jgln
Well-Known Member
My 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup has been running rough...but not all the time. 120,000 Mi. One morning I almost did not make it home, 35MPH tops and running bad, RPM up/down. Got it towed to shop, guy said computer showed timing issues so he replaced cam sensor but when he test drove it everything was fine before AND after.
A day later same thing, almost didn't make it home...drove to shop with engine no power again. He test drove it for 20 miles and not a hiccup...computer showed nothing. He reset computer again and checked harness and cleaned all connections. I picked it up ran fine...next morning same thing, barely running.
Limped into Dodge dealership for second opinion, diagnosis, stalled in parking lot. They ran it all day not a hiccup, computer said fine. Asked they keep overnight and test drive first thing in morning when I usually have problems. This time it acted up for them.
They did a compression test and said cylinder #2 low compression. Guaranteed a valve job would fix my problem, cost between $600-$3,000 depending on what it would need. I said ok, otherwise the truck is in good shape.
Next day they call and say bad news. Engine needs to be rebuilt! For about $5,000 just in labor! Now for $600 they got my heads off, another $600 just to put back together, not to fix. What happened to the guarantee?? He also didn't tell me up front $600 was just to pull the heads off and take a look.
I figure what do I do? Tell them to throw parts in back and have it towed home? So I told them to put back together. I am not getting an engine rebuild for one cylinder with low compression. He says it will run like before when done, bad but running. I figure it will at least be back together instead of parts rusting in the truck bed.
Looks like I am down $2,000 from both shops (other guy did water pump and oil change too and still at dealership getting put back together) maybe more and have a near worthless trade in and need to go truck shopping this weekend.
Did I do the right thing? Well, besides ***** to the owner for the service guy guaranteeing $3,000 max would fix my problem. Oh, he also told me they would only pull the head off with #2 and if real bad stop and call me. They pulled both and now I have to pay to have both put back on...jerk.
Thanks for reading all this if you did.
A day later same thing, almost didn't make it home...drove to shop with engine no power again. He test drove it for 20 miles and not a hiccup...computer showed nothing. He reset computer again and checked harness and cleaned all connections. I picked it up ran fine...next morning same thing, barely running.
Limped into Dodge dealership for second opinion, diagnosis, stalled in parking lot. They ran it all day not a hiccup, computer said fine. Asked they keep overnight and test drive first thing in morning when I usually have problems. This time it acted up for them.
They did a compression test and said cylinder #2 low compression. Guaranteed a valve job would fix my problem, cost between $600-$3,000 depending on what it would need. I said ok, otherwise the truck is in good shape.
Next day they call and say bad news. Engine needs to be rebuilt! For about $5,000 just in labor! Now for $600 they got my heads off, another $600 just to put back together, not to fix. What happened to the guarantee?? He also didn't tell me up front $600 was just to pull the heads off and take a look.
I figure what do I do? Tell them to throw parts in back and have it towed home? So I told them to put back together. I am not getting an engine rebuild for one cylinder with low compression. He says it will run like before when done, bad but running. I figure it will at least be back together instead of parts rusting in the truck bed.
Looks like I am down $2,000 from both shops (other guy did water pump and oil change too and still at dealership getting put back together) maybe more and have a near worthless trade in and need to go truck shopping this weekend.
Did I do the right thing? Well, besides ***** to the owner for the service guy guaranteeing $3,000 max would fix my problem. Oh, he also told me they would only pull the head off with #2 and if real bad stop and call me. They pulled both and now I have to pay to have both put back on...jerk.
Thanks for reading all this if you did.