This is the last dodge I will ever own for many resons mostly to due with DC traeting people like crap. I bought this truck for the reliability of the Cummins and have had to deal with DC ever sence. They have ticked me off so many times it aint even funny. I have never been a Dodge fan and my resent experiences trying to get problems resolved with them has reafermed my lack of love for them.

 

I hear what your saying, but remember why you bought your truck and the grass is always greener.... Earlier in the thread I told a story of a freind who thought the same way and today he hates Ford as much as he did DC. I guess i'm just saying the big three are all the same "THEY SUCK" with out the right dealer for support.

 

Yes the vibration started in '02 with the drop of the CAD vacuum axle disconnect system. Not sure what fixed it or if it can be fixed. As for the rest of your comments, I dont know who or what your talking about. I dont see where I said anything like that.

As to the other replys, I feel everyone is right. Most of us are so die hard Cummins fans we cant see beyond the hood of our trucks. I dont care for Ford. I dont like the way they treat people but I do think GM makes up very well in that department. Like I said before about Dodges lack of a Crew Cab, I feel if I need a truck before that happens I might get a GMC because the dealer close to me is awsome. They have never left me stranded even after the warranty has run out. Thats hard to beat. As for the Dodge dealer, forget it. I live in an area that almost EVERYONE owns a truck and funny thing is, as far as I can tell its pretty much divided in three. That being many new PS's and D-maxs but little in the way of new Cummins. Most all the Dodges are a few years old. I dont know if you guys have ever heard of the Bull and Gelding sale in N California, but I went to it and there is big MONEY there. Big time ranchers with lots of money to drop on some animal biding. There was many PS's and D-maxs with only a few Cummins. As said before I feel DC better get with the program on cab size (since pretty much all were crew cabs) and quality of there vehicles because from where I stand GM (aside from style) and Ford are running away with the market. I dont think the consumer market really is caring about a few pounds of torque or HP in the magazine adds. There trying to get the most truck for the buck, not 500,000 miles out of the engine. I would think for the most part if their trucks last 1k to 2k then peolpe are more than happy and are ready to get rid of it for a new ride. I could be wrong and its only my opinion.

 

Well. The crew cab does really hurt dodge, but the rest of the truck is no more lacking than the others. I personally think GM, and Ford sell more trucks because of the crew cab, and the fact that most are afraid to shift gears nowdays(i know i have a slushbox, but i also love sticks), and they want a gasser with a little bit of torque(powerstroke/d-max). Most people sell there trucks before 50k now anyway, so why should they want a cummins? The next person is the one that will have to worry about the motor.

Eric

 

I always say I luv my Cummins, hate my Dodge. So to fix this evertime something goes bad I replace it with a high performance aftermarket part, I figure when I'm done the only thing left Dodge will be the body and only parts of that.

 

my friend has one of those harley davidson fords with 38in nitto tires and a custom chromed suspension it looks pretty sweet. he also has alot of performance stuff on there too but won't tell me what. he pulled up too me a couple months ago we were both rolling about 55mph. we both mashed it and he blew my doors off. this was before i put in the injectors and the 4gsk now i think i hang with him. OH YEAH FORGOT HE"S ON HIS THIRD TRANNY AND SECOND ENGINE.

 

I sold my 99 because I got tired of replacing lift pumps every six months. When I got fed up with filling up my V8 gasser evry two days, I started looking for another Cummins powerd truck. So, a week ago I bought my 97. I don't need a truck this big or an engine this capable, but I do need to get decent mileage and I can't stand to drive a small pickup. I didn't have a lot of money to spend on a truck, so the mileage was in the 140K range. I am also too cheap to let a dealer work on my truck so I need the relative simplicity of my inline 6. Today it took me 2 hours to adjust the valves (1st time) and change the fuel filter. To replace the valve covers on a 5.8L ford V8 --- 5-7 hours for me. As far as the dodge packaging goes----my "decorative cover" is now discarded and I like the look of my 6 individual valve covers. I don't have any experience with any new offerings from Ford, GMC, or Dodge (can't afford one). But I do know EVERY vehicle is going to have problems. It just depndes on who is responsible to fix those problems, when they occur, and how much they cost. I think I bought the best truck for me.

 

i really should stay out of this because most of it is opinions. but here goes "mopar or no car" since 1961.

 

If you wanna go real fast get a plane! I can do 160 knots! That's 184 mph, and I don't get tickets!

 

That's my opinion on the whole subject...

72 Dodge 250 4x4 Manual Trans 200K + miles
73 Dodge Charger SE 339K + Miles
76 Dodge 250 4x4 Auto Trans 76K + Miles
76 Dodge Magnum XE 120K + Miles
77 Dodge Motorhome "Jamboree" 60K + Miles

96 Dodge 1500 4x4 Auto Trans 128K + Miles
02 Dodge 2500 CTD 5 Spd 54K + Miles

last vehicle on the list...

1951 ****** Jeep - Chevy 350 under the hood. (unknown mileage)

Now Like any auto maker every one of them has problems in design. But I look at it from a different way... Which is easier in the maintenance??? So far I haven't had to buy any special tools for my Dodges yet... I know that going to change...

I've only lost one piston and rings in all these rigs...73 Charger. It took me 7 days to rebuild the engine and be running again. Less than $1,000 bucks to do it! She is still stock!

 

I go Mopar when I can, here are the vehicles I've owned:

1966 Coronet 440 4dr
1988 Honda Accord (parts chaser)
1969 Coronet 2dr Deluxe sedan
2000 Dakota Sport (RIP-- totalled 6 days after delivered new- not my fault)
1997 Nissan Maxima (still going strong at 120K- great car)
'02 CTD



My '02 has had moments of greatness, but one thing in particular is driving me INSANE. I have a fuel module leak of some kind and the truck loses prime if parked uphill or level. That means hard starting-- a LOT of the time. It's frustrating to always try to find a way to park downhill.

That, and I'm getting some tank pressurization again. Leaky injector washer? Who knows- -these two things have me BAFFLED!

I'm looking at an injector R&R to check that out, and I'm also going to be converting my tank to a bottom feed (aka the HID tank mod).

JLH

 

Yeah, but when I have engine trouble,
I can coast to the side of the road...........,

And I can travel inside the 25 mile limit around DC.
....I guess that would be at 160 Nuts per hour.

 

Interresting Hohn as you note you have a '97 Maxima and call it a great car after 120k. I helped a friend purchase one of these recently (96, 5-spd) and it's been a great car for him as well. Other than a occasional hard start and the need to run some injector cleaner as he dosen't use it too much, (probably related) it's been terrific. I like the no-timing-belt chain timed V-6, and I think the noise isolation is much better than, say, a Honda Accord. I've been thinking about one as a commuter for myself lately. Any other experances with these?

 

Darn right my buddies uncle just bought an 04 King ranch with the 6.0L and wouldnt you know it by 6000 mi he coughed a turbo. I tried to warn him but to no avail. Now he is having more problems. I do beleive that they should have just stuck with the 7.3. It was a better all around motor and they had pretty much all the bugs out of it. Oh well to bad for the Ford guys I guess they will just have to watch us drive ours while they stare at thiers in the shop wondering what is wrong with it .