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Tnjones
Dodge Dakota
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8/05/2004
11:51:39
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 Subject: NV3500
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I'd appreciate any help or advise you folks can offer. I've had my 03 4.7L 5SP Man. in the shop 4 times for tranny problems. For starters the shift horn keeps coming lose from the top of the tranny. It pukes lube all over the place and the shifter rotates is how I can tell it's come lose again. Worse, it often refuses to go into gear or takes several attempts before it will go into gear or grinds when going into gear or waits several seconds for the RPM's to drop before going into gear. The dealer says they can't duplicate the problem and is refusing to address the issue. I called Daimler @ 800-992-1997 and was told "If the dealer can't duplicate the problem there's nothing we can do".
HELP!!
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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8/05/2004
16:02:51
|  RE: NV3500
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Wow, that's a bummer.
I have an 01, 4.7, with the real 5spd also.
When it was under warranty, I had a lot of trouble with 3rd gear shifts. I've been driving manuals all my life, and it wasn't me. Took it to the dealer, one guy drove it, and shifted it like a pussy, and real slow, and said it was OK.
Took it back, same dealer, diffenrent guy drove it, and he agreed. They replaced the whole tranny under warranty.
I know that's not exactly your problem, but keep at em till they fix it. Call DC again, have different people drive it, better yet, you drive it with them in the truck.
Good luck
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Tnjones
Dodge Dakota
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8/05/2004
17:44:52
| RE: NV3500
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Thanks Todd Exactly what I've been doing. Daimler let the dealer know I had called and now the dealer has an attitude. I've told them I won't take the truck back until they fix the problem. The tech called this morning and said it's normal for it to take a second or two between gears on this truck! I told him if that's so I don't want the truck. Either have my truck in proper working condition or have a refund check waiting when I get there this afternoon.
They are even trying to say it was a different problem each of the 4 times I had it in. When I disagreed they read me my discriptions:
"Hard to shift"
"Slow Shifts"
"Sometimes grinds going into gear"
"Doesn't shift well at higher RPM's"
"See? 4 different problems", they said.
I'll let you know how this goes.
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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8/06/2004
01:46:40
| RE: NV3500
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If it's possible, try another dealer. That's comical, four different problems. It's the same problem doing all of those things. There is a TSB about the 2nd gear synchronizer I've heard about.
Good luck
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rgathright
Dodge Dakota
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8/06/2004
10:35:31
| RE: NV3500
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Related NV3500 issue: Is it common to have problems shifting into Reverse while the vehicle
is traveling slowly forwards?
I get this all the time when I am parking the truck. Real embarassing when I leave a gas station and the tranny just grinds instead of going into gear while traveling forwards @ 1-2 mph.
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Tnjones
Dodge Dakota
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8/06/2004
11:40:52
| RE: NV3500
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I get to Dodge about 5:40. Find the service manager who turns me over to some other guy who kept saying his name real fast and I never got it. Tall guy, very short hair… Anyway.
He brings the truck around and I notice the spare tire is swinging. It’s not cranked all the way up for some reason and it was when I dropped it off. I’m sure because I checked after the body shop swapped the tires around for me.
I crank the tire back up, get in and off we go. The guy was a real stone face. Had nothing to say most of the drive. I tried to start a conversation, but no matter what I said all I got was a grunt in response. I run the RPMs a little high a couple of times as we pull out onto Covington Pike headed South, but there’s too much traffic and I can’t really wind it up. It shifts fine. We stop at the light at 240 behind traffic. I still wind it up a little, 3500RPM or so between gears, and it shifts fine all the way to Macon. We make the left at that light and turn away from the traffic.
Now we’ve got some room I wind it up pretty good from 2nd to 3rd, 4500 RPM or so. It shifts fine. I brake back down, down-shift into 2nd and wind it up again. This time I totally balks when I try to go into 3rd.
“There it is”, I say. We’re approaching a curve so, I brake down to about 35 and make the first right to turn around and go back the way we came.
