I still love my truck and have yet to take it back to fix a long list of problems that I am waiting to see on:


1. 6 Speed Gear indicator (the whole stick shift) turns. NO I dont have the inlay gear pattern on the top of the stick that can be taken out and turned. My pattern is painted onto the stick shift.

2. Cruise control set switch does not have the same feel as the others, stuck in more or less. Will only activate if hit from the bottom and not the top.

3. Cab smell at idle is enough to clear everyone out. One of my daughters felt sick after they were sitting in the truck while I was loading up the trailer.

4. Anti-Spin Diff. Yea Right. Was in the snow and each wheel spins just like any plain diff. I have ever driven. On one patch, with a wheel spining, I could have got out of the truck and let it spin all night, the other side was not going to grab no matter what. Not much the dealer can do about this, but sure seems mis-leading. The word "anti-spin" seems to mean to me more than "limited slip," which is what it really is nothing more than. It sure is not the "posi-trak" of the past. This is a disapointment since we opted for the 2 wheel drive with the thought that as long as I can keep enough weight in the back and both wheels spinning, it should be fine for rare driving in the snow. Heck, I had a rear wheel drive Toyota Corolla that got me through college - In Durango, CO. 5 bags of sand and salt, and chains on the back, I could plow snow with the front end.

5. Morning howl. Makes that howl in the morning when cold. Not a big deal, just would really like to know what is going on. I would have to GUESS that it has something to do with the turbo and pre-heater.

6. Spare tire. Dang thing comes loose and rattles about once every two weeks. Took it completely off and reset it, still works down enough to make a racket.

7. Power. I think my power is getting worse, not better. My mileage went up to 19 and is holding, but there sure seems to be a bigger lag when I have to put my foot into it, then there was when I drove it off the lot. Never thought I would want to put the mods on this truck just towing 8K.

8. A/C - Have not run the A/C in a while, but ran it the other day to help defrost. The clunk when that thing started was enough to make me think I either hit something, or something just fell of the truck.


Like I said, absolutely love the truck, and enjoy driving it. Would be really happy if Dodge brought the plant back to the U.S. instead of being made in Mexico.

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1. My shift lever did the same exact thing. I just pulled up the center console and tightened it back down at the base of the rod.

3. Most of the 3rd gens have this smell at idle when the oil is fresh. It goes away usually after 2000-3000 miles. Some people have had better luck with different brand oils. I use Rotella T and it has the smell for a while. Another member has exhaust fumes coming into the cab, which is an entirely different smell.

4. The anti-spin diff works pretty good for me, but like you said it doesn't lock up like a true Posi.

8. My A/C compressor makes the clunk sound too....I figure it is just inherent of it's large design....mine functions flawlessly and blew cold this summer.

 

My A/C does the same thing but works fine. The only thing I do noice is that there is a bit of a vibration when the a/c compressor kicks in at highway speed. Weird, but all works good. I can give and take seeing how well the thing tows, and how much we've enjoyed it so far.

 

The limited slip is a gear locker. To get the system to lockup is to apply some braking to slow the spinning wheel down enough to match the others speed, this will allow the gear to lock together.

MikeyB

 

I thought the RAM was assembled in St. Louis or Detroit (Warren)? Which model are you driving?

 

Mexico is where the HD are produced! Same aint it!

 

The howl in the morning is probably the fan. The fan clutch takes a little while to disengage when the truck is first started.

And make sure you actually got the anti-spin. I ordered mine with limited-slip and it didn't come that way (dealer screw-up). Don't worry though - with weight in the back and chains it'll drive like a tank in the snow.

The shifter ***** all do that.

 

The clunk on the A/C is due to the type of accessory belt. It is not a serpentine belt which allowed some slippage. It is a cog or alligator belt which doesn't slip. Given that the compressor doesn't stop in the same position each time, the startup is sometimes a jolt. It's "the nature of the beast".

 

Interesting, I just went downstairs and looked at my '04 HO. The pulleys have the straight grooves that run in the direction of rotation, just like the old style serpentine belts. The belt itself has the straight ribs like the old style. It also has grooves that run in about a 45 degree angle across the belt. I don't think this would properly be called a cog belt. From what I remember, a cog belt has actual large cogs that run across the belt thereby preventing any slippage. That's what my daughter's old Horizon used for a cam belt. Can't have slippage there. I've never heard the term alligator belt, but then, I'm not a pro wrench. Something new to me.

 

i figure I might as well list the problems I have had during the first 11 months and 30k:

Alt bracket cracked.
Cruise reflash.

ummmmm.....thats it......
Glad I got a good one....

 

Did the CO2 reflash, but still running the orig alt bracket. Still smiling too.

 

It is a shame... I read a story on another forum not long ago about a guy who managed to arrange a tour of the Kentucky Ford Truck plant on the two days his F350 was assembled. I was hoping I might arrange the same thing, and take my son (5 year old) to see ours put together when I order it... sigh.

 

Well tour down to Mexico, drop in and say hello to Stan, and tour the plant. Alot warmer in Mexico this time of year anyway...

 

My 2500 was built is St. Louis

 

I have caught a whiff of this, too. It's not the same as the gear-oil smell, it's exhaust. Someone one the board is having a severe problem with this. See the "Canadian Review, etc. " thread. I just shut mine off whenever I can.


Sounds like you're driving my truck. Either some of our "anti-spin differentials" aren't working correctly or that option is just a big waste of money.