I am a Dodge veteren, all I have driven since I bought my first one in 1972. This is my first diesel and i have had more problems with this one than ALL the trucks i have had combined.
Have put around 20,000 miles on it since i got it and have been back and forth to Dodge and Cummins 12-15 times trying to get it to run right. Am at the juncture where i am thinking MAYBE we have the engine part figured out (supposed to left tommorrow towing a load of carriages to Ok,Co and montana) so will know for sure and what happens?
I detect a slipping and engine reving when i accelerate in overdrive, i immediatly go to the dealer and am told the tranny needs to be rebuilt or replaced. will know for sure after it is tore down.
I have a aftermarket warrrenty and the dealer stated that they will send an appraiser down to take pics and ok the repair. Says if they repair there is a 12000 12 month warrenty. if they replace from chrysler there is a 36000 36 month warrenty (1200.00 more for the chrysler tranny.
says normally the aftermarket insurers will athorize the rebuilds not the replacement.
seems worthwhile to pay the difference for the extra warrenty
give me some feedback on this one please
Herb


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z

 

Is 20000 miles all that are on the odometer? Wouldn't it still be under warranty? If you're going to have it rebuilt why not take it to a tranny shop instead of a dealer? It seems to me that they dealer would have some sort of a standard warranty on Tranny rebuilds that shouldn't be that different from a new tranny. If you're going to spend the money I would get a aftermarket tranny from someone who specialized in rebuilding trannies for out trucks ATS or someone similar.

 

If I'm not mistaken, didn't you buy that rig used, Herb?

 

yes it had 33000 on it when i got it 55000 on it now. my problem with straying away from dodge dealer is that if it is repaired at a non franchised shop and i break down out state where their is not a franchised branch to stand behind repairs i'm screwed. the aftermarket warrenty companies will pay for original repairs but if the repairs go bad the repair shop is on the cuff for the repair of the repair

 

Heck of a dilema, used vehicles are ussually i spend the cash and get the best i can. when i had my PSD the previous owner had foregone ford during the extended warranty and installed a DTT (i think otherwise it was ATS) custom tranny had a very reputible and CLEAN shop install it and it cleared 150000 very heavy abused problem free miles with a bombed motor the ford stock torque converter and tranny would have been lunch again since he was putting on so many miles so he just took what they booked as the cost of a replacement cash wise and dumped in his chunk. Something to be said for quality and the aftermarket in trucks that see day to day abuse and heavy use.


Just MHO

Glad to hear the thing is going now Herb but im sorry to hear about the tranny

 

I would have to go with the beefed up after market tranny for your use for sure. I am guessing the appraiser will pay a certain amount to get the tranny rebuilt, see if he will pay that to ATS or DTT and get yourself a tranny that wont need replacing in another 12 months. You can also tell him its a win win for him as his warranty means nothing compared to the ATS or DTT warranty and will not have to pay out on that part of the truck ever again.


Factory rebuild for what you are doing is a waist of time and money IMO.


Jason

 

I'm going to have to agree. I had my tranny rebuilt at the dealer at 42,000 very easy miles because they were willing to pay for half out of "good faith". It still cost me almost $2000.00 out of my pocket. I have never been happy with the shifting or (for the lack of a better term) the ability of the stock trans to "get the power to the road". There just seems to be a lot of slip in the stock set up.

Many members with aftermarket trannies claim they feel as though they added horsepower to the truck just because of the shifting characteristics of their new tranny. Your vehicle is obviously mainly a tow rig and that seems to be just the application these aftermarket trannies are built for. If I had it to do over, I would have put my money towards an aftermarket rebuild (enter your favorite tranny builder logo here).

 

I would also say go with the after market tranny, I had looked into them a little with my old truck and they are not that much more then a stock one. I've heard that they are bullet proof, just look at the guys that are drag racing with them. Find a good tranny shop and get a tranny and TC from ATS, DTT, Suncoast, or any of the other great tranny shops. You will never have to do it again ,whereas with the stock you can plan on doing it again. Did you finally get the engine problems fixed then.
dave