“That was a nice clear stretch of road”, I say as I turn around. “Let’s go back that way and I’ll go through ‘em again”. Stone face still has nothing to say.
Traffic clears and I make the left back out onto Macon. Nice and easy until I get through the curve. Still in second I wind up the RPM’s when the road straightens and once again it just totally bounces off of 3rd. I bring the shifter back to neutral and try to go in again. Again and the next time I hear “grrrrrriiinnnnnnndddddd”! Back down to second and Stoneface says, “You’ve got to go back to second”. Up to third and it goes in this time. “Yeah, but I shouldn’t have to go ‘back down to second’ when I’m trying to go up to third”.
“Yeah”, says Stoneface.
We get caught behind traffic at the light at Covington Pike. “If I keep going straight will I regret it?”, I ask.
Stoneface looks confused.
“Does it turn into a neighborhood or get twisty?”
“Oh. Just turn here and head back towards the shop.”
On the way up Covington Pike I still wind it up just a little, 3000-3500 RPM and it refuses to go into 4th!
“You do it”, I say to Stoneface.
He just looks at me.
“You put your hand on there and do it”, I say. He can’t get it in either until he goes all the way back to 3rd and then into 4th.
“And that wasn’t under hard acceleration or high RPM”, I say. He’s stone-faced.
We get back to the shop and he’s practically frantic trying to find Marty. His legs are long enough so I had to trot to keep up with his walk. “I’m sorry, what was your name?”, I ask and start to pull a piece of paper out of my wallet. He gets to one of the service desks and quickly presses the phone to his ear saying something about “Where’s the Service manager…”. Before he figures out how to page him, he walks up and asks Stoneface how it went. I let him talk for a minute. I have to admit I don’t remember much of what he said in detail because I began to get angry. I do remember he said something about me driving like I was drag racing.
I pointed out that the transmission was failing to shift at the times you most need it to quickly shift, under load or under high acceleration. “You don’t want to be hunting for a gear when you’re pulling onto the interstate and some 18 wheeler is coming up behind you”, I said.
The Service manager said something about abuse. He said something about the clutch being out of warranty. He said something about he makes his money off of selling trucks and since I didn’t buy mine there I should take it somewhere else for service.
I asked him if he was going to fix my truck. He said I would have to sign something saying that if it was because of abuse I would have to pay for the repair. Asked him what constituted abuse. He said it could be as simple as the clutch being a little burned. He said the clutch was no longer under warranty anyway. He said if the clutch had been hot that could cause the whole problem and if that was what it was I would have to pay for the repair. He said if I didn’t like his decision I should take the truck somewhere else.
He emphasized repeatedly that it would be his decision whether or not the problem was due to abuse and if he decided it was because of abuse I would have to pay for any problems they found. After the way Stoneface had gone on and on about how the way I drove it was probably the problem I’m supposed to leave my truck with this guy who’s practically telling me I’m writing him a blank check?
I told him keep the truck and let me know when he’d have my buy-back check ready. I turned and started to walk away. He yelled after me, “If you leave it hear I’ll call the impound lot. I turn to look and he tells one of his employees to call the impound lot.
Stoneface still has the keys. I walk towards him. “Give it to me”, I say. He holds out the keys. I take them, get in my truck and leave.
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Tnjones
Dodge Dakota
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8/06/2004
11:50:54
| RE: NV3500
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Message:
This morning I call Daimler. They called the dealer and called me back. The dealer told them the problem was that I was trying to shift without depressing the clutch!! What, so now I'm stupid? They also said that I was no longer welcome at their dealership and to tell me to not come back. The only suggestion Daimler had was to try another dealer. I'm at my wit's end. Anybody got a better idea? I've had it to 2 dealers for a total of 4 times and all Daimler can say is try another dealer!!
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Tnjones
Dodge Dakota
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8/06/2004
12:10:09
| RE: NV3500
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Shifting into reverse while rolling forwards will indeed result in a grind every time. Something to do with the reverse syncronizer or lack thereof. I'm sure someone here can give you the exact technical reason, but that isn't actually a defect.
