I bought a Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins 2004.5 (build July 2014) last week from Dave Smith Motors dealership in Kellogg, Idaho ("World's largest Dodge/Jeep dealer"). While checking up on the vehicle, I brought up codes - one came up, P1756. The dealer and I go inside and look it up and says it's the transmission solenoid. I should have walked right when the code popped up. But, we take it over to the service shop and they give me some stuff about how its a code left over from when they did service, and cleared the code. This is before I own the truck so they cleared it in their possession.

I get the truck home, and within 200 miles it starts acting weird, when turning a corner, the motor will spin a little and then connect with a jerk - or even three four jerks as it gets the truck rolling. The code P1756 now shows up, even though it was clear until this behavior began. The truck seems to not have a good connection when under way, sort of spins up and slingshots rather than just being connected if you guys know what I mean?

I've parked the truck for now. The engine is fine - starts and idles etc and the truck will roll nicely on the freeway.

What am I looking at here? Is this the solenoid problem? As for my driving habits, I've been hypermiling the truck since I bought it seeing how MPG can be obtained so there's been no rough treatment since I brought it home.

Another topic - I realized that the VIN label had been rubbed raw and almost unreadable so I took it upon myself to see about replacing it. I was able to find all the info ECSVIN required and they're just waiting for my money before printing a label - but - one of the items ECSVIN made me obtain is a "VIP report" which I got directly from Chrysler; it lists all the recalls the truck needs, and it turns out there are three on the truck including a recent 12/2013 tie-rod recall that the dealership could have performed while in their possession - but did not. Isn't that some rule an official dealership just broke?

- BB

 

I've bought two trucks from Dave Smith, without issue.

Take it back and talk to the general manager, explain what you've found and ask why the recalls weren't fixed along with the issues you're having.

When I bought my '06 from them, one of the salesman actually backed into it and crushed the rear corner of the cab. They offered to fix it for free, or pick another truck, or to back out completely if I couldn't find a truck I liked.

As this is your first post on here, I don't know why you haven't gone back to the dealer to begin with and would almost consider this a troll post. If not, I apologize, but understand how it looks before you become upset.




-Kris

 

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EDIT: 9:00am Monday June 2 - they're fetching my truck at my home and taking it in to have the dent taken care of, recalls, and look at the transmission. Stay tuned!
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No troll post, Kris. Let me explain how this went.

I spent months looking for a truck. Read all the horror stories of a bad diesel, how to protect oneself, etc. Meanwhile I'm looking out for a long bed, seem to prefer a Dodge Quad cab due to its cummins and slightly shorter length than a full crew cab. Meanwhile, I've established a relationship of sorts with a salesman (Chase G.) at Dave Smith. He tries to sell me several trucks that come and go, always begging for a deposit because as he says, the inventory changes quickly.

Then the 2004.5 shows up - by now Chase knows I'm leery of any damage whatsoever, I don't want to waste time getting out to Dave Smith from my home in Spokane, only to find dents and the stuff. He assures me - there's no body damage, rock chips, etc. All in writing, too. Come on out!

I get out to the place - and the truck is sure a beauty in the bright noonday sun - it's a white one - and I proceed to check for obvious things like oil drips, blowby, codes. Oops, yo Chase, it threw a code! We look it over some more but miss the dent that sits in front of the rear well - it's like a contour, but a dent nonetheless that I discover when I get the truck home.

But, as I said in my original post, we take it over to the service department and they hook up some machinery and put the truck in gear, do some stuff, then tell me that the code was one they'd covered during their checkout, and that it was not an issue, and cleared the code.

We observed at that time the VIN label was washed out. I didn't think that it meant as much as I do now - "Yikes!" was the word out of the service guy's mouth - I should have walked away then as well.

This was Friday, May 23.

I get ahold of the dealer Saturday, about the dent, May 24, and they tell me the manager (Lynn Pssas(?)) [a dude] is out until Monday (Memorial Day), and he's the one who makes the decisions. I do speak with Lynn on Monday, and he starts it motion that I'll get the dent fixed. So that's going fine I think - I've been contacted by their body department guy, a Josh Ross, who's the dent repair guy at Dave Smith - but he's on vacation until this Wed. so I'll not hear from him 'til then, I guess. I do suggest they should take the truck back on this incident but I know that's a long shot.

Meanwhile, the truck's been sitting in my driveway, first as I waited out the weekend for the dent resolution, and I've taken it out for a couple of ten mile spins to enjoy it, buy some lumber from Lowes, etc.. I've got about 200 miles on it since purchasing it.

Then, on Saturday evening (May 31) I took a load of scrap wood out to the dump (five miles away) that I'd collected around the house and that's when the transmission started limping. I later checked, and the same old code was back.

