Sorry to hear about the new problems. Just a couple weeks ago a friend of mine with a 2000 was pulling the cut going to Page AZ, he had his 12,000 pound 5er in tow, and engine damage occured. He has a EZ, 275s and a scotty 2 for mods.

He says EGTs never got over 900-950 and coolant temp was normal then it started to knock with blue smoke. Any way he shut it down and his dad and I went to get him, the truck still ran with lots of power but smoked real bad and knocked real bad.

We pulled the head and #s 1and 6 cylinders are scarred up pretty good. Apparently the thermostat stuck. He is now looking at 12000 or so clams for repairs.

 

Nope - dealer didn't cover the turbo repair. $2000 for the replacement of the turbo when it was all said and done. Bummer, but the truck ran fine for the last little bit. The box didn't get turned on at all during the last stint, so it's not box related (or not box related unless the damage happened prior to the turbo blowing - which I doubt).

Don't have the specifics on the rod or where the block was cracked. Only had this info on the answering machine when we came back in. I'll get the details tomorrow and post. Started out at $8k, then $1500 for the block, because they can't use ours as a core. $8k just for the shortblock - ouch.

The truck is about 6 states away (Ohio). The dealer there only seems slightly more competent than the dealer here that did the turbo repair. However, we thought it interesting that they agreed that the original warranty of the truck should have never been voided. They said they'd talk to the rep to see what they could do - pardon me if I don't hold my breath.

Kinda at a rock and a hardplace - what brand can you drive without major engine / drivetrain related issues?

Thanks again for all the feedback and interest.

 

How do they know that a piston is cracked? Has the head been removed? If you had the turbo rebuilt/replaced and now have problems such as a cracked piston that MAY indicate that some foreign material was left in the intake system. Having said that, it is unlikely that anything left in the intake system near the turbo would get as far as the piston due to the "filtering' effect of the intercooler.
If the head has been removed, what prompted that step? I too would be interested to know just where the block is cracked. If it is cracked in the same cylinder that has the cracked piston I would also be very interested to know if there are any score marks in the cylinder or other marks that would indicate foreign material ingestion. If there are no signs of impact on the piston then I would want to know what caused the crack. I would also be very interested to know just where the crack is located on the piston.
Any chance of posting a picture of the cracked piston once it is removed from the block?

 

one problem they are having with the CR electronic injector is a problem with one orifice that can plug and cause the needle to lift and inject fuel continously into the cylinder , and that will cause a cylinder failure , some have been total piston failure in less time you can count to five , Factory says now with any failure of this type we must remove head and replace that cylinder piston .

 

Sundown, when you provide more specifics about the block crack location and the piston etc, will you also post the build dates for both the engine and the truck?
Nat

 

its interesting that they charged you to replace the turbo and not diagnose the problem any further (bad techs). Sounds like the dealer and the rep were all for a money grab. Well I would make sure that the dealer it is at now gets pictures of your engine and piston. Then request them to email them to you. sounds like more of an isuue with your truck and if you do put a new engine in will it happen again. I am very interseted in the leaking injector because it seems like a soft are issue. also ask them for a computer history print out on your truck. they will you this info to void your warrenty and you can use this info to take further action against them. good luck and make sure you get the pics. At the end of the day I would get the metal (piston, cylinder walls) tested as to what caused the failure, usually $100 or so. They can tell you if it was overheated, overstressed not enough oil, foregin damage etc well worth the money if it means your warrenty will cover the engine.

 

I think that the intercooler should have been changed with the turbo. It is almost impossible to get grenaded turbo parts out of the system.

 

All -
Great comments, but I have no further word from the dealer it is at since Friday morning (they were still waiting on the new engine). Also, unfortunately, my father was the one who spoke to them about the cracked block, as I was at work. I don't know any of the details behind this, but will be on them first thing Monday morning.

To 03 ant a hemi's point - I do believe the dealership was just out to make a buck. Too bad for them - as even a small amount of help on their part would have netted in them getting repeat new-car business from us. Not now. Just in case anyone is interested, that deal was Lake Norman Dodge, in Charlotte, NC.

Will also post build dates. The truck was one of the first '03s on the lot...

 

If you actually did have a stuck open injector a melt down is a definate possibility.With that injector dumping copious amounts of fuel in the cylinder that cylinder would try to burn it and actually attempt to move a little faster than the other 5 which would raise the temperature sufficenly to damage the piston and possibly valves and block. I have seen this a time or two with the GM6600's.

I do hope you get a resolution on this as mine is a 03 HO...hopefully this will not be a major problem.