I found that out the hard way just like you did. Pulled in to a parking lot with a bunch of other hot rodders. Whipped it around to back into a parking spot like everyone else and went for reverse before the truck was at a dead stop and 'grind!'. very embarassing.
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CThomp
*GenIII*
8/06/2004
12:15:37
| RE: NV3500
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How many miles does that thing have on it? There can't be many. Definitely try another dealership and get the word out about that one. Maybe even try the better business bureau. The NV3500 is a bit of a pain of a tranny but not like that.
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rgathright
Dodge Dakota
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8/06/2004
12:15:39
| RE: NV3500
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Message:
Just like my problems with the exhaust vendor. You need to post the names of these dealers so the public will know what is going on. Visit the Dodge Diesel ram forums to see an example of what happens when forum users unite vs parts vendors and dealers.
I applaud your actions on this forum and hope that in the future someone decides not to purchase an exhaust system or a new vehicle from one of these disreputable vendors as a result of our actions.
We are American citizens our ancestors fought for this right, no one can tell us to shut up or "Do not post information about my company to the web."
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CThomp
*GenIII*
8/06/2004
12:48:21
| RE: NV3500
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Definitley find any and every DC related forum and slam that dealerships rep. Dealers need to realize the common law of any retail/service related industry...THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT! And yes I have worked in retail. And the customer was always right. No matter waht keep them coming back.
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b1llyw
GenII
8/06/2004
13:25:19
| RE: NV3500
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Message:
Call your state Dept. of Consumer Protection if you have one. If not, try your state Attorney General's office. They can help you to put pressure on.
Bill White - KRC Performance
'95 CC 4x2 - 408, 5-speed, 8 3/4
'04 Liberty, 4x4, 3.7, 5-speed, LSD
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Tnjones
Dodge Dakota
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8/06/2004
14:30:16
| RE: NV3500
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The dealership is Covington Pike Dodge in Memphis, TN. 901-371-9200.
The truck has approx. 9500 miles on it as of today. It's had tranny problems since day 1.
When I got it home I discovered the clutch resevoir was hanging by it's line. It had never been mounted to the firewall. The indents where there should have been holes to mount the resevoir had never even been drilled. The tranny was covered in gear lube because the shift horn had never been tightened down to the top of the tranny. I reported the shift dificulties from the time I took it back for these problems. Although the shift horn is now tight and the clutch resevoir mounted, as you know from above, the shift problem has yet to be fixed.
The service manager's name is Marty Kellum.
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CThomp
*GenIII*
8/06/2004
22:39:03
| RE: NV3500
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Holy Sh!t!. I'd call DC again, take lots of pictures, and have another dealership solve the problem. Go over the service managers head and contact the owner of the dealership or at least someone above the schmuck that has been ruinning your experience. Damn thieves. Dealerships piss me off.
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rgathright
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2004
07:32:32
| RE: NV3500
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Hey tnjones!!! You have documented visits to the dealership since you bought the truck right?
I think this goes beyond bad service, you have an excellent case for the lemon law of your state. I think you need to buy a lawyer a beer!
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2004
10:22:10
| RE: NV3500
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What a bummer, I"ve been following this whole story, esp since I have the same motor and tranny as you.
I thought the clutch was at least 12 month, 12,000 miles, like the brakes, if not more!
Your post about the resovoir not mounted, was that before or after you rode with stoeface?
I can't believe a new truck was finished like that.
I've had very few problems with my dak, I hate to say I've been lucky.
I tend to go ballistic when sh-t like this happens to me, and I wouldn't blame you either, what a bummer, I feel for you. Keep us posted.
What a crock! This makes me embarrased to be a dodge owner!
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Tnjones
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2004
16:28:20
| RE: NV3500
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The clutch resevoir not mounted and shift horn not tightned down were from when I originally picked up my custom ordered truck in June of 03. The dealer's owner is siding with his Service manager and has asked me to not come back to his dealership.
