Wuzzup Ed?
I think I've diagnosed your problem..........Your dealer. :-) Seriously, my
dealer seemed to bend over backwards for me, rotating tires for free,
alignment for free, changing the exhaust hanger on an AFTERMARKET exhaust
for free, repaimng a NON-warrantied lock on a toneeau for free. I don't care
to tell you HOW I messed these things up. LOL But they did fix them, for
free, when, really they should've refused or at least charged me. Aren't
their any other dealers around you??
-Ryan
99 DA RC R/T
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ed and Kristi Townsend" <townsend@ainet.com>
To: <dakota-truck@buffnet.net>
Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2000 8:11 AM
Subject: DML: My Daimler Chrysler Nightmare (I wish I could wake up!) - LONG
> Man!
>
> I think that my truck thinks that it is yellow instead of driftwood!
> Last year I decided that I would get rid of my poor tired little '86
Toyota
> 4x4 turbo. It was at 140,000 miles and I thought that I should get rid of
it
> before it started draining my bank account. It was still on the original
> turbo, and a new replacement (just parts) would have run $1497. Toyota
> decided to manufacture their own turbo-chargers instead of using any of
the
> aftermarket units widely available (Rotomaster, Schwittzer, Rajay, KKK and
> others that all other car makers use). That explains the high parts price.
> Toyota seems to believe that all of their parts are made from precious
> metals and exotic materials.
>
> Getting rid of it was my first mistake.
>
> Buying my '99 DAK SLT CC 5.2 was my second!
>
> First off this story is condensed, didn't feel that I needed to list
> every rude response and lie that was given to me by the dealer.
>
> The first 11,000 miles we rather enjoyable. But from the day I bought
> it, the rear end howled between 40 and 50 MPH. There was also a strange
> ticking noise from the area of the driveline. I suspect a needle bearing
in
> the rear u-joint.
>
> At 11,500 miles I took the truck in to get the yearly detail job
(which
> sucked) and have these what I thought at the time 'minor' issues taken
care
> of. Well, as far as the rear end, the dealer replaced the ring and
pinion.
> That did not solve it. So they ordered a complete carrier and r/p setup.
On
> the same warranty visit, I was told that the ticking was addressed in a
TSB
> and that it wouldn't be a problem. The dealership attributed it to a
problem
> to the rear leaf springs. In any event, parts for both problems were
> ordered.
>
> 2 weeks later (after not getting any phone calls, due to a wrong phone
#
> that I HAD informed them about) I took the truck in for the repairs.
When
> I got it back the whine appeared to be gone, but the ticking noise seemed
to
> be worse. I looked up the TSB on the AllData system where my stepfather
> works. Funny thing, the TSB addressed SQUEAKING leaf springs, not ticking.
> And now that they did the TSB fix on my perfectly fine leaf springs, THEY
> SQUEAK!!!
>
> I informed the dealer of the problems, and told them that I would try
to
> diagnose the problem myself (with the help of the repair shop my stepdad
> works for).
>
> It was about 2 weeks before I took the truck back in with my
diagnosis,
> and within that time the rear-end started howling again! In addition, I
had
> a pop in the front end, leaky thermostat housing, faulty passenger power
> window, AND THAT DAMN ANNOYING SQUEAK from the leaf springs.
>
> I have come to the conclusion that the techs at this dealership got
> their certificates from a box of Froot Loops!
>
> Anyway, I took the truck back in (#3 time) and they had it from Sunday
> the 2nd until this evening. Not a phone call during all that time to let
me
> know what was going on! I went to pick up the truck, and come to find
out,
> all they did during the period of a week (short 1 day due to the holiday)
> was pull the door panel and lube the window track, and lube the front end
> which had recently lubed during normal service. The dealer said it fixed
the
> problem (yeah right). Star, the DC tech service that they have to report
to
> for repair authorization, suggested that the drive line should be
replaced.
> This is after the dealer told me that it wasn't a u-joint problem. Now
what
> else can go wrong with a driveline other than cracks (which do not exist
in
> my truck according to the dealer) and u-joints? As far as the rear end, DC
> says that there is nothing else that can be done until they come up for a
> replacement gearset, or other fix. And no timeframe was given for this. So
> now I am supposed to drive a noisy truck that might pop a rear end, and
just
> deal with it! And I know deep in my heart that the drive-line will not fix
> the ticking noise! I suggested that they might try the 3.92 rear end, but
> they wouldn't even think about it.
>
> Well, I found the arbitration papers in the back of my manual, and
they
> are filled out ready to drop in the mail soon. DC will not even consider
> replacing the truck or refunding the money spent on it (Calif Lemon Law
> states that either option is available, buyers discretion) without going
> thru arbitration. I am fed up! This is my first new vehicle, first
American
> vehicle, and my first V8. I have to say that my faith in US auto makers
has
> been shaken.
>
> I know that I am gonna get flamed BIGTIME for this, but I think it is
> time to go back to Toyota. My old truck was the epitome of reliability.
No,
> it didn't have the power of the Dodge, or the comfort, but I wasn't
worried
> about what might happen next with it, since nothing happened in the first
> place!!! Fast is nice, but not at the price of reliablility!
>
> A word of advice when dealing with the service department. KEEP
RECORDS!
> Document all conversations, with whom you spoke , what was said, and
> date/time. Keep all receipts, and play their little game. In a situation
> like this, all you can do is cooperate until there is no more repair
options
> (or 4 consecutive repairs for the same problem within the first 18months,
> 18,000 miles according to California Lemon Law) From what I gather from
the
> DML, it is an ongoing problem with the 3.55 rear end, and DC knows about
it.
> They are doing their best to keep it under wraps. If you have any of these
> problems, get them looked at now. And be prepared to be treated like dirt
> and kept in the dark!
>
> I really was impressed with this truck when I got it! Power, handling
> and good looks: what more could you ask for? I have to say the Toyota is
> UGLY compared to the very stylish Dakota. And space is limited. But the
> reputation of Toyota pickups can't be beat. I am gonna miss being on the
DML
> (great bunch of ppl here!). I just can't justify getting back into
another
> Dodge and risking the same problems.
>
> I thank the individuals that responded to my private e-mail request.
> Your input has helped me make my decision.
>
> And thanks to everyone else for the hospitality (and flame wars!). It
> has been a great experience. I have to say that this bunch (DML) is unique
> and fun-loving! I am gonna continue to monitor the list and give updates
on
> my 'Howler' (makes you wonder if that was the origination of the 'Prowler'
> nameplate) until I no longer own the truck.
>
> Thanks again, and I am already ducking the impending flames!!!
>
> Ed Townsend
> townsend@ainet.com
> zr750@mac.com
> Modesto, CA
>
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