M1AM14SPUR

I have a few threads talking about some problems I am having. I will recap some to catch ya'll up.

Oct 07-
I had fuel spray under my truck, I went to a Dodge dealer for help. Without doing much looking around, the shop manager came and told me my warranty was voided because my Banks programmer made me blow at least one injector. I had my truck towed home & started repairs myself. I drained the oil, it was about the consistency of coffee & I drained out about 4.5 gallons of the oil. Once I pulled the fuel filter, I smell gasoline. I stopped repairs, called my insurance co & had my truck towed to a Cummins shop & the injectors were replaced, fuel tank dropped & cleaned, turbo & fuel pump replaced.

Apr 08

I was driving home, my truck started to have a loud knock, I had it towed to the Cummins shop. I had to authorize the shop to tear it down for inspections. They found I had spun a main bearing.
My insurance told me they wouldn't cover it because it is a mechanical failure.

I feel that where I had very thin oil from the blown injector, it ruined the bearing.

The insurance "experts" said that there isn't anyway the fuel could have gotten into the oil unless I put it there.

I can find a expert on my behalf, debate my case with thier "experts" to see if they can be convinced how it was not my fault. (I can see how this will go)

While fighting all of this, I went to the dealer who voided my warranty to plead my case of how they unjustly voided my warranty. His final answer was that with all the "stuff" I had put on my truck, the district warranty guy (?) took pictures of my mods & there is no way for me to show that it is not because of the mods.

Right now I have no truck, still making payments, and about to barf thinking I may have to pay 13,000 for a new engine! I am broke already!

I have the guys at the Cummins shop on my side. I am going to have the shop manager speak on my behalf to my insurance. Could some one please help with some suggestions. Any DC FOLKS HERE??

trksrfun

--the last time you got fuel the diesel pump/tank might have been filled with gasoline by mistake. if that was the case if you had a reciept of your fuel purchase and gone back to the station they might have covered damages because of it. i guess their insurance co. would cover that?? read on here somewhere before that happening.


--i would say that so far you are on the right track with the manager at the cummins shop speaking on your side, i think thats the best route at the moment. to much fuel going into an engine will wash the oil off the cylinder walls and contaminate the oil. (like when you blow a head gasket and your oil looks milky cause the antifreeze) i could see this causing you to spin the main bearing cause lack of lubrication.

as far the the programmer blowing an injector, i cant help there dont know that much about injectors and/or the programmers ability to do so.

instead of 13k for a new engine have you looked at a rebuild, the head, block and everything else seems to be in good shape from what i can tell maybe you are just goin to need a new rod or crank which is still costly but a heck of alot cheaper then 13k. if i were in your shoes a rebuild would be my 1st choice. new bearings and replace any damaged parts from the bearing being spun.

hope that i was able to provide some help with this matter, sorry to hear about all your troubles... good luck!

rjm022

you become your own warranty station when you start adding mods!!- you need to know this from the get go!!!!!!!!!

Common

Long shot, but I'd contact Banks. Try to get them to side with you.

They might say that the programmer could not have blown the injector.

NickBeek

Banks can SAY what ever they want, unless they show up with lawyers it will do you no good.

Cummins has several different levels of rebuild kits available. I would talk with their service people and see what they recommend for your engine. You may be out for a lot less than you expect.

BigIron70

Blown injector would allow raw fuel into the cylinder and most of the fuel would have gone out the exhaust. Some would leak pass the piston rings into the oil pan. The engine would have been running very bad if at all. The dilluted engine oil would cause further internal engine damage. Why would anyone continue to run a truck that obviously had serious internal engine problems? To have warranty repairs on major engine failure you need to show proof of required maintenace has been done and No modifications to engine control systems includes ECM. Unless Banks has in written that it does not void mfg warranty by installing its 6 Gun w/PDA or changing your injectors your out of luck.

Dodgezilla

The million dollar question is How did you get gas in your tank? You mentioned it but did not explain for us. You really can't blame the dealer for not fixing it under warranty. And, not to bust your chops BUTTTTTTT, come on now! We all know that you pull your performance boxes off before you get your truck towed into the dealership for warranty work...
What were you thinking???

Hope it all works out for you and maybe they can just replace the crank and bearings.

Hounddog

Did the insurance company pay for the injectors,fuel tank cleaning,tow bill etc? If so they have ALREADY stepped into the situation showing that they admitted it was items that THEY should be covering.This is JUST a reopening of the SAME claim with further hidden damage that just now is showing up.It it was a WRECK issue for unseen damage they would be starting the claim or a continue of the same.If they did not partisipate in that repair and YOU paid for it due to? Then I can see them backing away quickly.If not they stepped in the do do once and need to finish what has failed.Cummins engines just DON"T spin bearings.

Mindy

Wish you the best with all that.

Im not going to say...told you so, cause Im sure you are kicking your own butt for using the programmer. I decided, I cant afford to warranty myself. So while Im still paying for my truck, there wont be a programmer on mine. My dealer has already told me any mod is ok...except a programmer.

rich

good luck i'm going to court over the fact that my warranty was denied due to the that i had a bullydog monitor on the truck without any programing. but i believe the burden of proof is on the dealer to prove that what you had on the truck caused the damage

DBLR

I think the Insurance company is going to be asking Cummins or anyone else you hire why it took from the time it was repaired in Oct of 2007 to April of 2008 for it to spin the bearing.

M1AM14SPUR

Hey all...Here is whats up

I contacted the dealer close to where my truck is dissassembled. They were unable to help. I spoke to a zone manager of that area, he suggested I go back to the dealer where I got the flag.

I went back to that location, there was a new service manager (the old one was fired due to poor customer relations skills ) I showed him all the documents from the Cummins repair shop & he was quite upset about the decision that was made way back in Oct.

He made a few phone calls and I got my restrictions lifted! I should be back on the road in a week or 2.

Good stuff huh!?!?!

The bad news.....

I know I haven't made any really worth while contributions, but I can say that some of ya'll are some good people here. I am not sure if I will be around here much longer on this board. I have came down with some illness and I am getting medically retired from the Coast Guard. I really don't know what my future holds for me, I have to find some way to provide for my family. All I ask is that what ever your religous preference is, say a prayer for me & my family. I have to put out my first job application soon & it has been about 17 years since my last one.

Rpainter

glad to see you got it taken care of. I am sure you will find a new job very soon Rob

Dodgezilla

Good luck Man and hang on to the truck. You may need it to make some $$$ for you...

PourinDiesel

Glad to hear you are back on the road.

Keep those groups tight with the M1A!