I discovered the state of Tennessee repealed their lemon law in 1987. This truck would have fully qualified as it has been in 4 times for the same issue within 1 year and has been out of service for at least 30 cumulative days. The flaw also (argualbly) constitutes a safety hazard which makes it an automatic lemon law claim, if we had a lemon law that is. Basically my only recourse is to hire a lawyer on my own dime and fight one of the largest dealerships in town. Since we know which of us (me or the dealer) has the deepest pockets, how far do you think my suit would get before I ran out of cash and they were still apealing?
At this point I just want to be rid of this albatross before the tranny self destructs into a pile of metal filings and the ball joints snap off. Unfortunately I'm still too far upside-down to consider trading it. I guess I'll just have to drive it like grandma til I can afford to get rid of it and hope it doesn't self destruct in front of a semi on the interstate.
Anybody think my next vehicle will be a Dodge?
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2004
16:53:31
| RE: NV3500
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paint it yellow and write something like" This Lemon is courtesy of Covington Pike Dodge", and ride in front of his stealership and all over town. or take out a full page ad in the local sunday paper with a picture of your truck and yourself and a short caption about your probs. who knows maybe the newspaper will work a deal with you.
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JB
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2004
17:32:31
| RE: NV3500
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Are u sure about the lemon law thing..
see this link
http://www.autolemonlaws.com/tennessee/
See if they can help
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JB
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2004
17:35:22
| RE: NV3500
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Also this was pulled from a web site
State of Tennessee
Division Of Consumer Affairs
Lemon Law Facts
The Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs receives hundreds of complaints each year about defects in new cars that the dealers cannot seem to repair. In 1986, the Legislature passed a Lemon Law that is stronger and more comprehensive than the original Lemon Law passed in 1984. This Law can be found in the Tennessee Code Annotated 55-24-101.
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JB
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2004
17:36:23
| RE: NV3500
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more info...
Facts About Tennessee's Lemon Law
The Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs receives hundreds of complaints each year about defects in new cars that the dealers can not seem to repair.
WHAT IS A LEMON?
"A lemon" is a motor vehicle sold or leased after January 1, 1987, that has a defect or condition that substantially impairs the motor vehicle; and the manufacturer, its agent, or authorized dealer cannot repair the vehicle after a reasonable number of attempts. Under the statute, the manufacturer must replace the motor vehicle or refund the purchase price (less a reasonable allowance for use).
Substantially impair means to render a motor vehicle unreliable or unsafe for normal operation, or to reduce its resale market value below the average resale value for comparable motor vehicles.
The law presumes that a reasonable number of attempts to repair have been made if the same problem has not been repaired after 4 attempts, or the vehicle is out of service for repairs for a cumulative total of 30 or more days during the term of protection.
Term of protection is defined as one year from the date of original delivery or the term of the warranty, whichever comes first.
The law is unclear about whether you have to have reported your problem during the "term of protection" in order to have a claim under the "lemon law". The Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs has adopted a position that the problem essentially has to be reported within the first year or within the term of the warranty, whichever comes first.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAVE A LEMON?
If you have a lemon, you must notify the manufacturer of the problem in writing by certified mail. The manufacturer has an additional opportunity to repair your car within 10 days. If the manufacturer cannot repair your car and the manufacturer has an informal dispute settlement procedure that complies with Federal Trade Commission regulations, the refund and replacement provisions of the lemon law won’t apply until you submit to the procedure. You are not bound by the decision and can still seek available legal remedies, including asking a court to award a replacement vehicle or reimbursement of the purchase price (less a reasonable allowance for use), plus attorney fees and court costs.
WHEN CAN YOU TAKE ACTION?
You can file a lawsuit at anytime within one year from the date of original delivery of your car or within six months from the expiration of your expressed warranty, whichever is later. Extended warranties are not considered. You should consult an attorney well before the expiration of your time limit to be sure of preserving your legal rights.
For more information, please write the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, 500 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243-0600, or call toll-free 1-800-342-8385.
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