Originally Posted by Festus
Yep. I got a call last week from a service adviser at my selling dealership. I was informed that I had my truck for over a year and it hasn't been in for service yet. I told him I'd bring it in as soon as the high performance spark plugs were in that I requested when I bought the truck. This way I could get them installed at the same time as an oil change and kill two stones with one bird. He's supposed check in to it and get back to me.


Remind them to order you some bliker fluid as well

 

How are you using the needle? Are you just pushing in and the grease is still coming out around the needle? It usually takes just a light pressure to hold the needle in.

I put a light pressure on the needle, just enough to push the tip into the little hole and then lube it. I do get a little grease around the needle but it still lubes the CV joint.

 

Are the '04.5's able to be greased?

 

That is so funny !! I have been afraid of taking any of my vehicles to dealers, especially my truck. I don't want any of those TSB flashes that are supposedly upgrades. I have been watching my local chrysler/Dodge dealership. I think when their current nimrod service manager quits, I may apply. I have thought about that job, you could actually make it fun and have customers Like to come back and visit. It would be a pay cut. I cringe everytime my parents take their 300m in for 'checkups'.
I totally agree with festus, I crawl up under my own vehicles. Even my Lexus IS350, I won't let them touch it, unless I can watch.

 

Ever thought that the guy may be new to Dodge and diesels? Takes a while when swapping product to get your feet on the ground.Techs also.Its hard to keep good employees in any business this day and age.Dealer service depts are generaly open LONG hours and high stress.The drop out rate is VERY high.Most GOOD service managers and SERVICE WTITERS make more then most of their customers.Even THEN the drop out rate is high.REP knows fully well that the dealer refered too that said "We can't work on your diesel" told you that cause he TOLD THEM to tell customers that! They don't have a TRAINED diesel tech and he(Rep)is trying like heck to get one certified to work on them.If they do certain work on a diesel like lets say a skipping issue or a fuel leak at the CP3 Chrysler WILL NOT PAY THE CLAIM. They will pay the claim on a blower motor or a lumbar support etc.But its liminted to such.Small towns are usually hit the worst on qualified techs.But the whole industary be it Dealers or Indepentents have a hard tiime keeping good employees.There are several TECHS that post on this site that bailed out.Spooler is one and I assume VZDUDE is another.I was considered in the top 10% of service advisors this side of the Mississippi in customer care,moneys handled,gross profit,tech prioductivity and pay(100%commision) with Nissan and then Chrysler.(also did for a few years service manager(HUGE HEADACHE) in a Caddy/Isuzu/Olds& a little Mazda all under ONE roof store)Yet my percentages in the last decade of work got cut little by little with more work added on and longer repair times on each vehicle(longer warranty,extended service contracts,customers want factory assistance on out of warranty,paper work on rentals and the paper work and time for each got longer/bigger and more time consuming.Plus I put in a average of 60 hours per week for YEARS! I made good money but it got up with me health wise as the years piled on as well at the stress and headaches.Maybe Spooler and VZDUDE or others will chime in.

 

IIRC this only applies to some late 2005 trucks and then 2006 and up trucks so I don't think you have to worry about it. That unless you have a sticker on the front of the radiator crawl saying you have one.

 

Thanks for the link. I actually tried the "search tool" first, but I guess I dont have as much experience in getting answers using the function.

 

Use a needle, not that tool. That's what I've read.

I'm kinda nervous and hope the dealer lubed mine at the first oil change because I didn't on the second . Figured it would be ok for 15,000 miles.

 

Well, we've hijacked this one to pieces so: Don't prebend the needle. Stick it in the hole and then gently lift it toward the front enough to get the grease nozzle over the fitting. This is with the hole in the 7 o'clock position (toward the cross member). Two or three pumps should do it! That's how we do it down in Dallas...