Reply from Dodge/ tape vs. plugs
#16
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I was under the truck yesterday installing my Westins and mine came from the factory with tape. THen, the undercoater sprayed over the tape. I had a heck of a time getting the tape off the get that bolt in there.
WHat's the big deal with plugs anyway? If you look, there are a lot of drain holes at the bottom of the paneling
WHat's the big deal with plugs anyway? If you look, there are a lot of drain holes at the bottom of the paneling
#17
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Re: Reply from Dodge/ tape vs. plugs
Originally posted by Bowman
I sent a email to DC customer service about my truck having tape instead of plugs & my dealers response. Here is what they said...
My email -
Replacing tape on rocker panel holes with the rubber plugs
Comments:
---------
I just bought a new dodge ram. A 2500 quadcab. It has tape covering the 16 holes under the cab. This is on the inside of the rocker panels. My dealer wants me to pay to have the plugs put in there. I think they should be there when built. Does DODGE build their trucks using flimsy tape to protect from mud grime & other debris? Or is my dealer being a jerk. He said if they had made money on my truck then they might had paid for them,
but they said they did not make any money selling me the truck... This is my first DODGE truck. If this dealer is representative of how DODGE takes care of customers, it will probably be my only DODGE. Please let me know what your policy is on this truck. My friend has a 2002 truck & it came with the rubber plugs, no tape.
Thank You,
David Hudson
their response...
Dear David:
Thank you for your email to DaimlerChrysler regarding your 2004 Dodge
Ram.
The tape on your vehicle may be left over from manufacturing but this
tape does not at all effect the efficiency of the vehicle or its
performance. If the dealership has rubber plugs that you want put in,
this would be at your expense and not something covered under the
warranty.
Thank you again for your email.
Sincerely,
Nicole
Senior Staff Representative
DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance Center
Don't sound to good to me. Thought I'd let you folks know Where DC atands on this issue.
David
I sent a email to DC customer service about my truck having tape instead of plugs & my dealers response. Here is what they said...
My email -
Replacing tape on rocker panel holes with the rubber plugs
Comments:
---------
I just bought a new dodge ram. A 2500 quadcab. It has tape covering the 16 holes under the cab. This is on the inside of the rocker panels. My dealer wants me to pay to have the plugs put in there. I think they should be there when built. Does DODGE build their trucks using flimsy tape to protect from mud grime & other debris? Or is my dealer being a jerk. He said if they had made money on my truck then they might had paid for them,
but they said they did not make any money selling me the truck... This is my first DODGE truck. If this dealer is representative of how DODGE takes care of customers, it will probably be my only DODGE. Please let me know what your policy is on this truck. My friend has a 2002 truck & it came with the rubber plugs, no tape.
Thank You,
David Hudson
their response...
Dear David:
Thank you for your email to DaimlerChrysler regarding your 2004 Dodge
Ram.
The tape on your vehicle may be left over from manufacturing but this
tape does not at all effect the efficiency of the vehicle or its
performance. If the dealership has rubber plugs that you want put in,
this would be at your expense and not something covered under the
warranty.
Thank you again for your email.
Sincerely,
Nicole
Senior Staff Representative
DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance Center
Don't sound to good to me. Thought I'd let you folks know Where DC atands on this issue.
David
I'd sure find another Dealer. As much as I dislike the dealers in general. This is pretty low. The old, "we didn't make any money so we won't help you" excuse.
Thats out-n-out balogna. They always make money. Several thousand at minimum on each and every Ram. How dumb do they think the consumer is. Apparently pretty dumb
When a dealer is willing to loose a customer over a dollars worth of plugs and 5 minutes work, I'd say they are the dumb ones.
The dealer I always use will bend over backwards to employ customer satisfation. He will literally do anything to make his customers happy. Thats how it should be.
Yikes, I'm venting again. Go take a pill and simmer down. Deep breaths!!!!`
#18
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WHat's the big deal with plugs anyway? If you look, there are a lot of drain holes at the bottom of the paneling
#19
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Originally posted by nickleinonen
it's the principal of the situation.
it's the principal of the situation.
Even though there may be drain holes, I am thinking that covering the holes with something more permanent than tape will be beneficial and keep a great deal of road flotsam out of the rocker panels.
I have asked that the tape be replaced with the proper grommet on the truck I will be picking up on Monday. I think that Dodge should do this without charge, but if they don't I still want the grommets because if it made sense to design the truck this way it probably still makes sense to have the proper grommet in place.
jr
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You know that the tape will eventually come off. A rock could get inside the side panel and you would have a rattle that would be almost unable to locate or get the rock out!