That's where I'm at now, and as you can see, I've had no time or chance to do anything yet. I'm at this moment (June 2, 8:00am) waiting for a call back from Lynn, but it may very well be I have to take another day off from work to get the truck to Dave Smith (hopefully limping on the freeway doesn't hurt) or something, but right this moment, I'm trying to deal with them.

As for the recall information, I obtained that information late last week from Chrysler while gathering the materials needed for the VIN label replacement - it's called a VIP report. With the transmission working, I'd just have the local dealership do the work.

That's the story - does it make sense now? Basically an out of service truck from Dave Smith with 200 miles since purchased in my driveway.

- BB

 

Good luck, BB. Hope everything works out to your satisfaction.

 

Hey BB, what does your written warranty and contractual agreement, on the used 10+ year old truck given to you by the selling dealer, state?

 

And this is why I like dealing with them, even though I'm in the Boise area and they're up near the northern border.

Glad to hear it worked out for you!



-Kris

 

From the 24 years I spent in a dearlership, the one thing I learned is no matter what you do to fix a problem for a customer some just cant be fixed,,but in your case sounds like you were bent before you even started talking to someone.

I guess the title explains that.

 

So you bought a 10 yr old truck with a ding in the fender and a minor issue and it's a lemon?
You don't say how many miles on the truck nor any warranty you got with it.
I'd expect that the trans issue get taken care of but I'd say they're going the extra mile fixing the dent.
Weird rant!

 

EDIT: build date was 7-2004 MY BAD!!!!

The truck, actually, was built 7-2014, and in service in August 2014. That makes it less than ten years old, literally.

There's no warranty - I declined to purchase their $2500 2-year warranty and I knew that might bite in the end.

What's your point?

-BB

 

Not sure what was actually agreed on by you and the dealer but the trans issue should be covered since it happened BEFORE you purchased the truck and then again after you purchased. From your side it sounds like they knew the code was there and the possibility of a more serious issue was known.

Just not sure I would have called the truck a lemon with only one issue though.

 

This whole post is Edit, BB you said first you bought a 2004.5 built in July 2014, that is confusing right off the bat. is it an 04.5 or a 2014, if its a 2014 you have lots of warranty, if its a 2004.5 deal with it, I really really smell a troll, just my .2c worth.

 

No troll. I'll keep this thread updated. I've updated the post where I said it was 2014 instead of 2004. C'mon, give a guy a break! Makes the truck 9+ years old, not 10+, which was my point.

Imagine, however, how it is shopping for a truck. You want a one-owner, non-modified truck, and you buy one. Next you realize what a missing VIN federal certification label means and the one on the truck you've bought is washed out to be non readable. Luckily, I was able to resuscitate the VIN label enough using photoshop so that I could convince myself that the label was actually original to the truck - that one had me rocking the boat for a bit ... but because I provided a photograph of the original label with sufficient recovery, plus some other pieces of information and other photographs, ECSVIN is able to reproduce the label for me for $125. Let's put it this way - had I been out of luck, I would have trouble selling the truck because I'm not a dealer and able to circumvent certain controls. Could I have re-sold my truck to a guy in California? Heavens no! Indiana? No! To anyone wary enough to know the importance of the label - uh, no. There's a number of states I've found that won't even let you import a car and title it without the intact label!! I concede ignorance, but should I have to chase after every detail even if I go to a five-star dealership? Apparently, I do.

<edit - took out editorial on dealerships>

 

We are talking about the fact that you purchased a USED truck right?

Having the expectations that a truck that old is in PERFECT condition is simply not realistic by any stretch of the imagination. I also think you jumped far too quickly in attempting to slam the Dealer here rather than giving them time to deal with the situation especially since it was a Holiday.

Far too often people think these forums are a way to put pressure on a Dealer in an attempt to get what they want, this thread smells all too familiar in that regard. Your ending rant trashing the employees themselves shows your lack of respect for others and I am convinced no matter what the Dealer does you will NEVER be pleased.

If you wish to slam someone and disrespect others in general then you made a mistake when joining this forum. I will fix that mistake now and allow you to go find a place where your type of behavior is welcome because it sure isn't here.

 

buuuuut.... it had 3, THREE!! rock chips...

The humanity of it all.

 

I didn't really get what Beer Barrel was trying to accomplish with his long emotional posts.


We are mainly technical guys...


1. He bought a used 10 year old truck with no written warranty.

2. It threw a code while he was checking it out and test driving but it sounds like he bought it unconditionally anyway.
I would have gotten something in writing for that issue especially if it is auto trans related.

3. The VIN number sticker on the door jamb is not that critical. The VIN number plate on the dash is critical.

4. Why even mention 3 rock chips on a used truck?


I wish him well with his truck!