Mexstan<br><br>Ok part number not serial number....my apologies.. on the mistake. <br><br>The oil filter had to be cut off the engine on 5-23 and it was discarded at the Cummins shop, shortly thereafter, so, no the filter is no longer available. We spoke to several mechanics and they said this happens alot. I did 3 oil changes on the truck this is the last one performed before the issue...My notes...3-29-2003 Oil Change done by myself, Mobil Filter MI-403 and Shell Rotella T Multigrade SAE 15W-40, mileage 72,318. The oil has drained out of the engine for the most part cause of being in pieces since 5-22 or 5-23. The oil pan now also, has water in it, being placed in the bed of the truck. <br><br><br>The oil pressure was fine....I check all guages when I am towing, albiet it 7000 lbs. No increase in temp or anything else as well, thus we are puzzled.<br><br>The Cummings analysis says &quot;brass&quot;, we have it scanned if you would like to see it...however, I have attached an excerpt from the receipt for you. <br><br>There were no previous noticible issues, that we are aware of, used truck and first diesel. The engine seemed fine to us on this trip and running around for the time prior to leaving after the last oil change. We did have a sway problem with the travel trailer but we do not see how that would be related to this...it was the sway bar. The first indication of the trouble was hearing the knocking of the piston, hitting the crank and head, possibly the shaft too. NOT ON EVERY TURN of the engine, however, pulled right over when it happened. Left it running, on the side of the road for say 5-7 minutes maximum to determine where the sound was coming from, my wife is good at finding noise in an engine and listened as well. Motorhead she can be. <br><br>The oil pressure was always lower at idle and higher at cruise, forgive me I don't remember the exact numbers. We have been getting our house ready for sale, running after our child and her friends, and running back and forth to Maine looking for property and loosing sleep over the move and the truck. If that is understandable. <br><br>Nothing has been taken off the engine since it was drug off the flatbed to my friends property in Maine...we had to come home to Massachusetts and we felt until we get the warranty fight done, it would be best not to touch the engine in any way. It sits as it was when it was drug off the truck. (shift linkage was disconnected thus dragging it off a flatbed.) <br><br>As for the other bearings being starved we were told verbally no they weren't....again, the journals are still where they were when it came off the flatbed. <br><br>The suggestion for the oil pump is a good one and perhaps when we make our way up to Maine soon, we will take a look at it or have a diesel mechanic come by and look at it....we have spent over $600 having this truck flatbeded all over Maine. So, we shall see what we can do when we get there. Remember, at the moment we are 300 miles from it. and I am unemployed, thus doing my own oil changes. <br><br>As for the records in my wife's day planner, that's what we considered them....records. Warranty is warranty, isn't it? <br><br>Did I answer all the questions? <br><br>

 

Man, I really feel for you!! Nothing you told me gives me any new ideas. Maybe it will help someone else to come up with something. The fact that you have learned that this problem is not that uncommon my help your cause for warranty. I just don't know.<br>If you have to fix this engine yourself then it MAY be possible to do a fairly cheap job and keep it running for a while. Idealy the crank should come out and be turned/polished but just maybe, and this is a big maybe, you can polish that one journal and just install undersize bearings. The big trick is to ensure that the journal is perfectly round. Don't even consider installing new shells unless the journal is round as they will not last very long. If you luck in and can get the journal polished AND round then I would also replace all the remaining bearings. Important, make sure that you can push a wire thru the oil passages from one journal to the other and that no passage is blocked. You will have to flush the entire oil system and then change the oil filter after about 15 minutes running to be safe. In fact for the first start I would only use about half the oil quantity, run the engine for at the most 30 minutes and then dump that oil.<br>What I have told you is an overview, but may give you some ideas.<br>Good luck. Keep us posted on what transpires.<br>

 

If you know when you changed oil you must remember where you bought it go to the store and see if they can supply you a copy

 

If all the bearings were okay besides that one it could possibly have been a blockage in the galley leading to that bearing. That would make it spin. I don't see how the reapir could cost that much to fix. Worst case would be to pull the engine, rebuild the short block and drop it back in. Surely it'd be cheaper than $12,000.00. In fact I know it'd be. Don't know of much else to say on it though.

