I stopped by my local dealership service department today and asked about the reflash for white smoke/ fuel mileage. This is 18-037-04 correct? I hope so because that's the number that I gave him. Anyway, he asked if I was experiencing any problems with the truck. To which I replied, "no, but I understand that it's supposed to improve fuel economy. So why not have it done if it's an improvement on the way that the engine is supposed to run." He told me that since I'm not experiencing any problems, he could flash it but it would be $40. Is this what everyone else has encountered or should I talk to another dealer?

 

that's not cool. i had mine done free of charge under warranty and i don't even have (had) a good dealer. i'd call the guy out on it and then find a more reputable dealer. tell them you experience white smoke at startup and poor fuel economy.

 

My thoughts exactly. Why wouldn't it be covered under warranty, right? Just doing a sanity check to make sure I wasn't out to lunch with my thinking.

 

I think your dealer is trying to rip you for $40 bucks.I would call DC and tell them what the dealer told you.IMHO this is just plain wrong on your dealers part. coobie

 

Service person is eaither new,miss informed or just a butt wad.D.C.pays them for this.Try another service writer or talk to the service manager.By the time he informed you of this he could of had it written up and done.You'd be happy,tech would be paid ,dealer would have made another nickle.Chezz some folkes.

 

The TSB is covered under warranty. It actually states this in the body of the TSB released by Dodge. I had previously printed it out off of a web site link I found over on TDR, had it just in case the dealer tried what you are experiencing. Fortunately for me and as everyone here has said, it was done under warranty. I unforunately dont have the web site address I used, maybe someone can chime in here. Exactly not sure, but believe that GENOS GARAGE (a vendor on TDR) has a link to the TSB's issued including this one for mileage.

 

I guess when he asked if you were experiencing problems you were supposed to say yes - if you said yes it probably would have been covered, if no then it's something you're electing to do, not something defective with the truck. In any case, I agree it should have been done free - but that's probably where you went South..

 

Yea you always read the TSB, find out exactly what it is fixing. Then when you go to the dealer you complain of those exact problems. If they dont know of any fix(TSB), then help them out with the TSB number.

Dont give them a chance to question why do it. It's stupid, but this process gets by the initial problem you had. TSBs should not be considered elective if they fix a known problem.

 

A SMART service advisor knows this! Customer states white smoke in A.M.fuel milage seems poor.See TSB blah blah.DUH!!

 

It will improve FE and it is free. I would threaten him like suggested here.

 

My dealer's service writer tried to pull that when I went to have the high idle enabled. Even after I told him it had been negotiated in the price of the truck...

Keep your hand on you wallet when you are at the dealerships...

 

Most car dealers are 2 steps towards or 2 steps out of prison.

 

Most car dealers are 2 steps towards or 2 steps out of prison.

To pay for a factory software upgrade that cost them nothing, and is recommended is just plain wrong. The next time you are there steal a hat or a coffee mug!

 

The dealer I was at folkes would come in with new autos/trucks and request wanted daytime running lights etc.We ran it under warranty.D.C.always paid as far as I know.If a TSB and in warranty we just did them.No problem.Sometimes techs would come up and say I noticed this and theres a TSB.We added it and did it.Its called MAKING MONEY.Even the small stuff adds up.

 

The big problem is with that fact that you said you were not having the problems. It is dumb however usually on the bottom of the TSB (around the area with the actual warranty reference numbers and times) there is a note that this TSB is only warrantable if customer is experiencing problems stated, it is not for preventaive maintenance or something to that effect. If you had of said yes then you would have been fine.