ok. so the shop called. they say all 6 injectors are clogged and need to be replaced. its out of warranty (awesome right?) so I am paying it all out of pocket. they want $2,800 for the injectors, and $3,700 for everything included. is this right? can I find cheaper injectors somewhere else? somone gave me a link on how to change the injectors myself, so I think I am going to do that part on my own, and just pay dodge for finding the problem.

any advice?

 

Check your area for a Cummins shop, I got OEM sticks from them here in SC for ~$380.00 each. If no Cummins dealer, go to the Bosch corporate site, and do a search for dealers/service shops in your area - they will be a bit cheaper as well.
Do the install yourself - it's not a bad job, just a bit tedious. If you read up on the instructions first, get familiar with what has to be done and make sure you have the tools, you can do it in about 4 hours - after a "few" times, I got my time down to 2 hours.
BTW, you don't need the wazoo injector and connector tube pullers. Just a slight nudge with a screwdriver or small pry bar, and they pop right out.
Good luck!

 

Send them to Don M and have them rebuilt and Flux 1 nozzles put on. $1100 for tips and $100 dollars each for a rebuild I think and be done with it..... Get ahold of lmills. He can talk to you about it.

 

well, here is the other thing. I am not convinced they are the injectors. I just think I am being taken for a ride. my truck runs 100% when it is started. no rough idle, no surges. when I step on the gas, she goes, there is a little white smoke on cold startup (when its plugged in) and then it goes away. which from what I hear, is normal. so to have SIX clogged injectors, wouldnt the truck be running like crap? the last time I took it to the shop, they said it was the fuel pressure relieve valve, and they fixed that and called it good. now its this? that just seems strange. I took it to the cummins shop here in town, but they said they cant hook their computer up to it, which also seemed strange. I really would have liked them to work on it seeing as they built it and all you know?

 

oh, and one last thing. is the engine vin number the same as the trucks vin? or do I need to find that on the engine?

 

Your engine number should be on the data plate attached to the outside of the timing case. It will be different from your vehicles VIN number. You will see it, red and black with a Cummins logoon it about 1.5" X 3" or so

 

I think your being ripped off,find a better repair shop. Are your heater grids cycling right,how about the fuel heater in the filter assembly. Hate to see you change injectors for nothing. I'd want to see them do an injector kill test before I'd believe it. Do you have any codes. When I worked for GM , I used to short out each cylinder on a gas vehicle with a $5 dollar test light probe,ground it, and jab the point right thru the plug boots to short it,finds bad injectors just great when you short a plug out, and it doesn't change the rpm. But with these things you need the right scanner to kill each injector,until you see no change.

 

im glad you share my synicism. I am taking it to a shop near my inlaws when I am up there (its in minnesota). i figure who else would know diesels better than some famers right?! even if they do find ONE injector, thats better then telling me that they want to do all 6 because they dont want to do individual tests, apparently dodge is too lazy to do the right work.

 

ian515 you have a pm

 

Well I have some questionable injectors currently. Had one or more stick wide open a couple of times right after startup. Talked to my service manager about them. His comment:

Uh, you already know what the OEM replacement (remanufactured) ones cost. I assume you have already decided on what aftermarket sticks you want. That is what I would do, if you want us to install them I'll do it for $300-$350 labor.

 

so you got the dealer to install parts that you gave them? I have only been able to get that to happen with my local shop (they work on my truck when it doesnt invlove the engine).

how did you know your injectors were wide open on startup? I am ignorant to injectors.

 

I'm sorry to hear they now think all 6 injectors need to be replaced. If you don't go with after market injectors take yours to Cummins to be rebuilt or see if you can exchange them for a rebuilt set.

I've heard of some dealers who will install any thing you want but they will also say we only warranty that we installed the part correctly and not the part(s) you brought us to install. If yours will not then find a local diesel shop to do if for you if you don't want to or have the time, tools etc to change them out.

Good Luck and enjoy todays warm weather as it was 42 in Mason City a while ago and they call once more for cold temps to return. FYI, by Tuesday night our forecast is for -10 to -15 below zero

 

yeah, its gonna be awesome trying to get this sorted out. until I get a second opion from another shop, I am not even thinking of buyin any injectors, but it will definately not be from the dodge dealer here in town.

I guess I will be plugging it in all week to keep her runnin when the temps get back down there huh?
hopefully next time I post, it will be to say that they found the problem and it cost free.99 to replace it.

 

I have not replaced the injectors yet. But my service manager and service department would do the work. Of course that is non warranty and NO Star parts needed so they have no issue doing the labor. When it is time I will have Michael at HotRodDiesels do the injectors as he has most all of the performance work on the truck.

Stuck open injector symtom was started truck, normal start, left work in a hurry to get somewhere. Got half block from work, LOUD rattle coming from engine, WHITE smoke pouring out of exhaust, loosing power rapidly and finally died a block or so later. Thought it was blown something. Acutally had it towed to my dealer since it was pretty close to have checked out. After got it unloaded at the dealer the tech came out to do some quick testing, plugged in DRBIII turned key and the truck started and ran fine. Some more testing showed probable bad injector or two. It has happened once since then the same way except without the tow to the dealer.

 

that sounds like fun....I just got back from picking up my truck at the dealer. the guy goes to bring it around for me, comes back 10 minutes later and says

"um...your truck wont start"...I had to laugh, so I just told him thats why its here, and to get it started. another 15 minutes later, 2 lot boys, and a mechanic later, they still cant get it started. guess what the service manager says...."sorry man, good luck."

so I go out to check it out, finally some manager comes to see me and suck up, has the mechanic tow it in, give it the once over, thing starts up and throws two codes, sounds like crap and is running rough. so basicly it went in fine, just didnt like starting in the cold, and it came out like a piece of junk. I am never going back there again. the mechanic says that there is (I might be saying this wrong) 450ml of excess fuel being allowed through each injector, he says thats twice the regular ammount. my question is how come they couldnt figure this out last time?

anyway, at this point, is it even worth getting a second opinion? should I just buy some injectors and install them myself, or wait it out, have the other shop look into it and pray that it is something else.