just had to rant to someone, anyone right now. just got back from my local Dodge service dept. for an inspection, and replacement of weatherstrip. while i was there, i also told them about the white smoke on startup TSB and asked if they could reflash for me. while i waited, the service manager told the tech about the white smoke on cold start, and he proceeded to say how stupid i was and that nothing could be done about it! he didn't know i was waiting right around the corner! needless to say, i popped up from around the corner and gave them a good talkin' to they never heard of the TSB and stared at me like i was from another planet so when i left, they said the reflash was done (no sticker under hood?.. this isn't right is it?) and they also told me they had NO replacement weatherstrip (which they were supposed to have), and that my bottom door seals were not covered under warranty. anyways, sorry to rant, but i've been less than pleased with this dealer from day 1 sad part is that there's not another dealer around for 35 miles. anyways, rant over

 

Sorry to hear about your bad experience but sounds like it might be worth the 35 mile trip for any non-emergency dealer needed maint or warranty work.

 

Thats why before I went to have it done I printed a copy of the tsb off the internet. I knew if I didn't they probably wouldn't know what I was talking about. I have a card for a free oil and filter change, but I am leary about taking it in and letting them do that. I just dont just them, pretty sad when you have a fifty thousand dollar truck and are scared to let the company work on it that built it LOL. I would rather do maintenance myself, at least I know it was done right. Anyway, you should have a sticker under the hood showing that they reflashed the ECM. If you dont, more than likely they probably didn't even mess with doing it. I would go back and ask about the reflash sticker under the hood.

 

Aren't there any attorneys out there interested in making a buck by catching these dirtbags and holding them accountable?????

We ought to form an association or something and hang the cheaters out to dry. 40-50K for a truck and you can't trust the dealers to fix things, that's outragous!!!

 

call DC and file a complaint. Go back to that service manager, and get a customer service survey form. They will do anything NOT to get a bad rating and affect their 5 star status. At least it worked for me. However, I kept my head and did not get hostile, just firm. good luck

 

True. Be very firm with them but always stay calm. I have seen too many people be (we'll just say) jerks, and not get any help.

 

I have found the 5 stars to be the worst. The stars are all about the dealerships cash flow! Not about customer care.

 

Sounds like it may be worth the 35 mile drive to me!

 

This dealer is no longer 5 star rated as far as I know (I believe they used to be). I've never seen the service manager, he must be new within the past 2 months or so. Anyways, yeah I try to do all maintainence myself also.. but my 3 yr. warranty is up soon, so I was trying to get my seals replaced and my reflash done. I guess poor service is what you get when you live in a small town with no competition!

 

I can appreciate your frustration. My local dealer is only concerned in how much they can bill for a job.

I found a competent and fair dealer about 100 miles south of home and in the last 7 years I have bought 4 vehicals from them and sent 2 other buddies to their dealership who each bought a new vehical.

As a consumer I let my dollar vote.

 

I hear ya man...right now I am underway so I can't deal with it, but yesterday I had a little run in with my dealership over my brake controller. They are claiming that my truck is the first that they have ever heard of having towing package problems (don't have any power to my 7 or 4 prong harnesses) yet there is a TSB out for it as well that they "don't know about". The rep that I spoke with was claiming that it wouldn't be covered under the extended warranty services that I paid for because I installed it myself and I flipped out on him. I don't know what Dodge dealership's problems are, but I have been hearing more and more every day about how badly they are treating their good paying customers by trying to void warranties left and right over NOTHING The harness under the dash and the harness in my glove box aren't there for nothing and nowhere does it say "have this done by a "professional" or you will void your warranty". I can't wait to get home to go and have a talk with their GM.

Knowing the way things are running with them these days, they will probably try and blame my exhaust, intake or Edge Juice on the harnesses in back not working.

 

I've found that the best way for me to have a successful interaction with my local 5Star service department is to arrive at the dealership with the papers to back up what I say. I either print out the appropriate TSB or have the web address handy so they can look up any information I give and then confirm it with DC via their computer. One thing that everyone needs to remember, most people have one or two vehicles to take care of. If they are informed owners, thank you DTR, they know allot about their vehicle and what's out there in the form of TSB's, maintenance issues and upgrades. The service writers and service managers know a little about allot of vehicles. If you ask them what they're seeing allot of, they'll tell you but, you can not expect them to know every single TSB, warranty issue, recall and quirk about every vehicle in the manufacturers lineup by memory. Do yourself, and them, a favor, give them a chance to learn.

Dave78, I wouldn't have blamed you if you popped a gasket, that was a rotten thing for them to say about you.

Lower door seal, the upgraded longer one, was a TSB, not a warranty item on my 04, no charge to me. I did have to request it.

 

i had the same prob with my dealer. I printed the tsb and told them about the cold start prob. when i called to see how they made out I was told that truck is operating within spec and they wouldn't do reflash. I lost my cool and ripped them a new compact disc. I can't believe that the amount of smoke i was having did not concern them. It was so thick that it stopped traffic on my street a few mornings. Anyway they did reflash and it worked perfectly. I am currently looking for a competent service dept. I am on my 4th dodge dealership. I think they all suck expecially with the diesel stuff.

 

Totallyrad, I hear what you're sayin' about the dealer not knowing every TSB for every vehicle.. it was the ATTITUDE that I got about everything, and not to mention that I have no sticker underhood for the reflash (even though they claimed to do this-it's not on my receipt either). I will take this problem up when I get my weatherstrip and door seals replaced

 

78, I'm with you on the attitude! Like I said earlier, I wouldn't have blamed you if you popped. I was just making a general statement. Allot of folks forget just how much information there is out there about the Dodge/Cummins combination, let alone everything else. On the last two trips to my dealer, neither the service writer, service manager or the technician knew anything about the problem/fix I presented to them. After a little discussion and a look into the computers, they knew what I knew and the problem was taken care of. I'm just advocating for a little patience in general.