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Kurt
Dodge Dakota
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5/29/2002
10:03:40
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 Subject: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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I'm posting this message for my father. He and I both have 98 Dakotas. We each have a 5.2 V8 in them, his was built for power and mine for speed. :) Well, he has had several problems with is overheating since he got it. Each time this happened, he took it to the dealership and requested that they check into it to figure out what the problem was. They tried several things, but they didn't seem too interested in solving our problem. Since the last time it overheated, it started making a rattling noise every time you cranked it. We told the people at the dealership about this too, and they said that "it was commen for Dakotas to do that". Mine has never done any of this, so we were always curious about it. Well, to make a long story short, Dad's engine burnt up in his truck the other day. Our Uncle was driving to a nearby town, and it overheated again. Only this time it melted bushings and various other things inside the motor. Now we don't know what to do.
His truck has 42,000 miles on it. He did not purchase an extended warrentee because he has been so discouraged by the dealership's lack of effort in any problem we have had with the truck. It is going to cost Dad nearly $5000 to get his truck fixed now, and it will cost him out of his pocket. We wouldn't mind spending that if we had done something wrong, but after you put nearly $30,000 into a truck, and it only lasts 42,000 miles, you don't expect to have to buy a new motor for it.
Anyways, my reason for this post is to ask for help. Does anybody know of anything that might could be done in this situation? Our local dealership, of course, has told us there is nothing they can do about it. Is this true? Does anybody know somebody higher on the chain that we could talk to at Dodge? If none of that is possible, does anybody know any sources for parts to fix the truck. It will take a new engine for sure.
Thanks for your time. I hope something can be done. I sure do love my truck, and I hate to see Dad without his.
Thanks again,
Kurt Girlinghouse
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SS_Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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5/29/2002
10:09:32
|  RE: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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I wold be furious that the dealer didn't fix it to begin with. I wold go down to the dealership and threaten a lawsuit since they never fixed it and it was definately "malfunctioning". You could also write the people at the DC company.
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rtdkota
Dodge Dakota
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5/29/2002
11:22:05
| RE: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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$5000??? A new short block is $1200.. $5000 is way too much (sucks that it isn't covered). $5000 would get you a 408 stroker motor built to the hilt!
I wouldn't have the dealer do the work, that's too much money.
Sam
www.socaldakota.com
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Kurt
Dodge Dakota
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5/29/2002
12:43:48
| RE: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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Dad has a 4-wheel drive truck. The motor he was quoted on was $2900. The labor to put it in at the dealership and all the other fees we have paid makes up for the rest.
Like I said before, I'm looking for options. Any advise is welcome!! :)
Kurt
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bjlindsey
*GenIII*
5/29/2002
12:55:33
| RE: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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Do you realy want to trust the dealership that hosed you in the first place? Maybe they let the motor burn up hoping they would get your $5000 in business??? It's not under warranty, so I thihk I'd take my money elsewhere to a reliable shop that specializes in engine replacements.
01 QC 4x4 5.9L 3.92 LSD
3" Body Lift, 305/70-R16 XTerrains,
K&N clone, Clear Corners, Carbon Fiber Tails,
www.FreeGasForYou.com
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don94
Dodge Dakota
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5/29/2002
13:34:41
| RE: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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if ur dad has bills from the dealer i would contact chrysler and tell them how unhappy ur dad is that the dealer would not fix the overheating problem, and that since both of u have chrysler products it would make for a better relationship and possibly satisfied customers if they could help ur dad with the repairs to his truck. cant say if they will help but i think u may have a shot. good luck i have no love for dealers cause i have had some bad service from them, and if ur dad does have to have the motor replaced take advice given to u in earlier post and from me, dont have dealer do the work !!! it is not the fault of the dakota i love mine it is the lousy service received from the dealers. again good luck and i am sorry to hear about ur dads troubles as i am sure anyone who reads ur post will also.
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Rascal
GenIII
5/29/2002
13:54:31
| RE: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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I agree with bjlindsey, I would not take it back to the dealer even for an oil change. Luckily, we have a top notch dealer in my town, but that appears to be unusual. See if you have a Jasper engines near you, they are better built and do a first class replacement job.
I have a 98 5.2 with 80k miles and no overheating. I did just replace my waterpump, hoses, thermostat this past weekend just because everything was original, I was not having any problems. I put on a Flowkooler pump, Goodyear hoses, and RobertShaw thermostat and it runs even cooler than before. Stay away from your dealer for this major fix and go ahead and let Chrysler know about your experience, maybe they will guide you somewhere else. Make sure you let them know that you own TWO of these trucks too.
