How much did you pay for your truck?? I didn't get that part....

 

If you are concerned about the problem, especially after ten days of the truck being in the dealership, contact www.dodge.com and use their customer assistance process. It will require you to enter your VIN and state the problem, it also helps to provide tell them with the dealer and the service order number. If there is a suspicion of bad fuel, spell that out for the Dodge folks too.

A caution here, if the dealership accidentally used gasoline, exercise your right under your state law to demand an exchange truck. The CP3 injection pump and the solenoid activated injectors are very sensitive to the lubricity of the fuel, and gasoline in any amount will damage them. Even if the system is drained and some parts replaced, it will fail prematurely because of internal damage from the gasoline.

Back to the habitual problems associated with the 06. The simple answer is there are none that should require much beyond a day or two under normal circumstances. There is a current problem with the replacement transfer pumps (the pump located in the tank on yours) being back ordered, but that information is readily available to the dealer along with an anticipated delivery date for the replacement pumps.

If you suspect a roll-over valve malfunction, you can loosen the fuel cap and reprime the system, and the truck will run fine if that is the case.

 

Thanks for all the advice! That is an excellent point about the gas. The truck had 50 miles on it when i bought it. It had under 1/4 tank of fuel for the test drive, then the dealer put $35 worth of fuel in it. Thats about 12-14 gallons these days, so it had a little over 1/2 tank when i took it home, but it ran perfectly until it died.

Has anyone run a diesel on a gasoline/diesel mixture before and knows the results as far as performance? When i say it ran great, i mean perfectly, tons of torque compared to my 94 cummins. If it will run normally with gas mixed 50/50 with diesel, the lack of lubricity in the fuel sounds like a logical cause to me. If thats the case, GOODBYE TRUCK! I tooks a sample when it first broke, but only looked for dirt, which there wasn't. I didn't stick my nose in and smell it, but i didn't notice anything. I would think i would have detected it, (or hope), plus the viscosity seemed like diesel. ****, WHY DIDNT I KEEP THE SAMPLE????????

My dad has an old buddy who is a dodge service manager, so he should be able to get me some info today, I'll keep everyone updated. If there is a legitimate issue, with an easy fix, i may take the truck as long as they give me some money back. If its bad fuel from the factory, or the dealer, I will order a new truck and wait the 2-3 months. I'm just hoping they are straight with me, if they insult my intelligence, I'm going to flip out. I can tell the service writer thinks he can baffle me with BS, so i am kind of expecting it, and will hopefully have all the info i need to set them straight.

The Roll-Over valve sounds like BS, i would assume the tank is vented eslewhere and not just by the gas cap, so I seriously doubt that is the problem.

On another note, I posted this on a boating site since they discuss trucks as much as boats, and one guy recommended this site to ask the question as well, but warned me about taking a beating for being a newbie, man was he ever right!!! You guys are a real bunch of comedians.

Thanks again for all the advice, plus making me laugh, I haven't gone through this much stress since the day my wife met my girlfriend!

Andy

 

Just to keep anyone updated, it is Saturday, and my truck is still not fixed. They replaced the roll-over valve, the in-tank pump, and the fuel line. I talked to the mechanic, and he seems VERY competent, but this truck just has a serious issue. He told me the computer tells him there are a few modules that are not getting power, but they are getting power. He has been on the phone with Chrysler engineers a few hours a day for two weeks now. Sounds like there is a problem in the harness to me, but who knows.
My dad is one of the best GM techs around, and even he has a tough time once in a while, so that is understandable. (He also thinks its the harness) The real joke is the morons in the service department. They change their story every minute, and either have no clue what they are talking about, or are the biggest liars I have ever seen. I think a little of both.

The truck is only a few days from qualifiing as a lemon, so i am hoping it is not fixed at this point. I can file on friday, then they have one chance, or ten more days to fix it, if not i get my money back.

Here is a lesson i learned that hopefully can help else in the future. I should have DEMANDED my money back the minute the truck broke. It was a saturday night, but first thing monday morning i should have been there screaming and yelling. I gave them a chance to fix it, so in the meantime my paperwork was processed and the truck became mine. Now i am stuck going through the lemon law process.

