in his ford and the wrecker driver asks me where I want him to bring the truck…I say I don’t give a **** where you bring it, I’m going home!!!!!

Now, I know some of you will say,,,,you still own the truck. Yes, unfortunately your right, I still do own it and at this point hoping someone will steal, burn or whatever to this pile of junk!!!!!!!!!!

So now I’m in Houston, the truck is 250 miles away in Louisiana, and I don’t know what my options are. Can I give this thing back to DC? Will DC cover my costs getting back to Houston? Will DC cover my costs getting to work each day? Will DC bring my truck to Houston once it’s fixed, or do they think I’m going to drive another 500 mile trip back to Louisiana to pick it up?

Now, I know some of you will say, I driven my dodge 1 million miles, hauled cargo from here to BFE without any problems…. . and all I can say is that I wish it were me!!!!!

Thanks for listening…I almost feel better!! If anyone has any suggestions on how to resolve this situation I’m listening…………. signed…missing my chevy

 

[JCleary]

Warning, Warning…. . this will turn into a rant!!!!!

You weren't kidding. What exactly is your rant for? Are you asking for advice? Or are you just angry and complaining?



Your truck had a minor warranty issue, as many do, and your contacts made an honest effort to fix it. Sorry you had a bad experience, but these things happen. It does not make your truck a POS.



The transfer case can be shifted manually, by the way. You just have to go under the truck to do it.

 

[jdaigle]

JCleary:

Just angry..... advice would be nice... . therepy perhaps.

 

[GWBourne]

dude... enter key works wonders. i quit reading once i found out what the rant was about.



its nto a big deal. as will all new toys problems will happen once in a while. my truck, although ONLY 42k dollars when new has had check engine lights twice for MULTIPLE reasons. . but they fix it. thats how things work. iif it were perfect then it would have not been for sale.

Grant

 

[hasselbach]

JCleary:

Just angry..... advice would be nice... . therepy perhaps.

This has to be one of the longest run-on paragraphs I have ever read in my life! Dude, hit the ENTER key once and a while,



like this



and this



and again :-laf



So you had a minor problem, and the dealership WENT out of their way to assist you. THEY actually came to you to do the flash??!! I doubt my dealership would do that ever.



Brand new and you are towing 12,000 lbs?? Not a good idea.



BTW, putting it in 4 low actually places the driveline under more stress, not less.



YOur truck is comprised of a zillion parts Homer, once and a while things go wrong, and in your case, it was a very minor issue.



End of my Rant

 

[jdaigle]

Was told cummins always ready to pull

that's why i bought one

read on here

drive it like you stole it

previous trucks had zillion parts

never left stranded on side of the road

i thanked dealer for coming help

then told him DC product was crap not his

4lo use in low friction situation much easier on transmission

thanks for replying

i'm starting to feel better

can't wait to get truck back

my typing speed is increasing

oh, this enter thing is much better

can't wait to get truck back

 

[Grizzly]

JCleary:

Just angry..... advice would be nice... . therepy perhaps.

Stuff happens, but life goes on. If you think you have trouble you should be thankful you didn't get a Chevy or a Ford.

 

[JVolpe]

Just another one of those electric options that can go wrong. Had two trucks identical except for electric 4wd or manual 4wd selector to choose from. I just had to have that shifter sticking out of the floor and that is the one I chose. Now someone has confirmed I made a good decission.



Thanks jdaigle for your help.



I almost passed out reading that initial post, forgot to take a breath while reading.



As a chevy convert I suspect that in the long run you will be happy with your truck. I always test all of the functions of suspension and 4wd on a new truck in a pretty conservative manner. That is my advice.

 

[jdaigle]

I'm breathing

I'm breathing

I'm breathing

Deep breaths

Shallow Pockets

 

[JCleary]

Just another one of those electric options that can go wrong. Had two trucks identical except for electric 4wd or manual 4wd selector to choose from. I just had to have that shifter sticking out of the floor and that is the one I chose. Now someone has confirmed I made a good decission.



Thanks jdaigle for your help.



I almost passed out reading that initial post, forgot to take a breath while reading.



As a chevy convert I suspect that in the long run you will be happy with your truck. I always test all of the functions of suspension and 4wd on a new truck in a pretty conservative manner. That is my advice.

Had I had the option (grammar?) of choosing a shift lever instead of a switch, I definitely would have chosen the manual shift. Heck, I already have one stick coming off the floor, what's one more?



And speaking of suspensions, at least our trucks have a real live axle front end. No weak IFS here!

 

[MCrossley]

ok guys be nice....