Good luck,
Rascal
98 SLT 2wd 5.2 Powerdyne S/C (just bought), Powerslots, Hawk pads, Snugtop hard tonneau cover, Rancho brushguard and sidesteps, Flowkooler, Edelbrock shocks and dbl timing chain, Flowmetrics TB, Hella 500 lights, Magnacore wires, Autolites, Black Magic #150 and #110, etc...and a 57 Harley Panhead
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don94
Dodge Dakota
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5/29/2002
14:10:37
| RE: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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rascal:
congrats on having a good dealer, as i was writing the replay to Kurt i was thinking that maybe it is about time that with all the posts i have read we get together and send our experiences to chrysler and let them know we love their truck but are very disatisfied with the dealers who service them. maybe with strength in numbers chrysler will realize how much it would mean to their customers if they were getting good service on their products.
just a thaught, alone they dont care much, but in numbers they may sit up and take notice.
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Mason
Dodge Dakota
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5/29/2002
16:12:47
| RE: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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I had a friend who had the same kinds of problems with his Acura. The dealership was totally un-cooperative. He finally parked the car on the street right in front of the dealership with a big sign on top and a letter in the window explaining what had happened. As long as you are not breaking any parking violations there is nothing the dealership can do to your car. It took about 3 days for the dealership to come to to an agreement with my friend to split the cost of the repair.
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Kurt
Dodge Dakota
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5/29/2002
16:33:17
| RE: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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Well, if we get any points with Chrysler for being "return customers", then we should be okay. Dad had a Dakota before this one, my Mom has had 3 Dodge Caravans, and as you know I have a Dakota now. Don't worry, we'll be sure to mention this to our people at Chrysler.
We are not going back to our local dealer for anything. We have a different mechanic working on it, we just got the price from our local dealership. I didn't say that right in my other message.
I used to always pick at Dad and tell him my truck was better. I kinda feel bad now. hahaha
Kurt
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Rascal
GenIII
5/29/2002
17:10:59
| RE: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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good point, there is definitely strength in numbers..the entire car industry seems to turn its back on its customers once it sells a car, its just amazing to me how they can do business this way...
Don't feel bad about picking on your Dad, that is what us Dads are for. Besides, the overheating was not your fault and he will get rolling again.
Rascal
98 SLT 2wd 5.2 Powerdyne S/C (just bought), Powerslots, Hawk pads, Snugtop hard tonneau cover, Rancho brushguard and sidesteps, Flowkooler, Edelbrock shocks and dbl timing chain, Flowmetrics TB, Hella 500 lights, Magnacore wires, Autolites, Black Magic #150 and #110, etc...and a 57 Harley Panhead
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Graphite
*GenIII*
5/29/2002
21:01:51
| RE: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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Kurt call D/C @ 1 800 992 1997. That is the customer service number for USA. Explain your situation and see if someone can help you. There are people at that number that can do things for you it is just a matter of finding the right person some times.
Nothing runs Like a Deere (R)
2002 club cab 4.7 v8 4x4 Graphite /silver
2002 quad cab 4x2 v6 Atlantic blue/silver
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dak64
Dodge Dakota
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5/29/2002
21:57:36
| RE: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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Message:
Was it under warranty when he originally took it in for the overheating problem? I had heard somewhere that if they did not fix a problem that was brought up under the warranty that they are still liable after warranty expiration.
I'd also recommend customer service but maybe call the state attorney generals office first to request info, they may be able to arm you with legal info.
Good luck!
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golfinglenn
Dodge Dakota
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5/30/2002
00:45:19
|  RE: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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I feel your pain. I read on the Durango forum before about similar problems with taking a rig to the dealer for a problem, only to have them unable to find anything wrong. Then soon after warranty was up, a major problem happens that is obviously connected to the original complaint. These people have contacted Dodge Corporate and with proof of previous work orders showing the customer complaining of problem under warranty with no fix, they have honored the warranty after it expired and made the fix anyway. YOU JUST NEED TO GO TO THE TOP AND BITCH TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. The dealer will just blow you off.
Glenn
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Rob454
Dodge Dakota
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5/30/2002
00:50:09
| RE: Need Help Bad!!!!!
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Hold on a second there bud
Did the overheating start happening while the motor was under warranty? if so its a pre existing condition and if you have paperwork proving that the truck was overheating while it was under warrnaty and the dealer couldnt fix it than guess what it shoudl still be covered casue it was not fixed while the truck was under warranty. go to a different dealer and ask to speak to the service manager. also get the # for the regional manager and report the dealer that originally did the work ont he truck
Rob
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