The crappy part is i still want a new truck, and prefer a dodge, but I may have to go with a chevy. I like the duramax & allison, but hate the low ground clearance & ride height. At least my dad would be the one fixing it, and I'd get treated like a king by the service department.

Thanks again for all the input though.

 

Mine has been bad from the first day and it has cost me a fortune since. Still not fixed so. MY VOTE WOULD BE TO TAKE IT BACK AND LEAVE IT THERE. HAVE THEM BRING ONE IN FROM SOMEWHERE.It will be cheaper in the long run.


GOOD LUCK.

 

They can do a dealer search nationwide to find the truck you want and have it shipped to them at there cost of course.

 

I went in last week demanding a different truck. I even found the truck myself and told them thats what I wanted, but of course i got the run around. "the truck has been titled, blah-blah-blah". I got a huge discount through my work, (1% UNDER invoice), so they are also crying that they would be losing money, LIKE THATS MY PROBLEM. The truck stickered for almost $43k, i paid $37,100. The zero % financing and $6k off is the only reason i got it.

There are 5,000 people where i work, so I'm sure my informing them a mass email explaining my buying experience to all my co-workers will do something. Plus the mention of a post on this and every other diesel/racing and fishing web site may wake them up a little.

I was assured on thursday the truck was fixed, but of course it was not. Its almost comical at this point, the sales and service managers assure me the issue due to the roll-over valve, and the service writer and mechanic tell me its electrical, and NOTHING to do with the valve. In talking to the mechanic, he seems like an excellent tech, so I'll take his word for it. He told me what he has tried, and why, then admitted he is really stumped, but is mad and wants this fixed. To me, the sign of a skilled worker is one that knows his job, admits when he is struggling, and takes it personally and never quits till the job is done. If he acted like a know it all and started whining about mexican assembly workers, then I would think differently.

I am going to start calling Dodge myself this week, plus a friend of a friend is a lawyer. Maybe a call from him will help. A few hundred bucks to have a truck shipped has to be cheaper than defending a lawsuit.

I have been very patient, I'm sure a little too patient. Like I said, my Dad is an excellent tech, and even has has trouble sometimes, but my putting up with this on a truck with 130 miles on it was a mistake. I am hoping it takes till friday to fix, then i can file a lemon law case against them. Once filed, they get ONE chance to fix it, even if its a totally different problem 20 months later, or 10 days in the shop total over the next 2 years, then i get all my money back plus lawyers fees.

At this point, i am glad it is taking this long, it only helps me in the end. If it is fixed, so be it. Then i have a truck that if ANYTHING goes wrong in the next 2 years, they buy it back. If its not fixed, the same thing happens.

So far, they replaced the fuel pump, fuel line, roll-over valve, and the tech swapped various modules with another truck, still the same issues.

My main concern now is if this truck becomes a lemon and is gone, do i buy another Dodge? I could get a Chevy for about the same price, (a little more actually). Plus my dad would be the one working on it, that means even out of warranty parts would be "covered". The low ride height, low frame, and **** independent front suspension bugs me, i like the straight axle. Plus I like the looks of the Dodge a little better.

Maybe I should have gone for the new boat and Victory motorcycle?

 

I am curious as to which dealership this was. Could you PM me if you don't feel like telling everyone on here. But we already know all dealerships in NJ suck

Maybe just private message me... people seem to get very offended when I rag on specific dealers.

 

Pat,
Well, the ECM arrived today, (April 12th), and the service writer tells me the truck was running fine all day. I asked him to drive it home tonight, I'm sure its fixed but I am kind of hoping it leaves him stranded. I had a strong suspicion it was the computer, but at least if it breaks and is in the shop for 2 more days in the next 2 years, I have the upper hand in making them take the truck back. Hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here on in.

The mechanic was great, and I am very happy with him. He had to fight the Dodge engineers to convince them the Roll-over valve was not the issue. The service writer was OK, although I feel I should has recieved updates on the status more frequently. The salesman was a great guy, but as far as the sales managment, ..Edit.... They should have been kissing my ..Edit..., but pretty much treated me like a punk, and kind of had a "Its your truck, you're stuck with it, and what are you going to do about it" attitude. I was WAY to polite, never again.