 

Dodge2 -<br><br>I had a similar problem years ago with a manufacturer..They blow you off hoping you will just give up..Heres what I did, it worked wonders, and was fast.<br><br>I sued in small claims..Depending on your state, it can be up around 12,000-15,000 now..You would have to sue your selling dealer, and let HIM indemnify any other parties..I.E. the warrantee company and Chrysler. It doesn't cost much. Usually less than 50.00 dollars. And they give you a court date right on the spot. You merely document briefly your reason for suing on the small claims form, and have the dealer served. When I did it, I sued the selling dealer AND ford motor co. c/o the dealership. I got a call from a regional manager within 3 days, stating the courts haven't been nice to them, and that they would fix the truck. (explorer paint problem) It wouldn't hurt to try. Had I not done that, I would never of had it fixed. They only repair those who make enough trouble for them. Most people won't bother. So, go back to the county where you bought it, find the municipal courts, small claims division, and sue for the max allowed under law. I promise you someone will contact you about resolving it. They do not want to go to court. Espically since you bought the extended warrantee to guard against such an occurrance. They will ignore you until you exercise your rights. HTH..

 

Hey thanks for all the input! We are leaving for Maine today however, we will have access to the internet while there. Please, keep posting any other suggestions and ideas. Thanks again!

 

Did you take the oil filter off and look at the insides? Any signs of the element coming apart?

 

Most small claims courts don't allow lawyers, it's you vs him!

Even if your local court has a smaller cap, anything towards the engine repair will help, but just getting &quot;served&quot; might wake them up.

Pretty much all oil change and part supply keep their customer records on file. If not just to mail you coupons, then to cover there own security on shoplifting and returns. You should be able to come up with something. If your neighbor changed it for you, have HIM right you up a reciept. It's their burden to prove otherwise.

It seems that one of these pros aughta be able to testify to the cause of the bearing failure compared to the other bearings, using his training and experience. A professional witness on the stand costs money, but hey a days wage for a mechanic not to get his hands dirty? Think the judge would take the word of the Cummins mechanic over the Dodge Mechanic? I bet he would.

 

When my customers truck spun a bearing on #4, there were no other signs other than an audible knock. The engine ran smooth, had good power, and oil was clean.<br><br>Without any reciepts, the dealer took the truck in, and put a new shortblock in the truck.<br><br>We did not tamper with it, open it up, or anything. We just took the truck to the dealer like it was.<br><br>I think the dealer you are dealing with is in the wrong. This is what the 100K warrenty on the motor is for. A spun bearing is a defect! I have 120K on my 24V truck, and for about 20K my truck has put down almost 500RWHP, my bottom end of the motor is fine. A Spun bearing is a DEFECT!<br><br>Just my $.02<br><br>Merrick Cummings Jr

 

MCummings.....is there any documentation that this problem is in fact a manufacturers defect? <br><br>Thus far, 1 Massachusetts State Rep, 2 Massachusetts State Senators, Indiana Attorney General are involved. (Indiana=Cummins headquarters) Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office will be receiving documentation as well. <br><br>It may be helpful if there was documentation to help us. <br><br>Thanks so much for all the great input. <br><br>When we get back to Massachusetts we may start the small claims to add more pressure...that's a great idea as well.

 

You're not going to like this, but sometimes you take it in the shorts. Life's like that. There is an advantage to buying new--warranty is usually not an issue. Buying used, it can be. That risk is usually balanced by the fact that you pay thousands less for a used vehicle. You pay your money...you take your chances.<br><br>Unless you have it in writing from the dealer you bought the truck from that the Dodge warranty is in still in effect, you may be hosed. It could be that this thing had problems then was patched up and traded. After all, it was on a GM dealer's lot. That alone is a big, red flag for me. When I see a relatively new vehicle sitting on a competitor's lot, I have to wonder why. People don't usually change brands when they're having good luck with their current vehicle.

