Hi

I'm new to the board so I hope I'm posting in the right area.

I'm talking to my local dealership about a 2006 Megacab. The truck was owned locally by a guy that used it for hauling an RV in the summer and sometimes a dirtbike trailer. The truck has 136,000 KM (84,000 miles) on it. Truck seems to be solid but the auto tranny was having problems shifting into 2nd. So the dealer tore out the tranny and is waiting to see if Chrysler wants to replace the tranny or rebuild.

So, I'm waiting on that before I can buy it. I've gotten the price of the truck and I was wondering about buying the warranty. This is my first diesel and don't know much about repairing them yet. Salesperson said the price of the extended warranty through Chrysler is $4000!!!

Is this warranty a good idea? Even at that price? If it were $1000 or so I would have but that just seems too high.

Also, anything in particular I should check on the truck before buying?

Thanks for any advice

 

$4k seem very high. What time/miles are they offering? There a some websites that sell Chrysler warranties. I would do a search and check those out.

 

No. The engine is still good for 100K. There isn't much that will go out for 4K.

 

I believe it was 1 year 24000km warranty. I dont drive anywhere close to that per year. In a year I might put on 5000 miles.

I thought the diesel may be overkill for what i need it for but I want to get an RV in the next couple years and I dont want to buy another truck for awhile so thought I may as well go with the diesel sooner than later.

I looked online for alternate warranty suppliers but I'm in canada and we have a limited selection

 

Personally, I have never got my money's worth out of any of the couple vehicle extended warranties I purchased through the years. It's just another "insurance policy" but for repairs instead of collision or theft. I'd instead suggest putting that $4K into savings or investment that you can still quickly get to, just in case you have a big repair bill. With these trucks your chances of a big repair bill are pretty low though. And the companies providing the extended warranties know that too, which is why they offer it. Remember that the warranty company is just a business, and a business exists to make money. They wouldn't be in the extended warranty business if it wasn't profitable for them, else they'd be out of business pretty quick.

Save your money.

 

I was thinking of using that money to put toward changing to synthetics in everything and a bypass filter instead.

It gets mighty cold here in the winter (-40 or worse with the wind) so I was thinking some 5W40 Amsoil or syn Rotella

I have the number for the old owner so I think I'll talk to him to see if he had any ongoing issues or concerns with the truck before he traded it off

 

When you buy the warrenty, you're betting something expensive will break. When they sell the warrenty, they're betting something won't.

I got a got a 3 year 100K mile warrenty for $1,200. I think that's a good gamble. I'v aleready had to do $1,600 worth of transmission repairs, so I'm ahead.

 

Go online to dodge.com and see what you can get the warranty for..

 

They make money on the warranty so they will try to get as much out of you as possible. If you really want it then the price is negotiable. The question is, is it an aftermarket warranty? Those are usually not nearly as good as a mfr's warranty. My understanding is that once the mfr's warranty expires you cannot get another one and you would have to get an aftermarket one. At least that's what I was told a couple years ago...

 

So now I'm really not sure. I talked with the previous owner and he told me the following:

- the motor was rebuilt 20,000km ago
- rear diff was changed
- tranny had shifting problems (surging from 1st to 2nd) so they pulled it and fixed it
- when he traded it it had started doing it again
- said it was kind of a lemon

So now i think the warranty might be a good idea but maybe I can negotiate a better price either for the truck or the warranty.

Who knows? Like he told me, it should be almost a new truck if and when they replace the tranny. hehe

 

So let me get this straight.....a truck with about 80k miles on it has had a new engine, new rear end, transmission repair and is about to get a new trans (new, rebuilt, same thing).
Yes, the po was right, it's a lemon unless he beat the crap out of it and that still really wouldn't explain the new engine and rear end.
Extended warranty is a waste of money and you're either getting a "new" truck which is great or getting a lemon.
If you really like the truck, figure out what it's worth, assuming that everything is fine, then deduct the 4-5k for being a lemon and you'll be getting a good deal, or at least not be upside down on it if it has another big problem or 2.
Personally I'd find a truck that hasn't had any major problems, but one that has had alot of the 100k mile things done already (new brakes, maybe front end work, U joints, etc) if that's the miles/price range you're looking at.

 

The heck with the warranty find a different truck!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I will share with you my experience with a dealer in Florida. I recently bought a 2500, and in the last 3 months I have put $1,500.00 in repairs, and I still need more done. I would check the A/C system, my compressor was bad. I would also find out about the tranny, I have to replace mine now. Also, check the tire size and load rating. The tires on my truck were not rated for my truck. I need to replace them now. And finally check the batteries, my truck had batteries that were to small for the truck, I had to replace those as well. I hope this helps you out. I wish I would have checked these things myself.

 

When Dodge replaced my motor they offered me a "extended warranty" at a great price, 1/2 off normal, which brought it down to $1500 if I remember correctly. I know the mechanic who did the motor work and he warned me that sooner or later I will need to do ball joints BUT they are not covered under the warranty as was many other "common" issues, they consider that normal wear and tear. Read the ultra fine print on what is covered and what is not on extended warranties and ask questions, many questions. I declined and used the money for new injectors. Friend works for Chrysler and bought a "Certified" 2007 Mega with 5.9 and 6 spd, after 1 month he took it in and found that the ball joints were trash, Dodge refused to cover, said it was a pre-existing condition... and he works for Chrysler! BE CAREFUL before you sign.

 

Thanks for all the info guys. I'm going to talk to the dealership tomorrow to get more info from them about the warranty they're offering.

Whats covered, by who, deductable, how long and kilometers.

I'm still against the idea but after doing research about some of the issues that seem to be common with these trucks, and after what the last owner told me, I'm starting to scare myself into doing it.

Like I mentioned above, I'd much rather put that cash into some filtration upgrades and fluid changes.