Hounddog

Come now any service advisor worth his weight would have said YOU ARE seeing a little puff of smoke and fuel mileage is down ISN"T IT!

Tmc243

Why doesn't everyone take there truck in a 99,999 miles and ask to have there engine replaced under warranty??? This doesn't even make sense. TSB are created because there is more than one complaint about a particular problem, and Chryler has had enough complaints to try to come up with a solution. If you don't have the problem then this won't solve a problem you don't have. Chrysler requires three things on any warranty claim (called the 3 C's). The Complaint, the Cause and the Correction. If these three things are not on the claim Chrysler has the right to charge the claim back to the Dealer. Try to keep in mind the Dealer didn't build the vehicle, the Dealer doesn't warranty the vehicle, the Dealer has to abide by the policys set by the manufacturer. There is no reason for the Dealer to pay to have work done on your vehicle because you want to have it done. Chrysler is not going to reimburse the Dealer unless he has the 3 C's. I'm not saying anyone doesn't deserve to get any and all repairs that are due under warranty, Im just trying to help everyone here understand that the Dealer isn't always the bad guy here. They are just playing within the rules as there are laid out to them by Chrysler. If you know what a TSB is suppose to cure, and you don't have the problems, it is suppose to cure, don't be suprised that they say they can't perform the TSB under warranty (remember if you don't have a Complaint, there can't be a Cause or a Correction). If you want the TSB done anyway please come in with a complaint. If a dealer performs a warranty repair and Chrysler denies it, no one ends up getting paid, not the service advisor, not the tech, not the support staff, and not the dealer. Obviously at this point I guess it's out that I work at a dealer. My pay is directly related to the warranty work that we are paid , by Chrysler. If you want a TSB (or any other warranty work done) Please don't ask me to put my job on the line,and lie to Chrysler for you. Bring me a complaint. Try to remember the Dealer and Chrysler are two totally different things. Sorry to rant Ill get off my soap box now.

Remember next time your'e chewing someones butt that works at a dealership, having them on your side may get you alot further than having them PO'ed at you.

Pipes

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2004-index.htm

Rachoman

I just mentioned the tsb when I was in to have the weatherstrip replaced. The Service Manager said let me check for you, he said yeah there is a tsb let me do that while your here. He even asked me to stop back and let him know if it helped. I probably would have choked the guy you talked to.

Sailpipes

Pipes, thanks for the link. I saw that link before but couldn't remember where.

Tmc243: I'm not trying to rip off the dealer which is why I told him that I wasn't experiencing any "problems" with my truck. This TSB is for three different things. Improve fuel economy, improve accuracy of the fuel economy computer and eliminate white smoke. The white smoke thing I'm going to check on in the morning. I've never gone around the back side of my truck in the morning to see whether or not it does it. Accuracy of my overhead trip computer varies but is usually around .5mpg low. My truck runs just fine so when I was asked if I was having problems with it, I replied no. I went in to find out more information about the TSB. Now that I have researched it, I see that it does apply. Regardless of the presence or absense of white smoke or the accuracy of the overhead computer, fuel economy, which this TSB is also supposed to help with, can always be improved. So is there a certain average MPG that would warrant a complaint about fuel economy? Not trying to be argumentative, it's just that that portion of the TSB seems unquantifiable.

t-15 firefighter

I completely agree with the points you bring up. But you also have to understand that most of the people here, and anyone who has ever bought a car, has been screwed by a dealer. Why do you think that car salesmen get such a bad rap? Because most of them deserve it! As someone who has grown up around car dealerships (Dodge, Jeep, & Chrysler at that) I have a very good idea how they work.

When it comes to service it seems like almost every customer claim is questioned. Take a look at this thread as a classic example.

Dealer Thread

Now I am not saying that all dealerships are crooks. But I will have to say that they get the reputation they deserve.

I’ll give you another example: Tuesday morning I had my truck in for service. I had to have the serpentine belt replaced on my truck because it was shredding.

Fan Belt Thread

While I had the truck in for service I asked them to change the oil since I have a VIP card for free oil changes (which I never use by the way). I had a case of Rotella in the back of the truck and asked them to use “my” oil instead of the oil that they use. It was clearly stated on my work order that “customer has own oil in back of truck”. I picked up my truck around 5:00pm and it was getting dark. I looked under the hood to see the new belt and also to check if they changed the filter (which they did). The next morning I walked out and checked the oil level and to my surprise they didn’t use my oil at all. The oil they used was either the oil that “they” use or they just left my old oil in the truck. It was so black that it looked as if it had been in the truck for several thousand miles. There was 3 gallons of my Rotella missing out of the back of my truck. So someone there has 3 gallons of Rotella oil and I got stuck with something other. I considered going back and complaining but what proof would I have? I drained the oil out of my tuck and put the other 3 gallons of Rotella in my truck. Guess what? The oil is as clear as can be right now! Go figure.

It is problems like this that we speak of when we go in for service. So if we feel a little perturbed then I think you’ll understand.