 

CP, you are right we don't like your response. However, we have heard of many reasons as to why a Dodge CTD would be traded after approximately 4 1/2 yrs of use and low mileage....great trade value, engine is too loud, etc etc. People trade trucks in every 4 yrs or so up here. It happens. Also, we are paying for a warranty and there was an existant warranty on the engine....we are to be responsible for the prior owners useage/possible abuse on the truck??? I think not! The very reason for paying for the warranty coverage thru our warranty company is for high ticket repairs, such as this one! The warranty provided by Dodge is to ensure that their product is excellant...and they don't want to stand by it with 4 weeks and 6 days left on the warranty??? Hmm, what does that tell you???? Warranty is warranty...this diesel engine has less than 75k miles on it....what would you do if you owned the truck, paying for a warranty and having an existant warranty on the engine? Fight? or sit on yer hands and pay for a new engine when you are unemployed, with an outstanding loan on it? There is two warranties on this engine/truck.....principle is they are there for a reason. Thus, we should not be held financially responsible for a defective part inside the engine when we followed the maintenance to a &quot;t&quot;. So noooo we don't like your response and yes, we will fight it based on the principle of it. Thanks so much for your input anyhow!

 

sweet- another new englandah.

you didn't go to Cummins Northeast in Scarborough, ME did you (i presume the one in mass)? i have some bad things to say about them... &gt;

sorry to hear about your troubles-hope you get it fixed and see you at a northeast meeting (though i wont be back 'til after March)!

Tom

 

Sorry to hear of your trouble. That sucks with a capital S.

You indicated in a previous post that you used a Mobil oil filter. The Mobile filter is NOT on the approved filter list. Based on this fact alone, I would think you'd have a tough time getting Dodge or Cummins to do anything about the situation. I guess it just reinforces the fact that we should ALL keep very detailed maintenence records, especially if you do the work yourself.

I feel for ya....good luck.

 

Just did a search on the oil filters..found a TSB, which is not submitted to each owner but the service depts. Another loophole for any dealer or car corporation not to honor warranty. This was published in 2001, after our truck was built and prior to our purchasing it.


http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2001/09-004-01.htm

For those for explanation of the TSB's see below.....
What is a TSB?

Technical Service Bulletins from Chrysler assist service departments with common or difficult problems. A TSB may contain updated part numbers and repair procedures and does not imply an extended warranty for a problem.

Are TSB's available to the public?

&quot;state and federal regulations that require all automotive manufacturers to provide Technical Service Bulletins to vehicle owners upon request.&quot; &quot; All TSB's are submitted to NHTSA, as required by law, where they become a matter of public record.&quot; FULL TEXT from Master Tech issue #29

How can I get copies of TSB's?

Individual TSB copies will be provided by your dealer's service department on request. Be reasonable here - copies of a few bulletens are not difficult to obtain from most dealerships, but they will balk at requests for too many at one time. At the end of each year, Chrysler publishes the entire TSB set, whch can be ordered thrpough the parts department.


Secondly, I just dug out the owners manual for the diesel, which my wife pulled from the glove box when we left Maine, which is what I followed for the filters. There is no mention of the approved oil filters but Mopar....there is no listing on the &quot;unapproved&quot; oil filters. I went and purchased the filters by asking for the one that would fit a 1998 Dodge Cummins Diesel, since there was no indication in the manual of the &quot;unapproved ones&quot;.

So, again, I followed what the owners manual indicated and got what I got...These TSB's exist but Dodge will not send on to the owners of the trucks and ppl get stiffed?? Hmmm. Now, that just sucks.....Thanks so much for telling us up front what the problem was.....we didn't get that courtesy from Dodge. Still why only one piston? What did Dodge do with all the other engines that failed prior to the TSB????? We will still be pursuing this thru our channels and fight about the TSB'S.

Why should we ruin our credit and throw keys at Dodge for a TSB, that they obviously love using to hide the &quot;warranty loophole&quot;?

Also, Dr. Evil are you a dealer or mechanic?