Name: Michael Schwall
Year: 1999
Model: Regular Cab Sport
Type: 2WD
Engine: 3.9L V6
Transmission: 5 speed
State: Bought in Texas, (San Antonio) built in Warren, MI
Build #: 207851
VIN (for info purposes)#: 1B7FL26X8XS207851
I have about 3450 miles on the truck with no engine problems. No
modifications have been done, it is all completely stock except for Castrol
10W-30 oil and a Purolator oil filter (changed at 1250 miles - personal
warm fuzzy feeling thing - and will be changed again probably tomorrow to
keep with warranty records - 5 year/75K extended warranty)
I have towed with the truck at 2000 miles. Was a moderate load, maybe 1
ton total trailer weight. Truck pulled fine with a little ping upon 1st
gear start and after each gear shift. Ping only lasted a second or two. I
had 87 octane Texaco gas in the tank. No ping was heard on the highway
with the load, just when shifting. I got 16 MPG towing the trailer with
most being city driving. My average MPG is about 19.5 MPG. On a drive
from San Antonio to Oklahoma City (with 2100 miles on truck) I got 20.8
MPG. The highest I ever got was 21.9 MPG, that was all highway driving
with a tail wind and cruise control (with a speed change every five minutes
for break-in purposes). The lowest was 16 - that was with the trailer.
Only problems I have had with the truck was a leaky windshield and a
mysterious wet carpet. Took it to the dealer for service and found out
that 8 inches of sealant was missing from the driver side top of
windshield, and the mysterious wet carpet (on driver side floor mat area)
was caused by missing sealant on the driver side of rear window. Still
trying to get the dealer to replace the carpet.
Just for info, dealer is Bob Howard Dodge in Oklahoma City, OK (a Five Star
dealer). On the work receipt, it explained what they did - they subbed the
glass work to Harding Glass in Ok, and they broke the windshield during
removal. They took off the Texas inspection and licence plate sticker and
stuck it on to the new windshield. It's going to be fun to explain that to
a cop. It's obvious that they have been removed - nice little air bubble
lines through the sticker. The dealer also scratched the paint on the
driver side door sill - pretty good. Looks like someone took a wire brush
to it. They even sprayed some kind of fragrance to mask the odor of the
mildewing carpet. They were supposed to replace the carpet. I brought the
truck in with a wet spot about five inches round, and got it back with
pretty much the entire carpet wet up to the heel pad near the pedals. They
did water pressure testing to find the leaks. How nice of them. I got a
call the next day asking me if I had time to do a survey on the service
that was done. Man I let her have it. Told her everything they did and
what they screwed up. I am "supposed" to be contacted by a customer rep and
have an appointment set to get everything fixed. That was last Thursday,
haven't heard anything since.
Oh, one more problem. My windshield wipers have completely crapped out
after little more than 3000 miles and maybe 1 minute of total use. The
rubber simply fell off the wiper arm. What a joke!
If you need more info, let me know.
Mike Schwall
- Former Texan, temporary Oklahoman, and hoping to be a Utah-man (or
whatever they call themselves up there) soon.
__________________________
mschwall@flash.net
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