Once again, I completely agree with your assessment. Just giving the other side.

Britt

ttreibel

First of all I am from Port Orchard and use Bremerton Dodge......... What dealer are you using?

Second I have a 2003 and I get about 14MPG towing 6K and 19.5MPG empty the "600's" are lower but some are getting those numbers. Make sure the dealer feels comfortable with reflashing and don't expect miracles over night the computer needs to "re-learn" your driving style after the flash.

Also check out our local truck club:

http://www.nwbombers.com/

Tmc243

Sailpipes,

I didn’t mean to imply that you are trying to rip off the dealer. I apologize, to you, if you took it that way. What I’m trying to explain is that the Dealer and Chrysler are 2 totally different entities. Chrysler has basically given the Dealer a blank check book, filled with all of the money that they can spend, BUT they have to fill the checks out completely and correctly, and allow Chrysler to come in anytime they want and review them. If they review them and decide that you didn’t do something according to their requirements then they have the right to charge you (the Dealer) back. It cost the dealership that I work at about $12,000 last November. That is considered a fairly small chargeback; they can and do run into the hundreds of thousands at some dealers. That being said if you came into the dealership I work at and said your fuel mileage wasn’t as much as you had hoped for, (if mine was 50 MPG I’d still hope it would be more) and that you overhead computer was off. I would be tickled to perform a TSB on your truck, knowing that I’ve met my requirements that Chrysler has established for us.

For those of you suggesting threatening the dealership, keep in mind that the dealership has the right to refuse service to anyone. If you come to this dealership making threats, you would be ask to leave and never return, if you don’t, the police would be called and they will escort you off the property. (Threats are really not well received or necessary)

t-7 firefighter

On the “dealer thread” the service writer needs to be fired and find another line of work. (If not arrested)

On the “fan belt thread” since you have already drained and filled your oil returning to the dealer won’t make any difference, if I were you I’d call your friend that works there and ask him to go back to the lube stalls and see if your oil is still sitting there (possibly an honest mistake, and you could get your oil back) if it’s not there I would at least report to the service manager what happen. Explain you were happy with the way you were treated and kept informed, (a little positive goes a long way) but you feel like a mistake was made on the oil change. My guess is the service manager will offer you a free oil change for your next time in, and hopefully will take the time to investigate what happen on yours. If you do call the dealership back let us know what happens. Best of luck.

t-15 firefighter

tmc243,

that was my next idea. he is going to be off until next week but I will give him a call. I would have driven back to the dealership with the oil that was in the truck but I didn't trust what they put in it (or left in it for that matter). I do all of my on maintenance work on my truck but I wanted the belt to be documented in case I had any further trouble out of it.

I too am hoping it was an honest mistake but I tend to be pretty cynical.

Britt

Squidward

Lying to the Dealer by claiming you've got white smoke, etc to get the TSB done is dishonest in my mind, and just takes you down to his level. Flame away, but that's my opinion.

When I called my dealer to get the TSB done, all I did was tell him I was aware of the TSB and that I wanted it done. At that point we set up an appointment to get it done. If he had asked me at that point if I were experiencing any of the symptoms, I would have told him the truth, that no, there's no white smoke on start up, but I want the TSB done anyway in the hopes of improving my fuel mileage.

If he told me I had to pay to get the work done because my truck wasn't exhibiting any symptoms described in the TSB, I wouldn't argue, I'd let him know that I'd be going to a dealer that honors the warranty, and that I'd be contacting the owner of the dealership and the manufacturer to let them both know of our conversation.

Sailpipes

Ttreibel, I'm in Oak Harbor and using the dealership here.

For everyone, I checked this morning and did have a bit of white smoke at start-up. Not much, or else I probably would have noticed it without deliberately looking for it, but there was a bit. Anyway, getting ready to take the daughter to school and will swing by the dealer and ask about it again since I'm now better informed about what the details of the TSB.

ttreibel

Be sure to check out the Northwest Bombers site we are having a get together Feb 25-27 near Enumclaw with a Dyno event Sunday in Monroe Last year there were about 80 Rams there.


http://www.nwbombers.com/

Hounddog

The PEN is the mightyest tool there is.Some customers need a little coaching is all.I'd rather COACH a customer then be blunt and say IF you have no problem eaither go away or pay me.Most of the REPS I've had behind closed doors will say the same thing on the small stuff like that TSB on fuel mileage.I can see one right now over hearing that conversation and with a minor nod of his head saying you DO know how to write this customer up DON"T YOU.

01350banshee

Must have talked to the so-called 5 star dealer in bremerton, wa. They said and tried that with me and I told them again, I get a lot of smoke at start up. They said I had to leave it over night so they could verify it. I said, nope... not unless they were going to provide me with a loaner and by the way I will be contacting the Corperate Office about not wanting to address my warrenty concern. His demeaner changed immediately. I was also getting the door seals, squeekie window and cold idle enable TSB's done.

Hounddog

See! leave it for a 5 minute reflash.Come now.What a egg head.Do the flash and move on service guy.Most techs would agree.