You know I can understand your position, the flash that was described should have been done before it ever left the dealership, this was a safety recall as well as a rapid response transmittal which means someone in the service department was asleep. Anyhow I doubt that the motor is burnt, although they tried to do the flash in the field it really does not work that way because the StarScan needs to communicate with Dealerconnect and although you can upload a flash to the starscan it usually will not work right unless you are connected... . Anyhow they should reflash your truck and you will be on your way again don't get too disapointed with the truck because of that it really is a minor fluke that Dodge already has a fix for.



As far as chooising the wrong truck we get trade ins all the time that are chevy and ford with way more major issues than this, a newer duracrap came in some time ago with all kinds of allison issues (big suprise) and we finally auctioned it because it was just oo much money to fix. So take a deep breath, have a beer and know that things will be ok.



Good luck to you and please take a step back and enjoy your new ride.

 

[drewRoberts]

put on some twins, build up the transmission, add a box and your SEG will be back and everything will be ok

 

[hasselbach]

yeah, I wish mine had the 4wd stick too, but when you option it out with leather and other junk, dodge forces you to get the electric transfer case... .



oh well.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

... and that is a New Process transfer case??

 

[Bertram65]

After reading your story, I do not know which is worse, the transfer case glitch or paying $54k for a pickup truck.

 

[milehigh.o.]

jdaigle,



I am with you. If I bought anything for that kind of money and it had a problem in which it left me stranded, I would be seriously ****** as well. I don't think there is anyone on here that would be responding like they are right now had this happen to them. I can understand if the radio went out or the power seat didn't work, then that would be a s#$% happens type of deal, but by leaving you in this type of situation would suck and I would be ****** as well.



But this is also the reason I don't like all the fancy BS that some of these cars come with.

 

[Maverick]

I think you missed Jdaigle point. its a $54000 mistake when your in that position after changing brands. lets be honest we really only bought the cummins anyway the dodge just comes with it. :-laf at that point beat, smash,burn all feels good ! (well goodluck )someday you will love it again.

 

[MCrossley]

actually I was!

My power steering pump went out at 15k... . But things do happen and I said in my earlier post his situation should have nevr happened becuae it was known problem and the truck should have been dealt with before sale, the service departmetn failed him. But for those of you that complain about the electronic 4wd, there is very little difference other than it is a servo moving the stick instead of your hand, and in worse case you can get under the truck and move the lever... It is not like the fords that actually have everything tied to the computer and is all internal... .

jdaigle,



I am with you. If I bought anything for that kind of money and it had a problem in which it left me stranded, I would be seriously ****** as well. I don't think there is anyone on here that would be responding like they are right now had this happen to them. I can understand if the radio went out or the power seat didn't work, then that would be a s#$% happens type of deal, but by leaving you in this type of situation would suck and I would be ****** as well.



But this is also the reason I don't like all the fancy BS that some of these cars come with.

 

[JMingledorff]

I'm with those who would love a manual 4x4 shifter. I had a Ford that refused to go into 4x4 time and again. Would work great in the parking lot but not in the dirt. Just one of many problems I had with that truck. The electric shift in my 04. 5 worked flawlessly for 37,000 miles, but when I order the new truck next year I will seriously consider whatever it takes for me to get a floor shifter.



Sorry for your troubles dude, unfortunately its one of those little problems that turns into a HUGE headache. Just be glad that Tommeygun and your local dealership were helpful, especially the dealer that didn't get the sale. I always get a sense of dread when a new vehicle has problems, afraid its a sign of things to come... so far that only came true with the Ford. Don't worry, it'll be fine.

 

[jdaigle]

It's always good to have discussion, some people understand/agree with you some don't. The dealership in Louisiana called earlier today and informed me that "Yes" the motor was burnt and replaced... everything shifting fine now they say..... I asked for how long???? I was just really, really, really PO'd because I had such great service from my chevy trucks..... never left on the side of the road... . and I did so much research in trying to make the right decision on a new truck and to spend that kind of money to be left stranded just really ****** me off.

I'm sure that after I get the truck back... . which is a whole other story in itself... . that I'm going to enjoy it... ... I better anyway. I'm still waiting to hear back from DC on what my options are to get the truck back to Houston from Louisiana... ... I sure the hell don't want to drive 500 miles to pick it up.

Ok, enough said, I've lingered around this board for over a year reading, listening and taking notes trying to determine if dodge was going to be my next truck... . and it was so... ... I'll keep listening to you experts out there who have driven these trucks for years and continue to ask for advice and an ear when I need to vent