Guys I need help. Truck is dead dealer won't warranty

[Corso923]

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I don't think I have seen worse reviews for a dealer's service department

 

[Bismarck]

No, "between delivery to the dealer and delivery to you" is time of purchase.

You're right, I misread that. Don't see how that would explain the failure 600 miles later, but maybe the air filter.

 

[Guest3695]

An aftermarket air filter will not void your warranty and it's not the dealership that makes decisions on warranty claims. Stellantis makes the decision. Have the truck towed to another dealership TODAY! Quit screwing around with this dealership!

 

[shapiroeric]

You're right, I misread that. Don't see how that would explain the failure 600 miles later, but maybe the air filter.

I agree it doesn't explain the issues he is having, except someone drove the truck xx amount of miles before he bought it and, unless the OP is leaving info out, changed the filter.....

 

[Airmousam]

Weird situation....story just does not hold water

 

[cpost6]

Fishing at lake. Wonder if any boats were used? Lots of people back down ramp too far unloading boat and truck gets deep in water. See it a couple times each year.

 

[Eighty]

 

[Back9Rex]

I think it’s also possible that the dealership just isn’t great with customer service but that the OP swamped the front end of the truck and is trying to build chatter on the forums for Ramcares to try to get the truck repaired for free.

You’re only getting one side of the story here.

I have no skin in the game — just observing that not all of this adds up and I hope the truth is revealed and all parties end up satisified.

I did not drive the car in any water. I am trying to reach the park rangers now as I spoke to one of them on my way into the park and was parked by the loading docks the whole time. So if I had gone in the water they would have seen me and I would have probably been kicked out for doing so. When the tow truck showed up the rangers lead him right to me and stayed and talked with us while the truck was being loaded. I am also contacting the tow truck driver to get a statement from him on what he saw and where the truck was when he arrived. I promise you all I did not drive this vehicle in any water.

 

[Back9Rex]

Have you contacted @RamCares yet? It would be good to get a case going with them. Sorry to hear you are dealing with this nightmare!

Yes sir. Created a conversation with then last night and Im just awaiting a response.

 

[Back9Rex]

I agree with this assessment. I’ve been told dealerships work through FCA for all HCs. The dealership that fixed mine said they wouldn’t turn a screw without getting FCA direction/approval. If they do “they” may be on the hook for repair costs. My first action this morning would be contact @RamCares.

I have started a conversation with them and am just waiting on a response.

 

[Back9Rex]

So, there are some things that just dont add up or we are missing some info here
RECAP:
Coolant is low, you get an indicator.
You do not see an over temp indicator.
Restart you get a hard start, white smoke, engine noise and call a tow truck.
Visual inspection = engine coolant level is low.
Dealership states: fresh water in the cylinders and a cracked block.
Later post: you say they only found water in the intake.
Later post: you say they didnt pull the heads just the intake.
Dealership finds O'Reily air filters in the air box, not stock air filters.
Dealership cannot find the low coolant code in the computer.

Water in the intake: In the air box or in the blower? If water was found only in the air box, the box will need to be tested to make sure its draining correctly. A small amount of water in the box, does not mean you drove it into high water.

The computer would have set a hard code for the low coolant.

Dealership would not need to pull the heads to find water in the cylinder. Pull a sparkplug, look with a borescope and pull a sample. Did they do that?

Blocks do not crack from an overheat. Heads warp and crack from overheat.
Blocks crack, pistons crack and rods bend from hydrolock (cylinder filled with liquid). While driving, it is nearly impossible to instantly hydrolock you engine.

After you shut it off for the hour, a blown head gasket "could" allow enough coolant into the cylinder to hydrolock it.

Here is my take:
Assuming you did not drive it into deep water.
Dealership pulled the intake, found the aftermarket filters (no biggie).
Dealership found some fresh water in the bottom of the air box, and "assumed" you drove it into the water. From there, they didnt go any further and just "assumed" and reacted poorly.

If / when they pull the heads, they will find COOLANT in the cylinder, a blown head gasket and also catastrophic damage from a hydrolock even.

This is an exercise of forensics, not off the cuff dealer assumptions. Find a new dealer and have them take a look, it will be covered under warranty.

The only caveat is IF the new dealer finds fresh water in the cylinder(s), front diff, rear diff, t-case, etc. you are screwed.
Good luck bro and let us know!

Later post: you say they only found water in the intake. My apologies if I made this statement but the only place they said they have water is in the #8 cylinder and they didn't pull the heads they just scoped it and took a picture and wouldn't do anything further cause they are sure that I got water in the motor through the intake by driving it in the lake.
Later post: you say they didnt pull the heads just the intake. This is correct.

 

[Back9Rex]

Fishing at lake. Wonder if any boats were used? Lots of people back down ramp too far unloading boat and truck gets deep in water. See it a couple times each year.

No sir. I didn't try and load a boat.

 

[Claasicdrive]

tHOSE ARE GREAT REVIEWS FOR aLBER

I don't think I have seen worse reviews for a dealer's service department

THIS ARE GREAT REVIEWS FOR ANY NEW MEXICO DEALERSHIP ....have you ever been ? A shit hole

 

[CityHunter]

And surely there would be other ample evidence of water damage if the truck managed to become submerged enough to get that much water into the intake? Seems like this would be easy enough to rule out.

 

[Airmousam]

What City said...seems easy to figure this shit out

 

[Back9Rex]

And I tr

And surely there would be other ample evidence of water damage if the truck managed to become submerged enough to get that much water into the intake? Seems like this would be easy enough to rule out.

And I tried to point this out to them and he didn't want to hear it.

 

[Back9Rex]

tHOSE ARE GREAT REVIEWS FOR aLBER

THIS ARE GREAT REVIEWS FOR ANY NEW MEXICO DEALERSHIP ....have you ever been ? A shit hole

I just got off the phone with Larry H. Miller Dodge and will be calling a tow truck to pick my truck up from Melloy.

 

[RedEyeTRX]

Later post: you say they only found water in the intake. My apologies if I made this statement but the only place they said they have water is in the #8 cylinder and they didn't pull the heads they just scoped it and took a picture and wouldn't do anything further cause they are sure that I got water in the motor through the intake by driving it in the lake.
Later post: you say they didnt pull the heads just the intake. This is correct.

Super important that they didnt remove all the liquid from cylinder #8.
Analysis of the substance in cylinder #8 will determine if you have a warranty or not.
This one is a mystery, let us know what is discovered!

 

[RedEyeTRX]

View attachment 49929

Seen that many times over the years, but not head first!!!!!!
People get impatient in line for the boat ramp. When they get to the ramp they are amped up and there are many moving parts......backing up, wife yelling, yelling at wife, kids yelling, drain plug in the boat, bow hook disconnected, engine trimmed up, blower on, etc.

Guy hops out of the truck in frustration, truck is still in reverse.......and then its all over but the crying and the call to the insurance guy!!!!!!!

 

[Back9Rex]

Super important that they didnt remove all the liquid from cylinder #8.
Analysis of the substance in cylinder #8 will determine if you have a warranty or not.
This one is a mystery, let us know what is discovered!

Absolutely.