#21
I've been pretty busy lately with the kids spring break & son in baseball. But Iplan to follow up on this issue. Does anyone have the page number where the micro fiche is or where the service manual shows the part?
I do think I need to be more clearer to NICOLE as to what the situation is. mybe ask her to ask a service tech or parts person...
I got my survey in the mail today. at this point... I don't think they're gonna pass. Mostly.. it's the pricipal of the thing. But it also is a practical point as well, the tape WILL come off eventually & potentially let mud/grime/debris in the hole to block the drain holes. This will facilitate rust prematurely.
Thanx,
David
I do think I need to be more clearer to NICOLE as to what the situation is. mybe ask her to ask a service tech or parts person...
I got my survey in the mail today. at this point... I don't think they're gonna pass. Mostly.. it's the pricipal of the thing. But it also is a practical point as well, the tape WILL come off eventually & potentially let mud/grime/debris in the hole to block the drain holes. This will facilitate rust prematurely.
Thanx,
David
#22
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Originally posted by Bowman
Does anyone have the page number where the micro fiche is or where the service manual shows the part?
Does anyone have the page number where the micro fiche is or where the service manual shows the part?
jr
#23
Originally posted by papaduck
You know that the tape will eventually come off. A rock could get inside the side panel and you would have a rattle that would be almost unable to locate or get the rock out!
You know that the tape will eventually come off. A rock could get inside the side panel and you would have a rattle that would be almost unable to locate or get the rock out!
#24
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Originally posted by jarmar
I have a printout from the microfiche but it has no page number. The part number is 4860953AA.
jr
I have a printout from the microfiche but it has no page number. The part number is 4860953AA.
jr
body plug graphic
body plug text
on both those pages, if you click the "View Full Size" link below the image, it will open up a new window with the full size scan of the pages [in 1700x2340 rez]
#25
Nick & Jamar, thanx for the info...
You ain't gonna believe this... But I was sent those pictures & description of the parts/truck. I didn't know then they were the fiche. I SHOWED those to my salesman. After that is when he said he'd found some plugs in Delaware(i'm in Texas). That's when he said it would cost ME 20 bucks. I will hopefully be able to send the documents to the customer service folks from Dodge.
With my dealer being so uncooperative on this small issue... I'm afraid to take it in for the 5 first oil changes free...Hopefully, I can watch what they do.
thanx folks. It's great to have a sounding board and a wealth of knowledge from folks to share about our Dodges.
David
You ain't gonna believe this... But I was sent those pictures & description of the parts/truck. I didn't know then they were the fiche. I SHOWED those to my salesman. After that is when he said he'd found some plugs in Delaware(i'm in Texas). That's when he said it would cost ME 20 bucks. I will hopefully be able to send the documents to the customer service folks from Dodge.
With my dealer being so uncooperative on this small issue... I'm afraid to take it in for the 5 first oil changes free...Hopefully, I can watch what they do.
thanx folks. It's great to have a sounding board and a wealth of knowledge from folks to share about our Dodges.
David
#26
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I picked up my new 600 Friday. Checked underneath for the tape and sure enough. Told the dealer about it and he said lets go to parts and get them suckers ordered. Parts guy said they are on nation wide backorder but said it should be about a week before they are in.
Love this new truck so far......
Love this new truck so far......
#28
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Your lucky you can get away with not having them in Arizona, but up here in
Michigan with all the salt and crap on the roads it would be no time and they would be rustin through from the inside.
Michigan with all the salt and crap on the roads it would be no time and they would be rustin through from the inside.
#29
Registered User
I just brought my new truck home last nite and when I was buying it I mentioned that it did not have the plugs, and they orderd them imedeatly without even being asked to. It may have helped that I was dealing with the dealership owner and senior salesman both at the same time. I told them I had heard that some trucks where being shipped with low oil in the rear axle and they had that and ALL other oil and fluid levels checked for me without being asked to. Between that and the fact that they gave me $5000 more for my truck than any other dealer would realy make me like them. So far all
#30
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I'm with Ram04, I'm leavin the tape. Rust in Phoenix, I got a better chance of snow on Christmas. Besides, adhesives have come a long way. Rubber just shrinks and rots in this heat!
Randy, join your DTR#20
Tom
Randy, join your DTR#20
Tom