I am now fighting with Dodge to give me some kind of compensation, we'll see where that goes. I am going to fight for at least one payment comped or something, this is total BS. They gave me a rental, first it was a car, then I demanded a truck, but of course it was a 1/2 ton with NO trailer hitch.

Anyway, screw the dealer, and if anyone wants to call them and ask what there policy is for someone who buys a new vehicle and has it break down the first day, be my guest. Be sure to tell them Andy with the Black 2006 lemon sent you.

..Edit....

If the moderator wants to remove that info I understand, but I am going to be sure to tell the dealer about the 10 diesel sites I am going to post my story on, along with phone numbers, so you will read about it many other places.

They smoothed me over the first day it broke to buy themselves time, then once the title work was done, they said, "its titled, its you truck now, and we cant take it back, we'll lose money". Like that is my problem, I paid $40k for a new truck and have not seen it in 20 days, WHAT DID I LOSE?

If anyone has a number for the regional Dodge Rep, i would greatly appreciate it. The customer service is a joke, they are basically telemarketers, and do nothing. I want to talk to someone who can actually DO something for me, not just listen to me complain.

Thanks to everyone for all the advice, and i will update in a few days with the results of the repair.

 

Wellll, welcome to the site, sorry you're having such a time with your truck and with your dealer. I would be quite angry as well. I have to admit I wouldn't have a clue where to start looking for the answer to your truck problem but I might refrain from threats at this point. If you threaten them, all you will ever hear is NO. Probably easier for me to say than for you to do but try to be calm. Time and the law are on your side.

 

Hi Andy, this is very sound advice. It is one thing to vent on this forum but showing that attitude with people you are trying to get something from is counter productive. As they say you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar!

When you get to the district mgr. I doubt you will find deaf ears. However, as soon as you threaten him with web postings/emails he is going to turn you off. In the big scheme of things the amount of Dodge business you can affect is basically a pimple on a gnats a** and he knows it. They sold 500,000 trucks last year and if you cause them to miss a few sales it isn't going to even show on the bottom line.

So, don't raise your voice, but do show your hurt and extreme dissappointment that your new baby had to be returned for 10 days of service while you anxiously awaited the outcome. Going into the misinformation that was given by the dealership and their response (in a non emotional way) will also be benefitial. Being told one thing by the svc mgr. and something totally different by the tech is BS and should be reported

I'm not trying to "flame" you, I fully understand you emotions. I'm just telling you how to deal with the opposition. I did that kind of thing for an electronics firm (HP) for 32 years. Work with me and I would do whatever I could and then some. Threaten me and you were screwed from that moment on.

Bryan

06 Laramie dually on order - hope I don't have the same type of problems!!!!

 

Thanks for the advice, and believe me, the last thing i want to be is "that guy". Trust me, NO ONE could have been more patient, and understanding, during this. The honey/vinegar analogy is true, but that only goes so far. Sometimes a flamthrower works even better. There is a point where being a total nightmare to deal with works as well. Plus you are forgetting one simple fact, I AM THE CUSTOMER, there is no ignoring me, or not helping me. They have to deal with me, like it or not. Aside from the, I am ALWAYS polite, and very patient, but i am also no fool. Like they say, never mistake kindness for weakness. I am very respected among my friends and co-workers for my honesty and integrety, but sometimes it is better to be feared than respected. I work 3 miles from the dealership, and the 5,000 people i work will think twice before they visit that dealership once they hear my story. Lose 1 sale, no biggie, lose 20-30, thats another story.

I have the same way of thinking as you Blord, I will bend over backwards to help anyone, customer or friend , but once you act like I have to, or start making demands, you're done. There is a difference here, I was VERY patient, and the dealership even thanked me for it, but after the stories started changing, I went on the offensive. I will take the back door approach and get some satisfaction. My fathers dealership also has a chrysler franchise, so he will get me the Reps number, and there will be a few letters written about my experience. The dealer can think all they want, but what do you think they will feel like if the regional manager from Dodge calls them askin what the heck is going on over there, and why is he getting calls and letters from a guy about not getting a replacement truck after his "new" one broke down 3 hours afte he bought it. (although i admit, it was MY mistake for not demanding one instantly).

I was a mechanic for years, and my dad had been one for 40 years, I grew up around the industry. I also worked part time in retail auto parts sales, so I know what the other side is like. I will seek compensation for my wasted time and money, but honestly, i know I will get Zip. I just want it on record how dissatisfied I am, and the next time i have an issue I want everyone to see or hear my name and think "OH NO, its him, just give him what he wants, and get him out of here, he is a real pain in the A@@." Trust me, i had customers like that, and as much as we disliked them, we did whatever to make them happy and get rid of them.

Aside from all that, the truck is supposedly fixed, and like I said before, I totally trust the mechanic, just not the sales dept. From jumpstreet he told me he thought the ecm was the problem, he just had to fight dodge to make them believe it and send him the part. (of course it was the only 6-spd around, so he had no others to swap and see if it was the problem for sure).

Anyway, thank you all for the advice and words of encouragement, I am happy now, and i will take the proper channels to make sure i get some satisfaction, but you all let me vent and gave some great info. Hopefully from now on, all my posts will be to brag about how much I love my new cummins.

Thanks again,
Andy

 

Did you ever find out what the rollover valve was?

 

I wasn't suggesting that you roll over and play dead by any means. I'm trying to point out that the district mgr. has NOT been part of this fiasco and at this point he will be closer to a neutral party (of course he is a company man). Obviously the dealership isn't going to do anything to help you but he is in a position to make things happen. If you rag him, threaten him, or get in his face he will circle the wagons and go on the defensive along with the dealership. You WON'T win that battle.

You can present your case to him in a logical, non emotional way, and tell him of your dissatisfaction with the way the problem was handled and the misinformation that was fed to you. Explain how you scrimpted and saved to purchase "your baby" and now you fear that you will never fully trust the vehicle etc etc etc.

I would also praise the tech that worked hard and diligently to fix your truck and took it upon himself as a personal challenge to find the problem By the same token, I would point out while the tech was trouble shooting modules that weren't getting power, but were, the svc mgr was telling you it was faulty fuel and a bad rollover valve. Throw the tech a bone and burn the svc mgr, but do it in a non agressive manner.

I don't really think you are going to get 5% of the people where you work to not buy a Dodge truck (assuming they were all going to do it anyway). I've read your story and similar on the Ford and Chevy sites at it doesn't affect my decision to buy a new Dodge. However, if it causes them to purchase from another dealer then more power to you and justice is served. Unfortunately, that crappy dealer will never know that he lost the business.

It also sounds like a calm well thought out letter to DC corporate (America)outlining the events would be in order. If DC is like most companies that will get their attention and someone from corporate will contact the dealership. Of course the dealership is going to lie and cover their backsides, but it might save the next poor bast*** who has a problem with a new truck from getting the run around at that dealership.

There is nothing that pi**es me off more than a liar especially someone who insults my intelligence with his song and dance! May you light a fire under that svc. mgr.

Hope things work out well in the long run Andy.

Be thankful the ECM died from an infantile failure. Imagine being 3000 miles into the new truck, towing a 5th wheel in the middle of nowhere, and it croaks. 10 days of sitting around while they troubleshoot the valve!

Good luck,
Bryan

 

The next truck I buy will be without warranty (at a significantly reduced price, of course) I am sick and tired of paying just to argue with some one and then waiting weeks to get the "warranty work" done by the dealer when I could have the same work done at a Diesel repair shop tomorrow. I too have experienced the BS stories from the pimple faces service writers at the front counter and they don't know jack squat. I know enough to know when I'm being fed a line. I feel for you man, your unique situatation (with your dad working with GM) you may be better off. IMHO I think that in any other case, you would get the same BS at any dealer. I have had them all (FROD, DUDGE and even a sissy GM) and there is no diference in the LIP SERVICE you get from any of them. This doesn't come from the dealer, it is handed down from the mother ship, the dealer is just a pawn in the game (note: the mechanic fighting with DC to get the ECM). I know of some mechanich that have stole parts off the lot to get a guy going so that the customer wasn't waiting and the dealer would take the company to task for the part. It is just a big crapshoot.

I also know a guy who won on the third times a char approach for the lemon law, got his money back (less the mielage deduction) whent out and bought himself a Powerjoke and I kick him on a regular basis.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU IN YOUR QUEST FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND HONEST.