Big trouble with new Diesel.

[davygp38]

I thought I would post an update. I called the New York Attorney Generals Office (consumer affairs division.) The guy picked up on the first ring. After telling him my story, he assured me that I was on solid ground with my concerns, and that if I had to get his office involved they would get the matter resolved. His advice to me was to try to give them a chance to work it out before having to go through his office, because it would take a long time. I then called the dealership, and finally got the finance manager involved. I told him again that I would gladly take the truck as long as it had a bumper to bumper warranty, ( I also mentioned calling the Attorney Generals office.). He told me that he had two places that might insure the truck. I received several messages from the service manager, and the salesman,but was not able to call back yesterday. I will be stopping by on my way to work today, and I am hopefully this will be resolved. Thanks for all the feedback, so far it has been very helpful.

 

[Wolfy]

I wish you the best of the luck.

 

[JB4310]

Definitely better to resolve it with the dealer than to get a govt agency involved, that was truly good advice they gave you. You would be walking for a long time if you had to go that route!
But it was good that you mentioned to the dealer that you got them involved, now you really have their attention, they don't need the AG harassing them.
Most likely the commercial policy (if that's what they are talking about now) would cost more than you were quoted, but I'm guessing they will eat the difference. Can't see how they could try to charge you any more than your original agreement.

It would be a sticky situation, if they had to buy the truck back, now that you had the body put on.

Good luck,
JB

 

[TroySD]

Good job on getting the AG's office involved. They are a good "ace in the hole" to have on your side. The dealer will do everything they can to keep the agency off their back as it gets costly and ties up the big wig's (at the dealership) time to deal with them.

Look at it from the point of the warentee company?

why did they deny? (commercial excuse was just that... and excuse) what do THEY know about that truck (or that class of Chevy truck) that you dont?

If they dont want to cover it, then thats good enough reason for me not to own it!

Id get a lawyer friend involved. Personally Id want the dealer to take the truck back AND pay me the price of the flatbed i just had put on the back (take the receipt).

IF they did that, then i wouldnt have an issue buying another truck from them otherwise im shopping some place else.

This is exactly why everything costs so **** much in this country. The second any problem or misunderstanding comes up, someone wants to hurry and get a lawyer involved instead of dealing with problems on their own first. A little bit of communication and research on the OP's part will give him all the bullets he needs to get this issue resolved without the cost or "advice" of a lawyer. IMHO

 

[Diamondpilot]

Here is a good article that shows some of the 6.0L weak points and the procedures that are involved in addressing them.

Ford Power Stroke Bulletproofing Tactics - Four Wheeler Magazine

A neighbor bought an '03 6.0L and spent $5K at the dealer before he sent the truck to this shop. Another $8K later he had his truck back in a reliable state. Sold it 6 months later for $15K.

Hey, I am not saying it does not happen. I had a 1 Ton 2005 Dmax bought new by me for 9 months that would have cost me that much also if it was not covered under warranty. Same thing with my 3/4 Dodge Hemi. I could have spent that much on it also.

Took a bath trading the 9 month old Dmax on the 2006 F-350 I have now. Anyone would take a bath trading a 9 month old vehicle but it was making me lose business.

Took a bath on the Dodge also trading it in on a Mercury Mountaineer for my wife with a bad tranny, its 2nd one in under 70,000 miles plus a host of other issues.

What I am saying here is it does happen and the early 6.0L trucks were prone to issues but that was solved by late 2004. The biggest issue was it was so a good platform to hop up that everyone did. Me included. Maybe I got lucky with both mine but I also drove them sensibly.

Again, the Ford diesel trucks outsold Dodge and GM in that era combined so the simple numbers make them look bad. I am not saying there are not weak points like the head studs, ARP fixes this, ect.

Chris

 

[davygp38]

Definitely better to resolve it with the dealer than to get a govt agency involved, that was truly good advice they gave you. You would be walking for a long time if you had to go that route!
But it was good that you mentioned to the dealer that you got them involved, now you really have their attention, they don't need the AG harassing them.
Most likely the commercial policy (if that's what they are talking about now) would cost more than you were quoted, but I'm guessing they will eat the difference. Can't see how they could try to charge you any more than your original agreement.

It would be a sticky situation, if they had to buy the truck back, now that you had the body put on.

Good luck,
JB

here's where I am at now. The truck had to be sent to a heavy duty truck center to get all six wheels balanced, and an alignment done to try to find out where the vibration at higher speed is coming from. They now think that the vibration is being caused by having the Kodiak 19.5 wheels and tires on the truck without the correct hub adapters. These parts are on order. The Salesman was able to get me a commercial policy for three years unlimited mileage bumper to bumper. The unlimited mileage does nothing for me since I do not put that many miles on the truck. I agreed to the new warranty anyway, because if we had started out with this warranty for this price, I honestly would have taken it, since the better one was almost $800 more. I asked the salesman what the cost difference between the original warranty, and the new one was. The new one is Almost $300 cheaper. I then asked, how he was going to refund the money to me.....Get ready...I hope you are sitting down...He Said.."Well we were thinking that we would apply that money to the cost of the repairs we have done on your truck so far." I have to say that I was ashamed of my reaction. I screamed at him. Yup I had finally snapped. I calmed down after a few seconds, but I will be getting a refund check for the difference. At this point I was now finally able to speak to the General manager. It seems he heard a disturbance on sales floor, and came rushing out to see what the matter was. When he found out that I was the matter, he was nice enough to go over my entire experience at his dealership. We went over how much he has spent so far on the truck $2100 (his cost,) and counting, and the new warranty. he asked me to be patient, and I told him I would as long as I could deal with him from now on. Of course he agreed, but I bet he avoids me. As of this Monday they will have had the truck two weeks. if they keep the truck over 15 days the provisions of the NY lemon law kick in, and I will have a little more leverage over them. I really want this truck. I think when it is finally ready it will be perfect for me. That being said, I find that dealing with these guys is harder than it should be. This is a business. These things happen. These guys got burned on a trade in, and it is their fault not mine. Since they are obligated to make it right, by law, and common sense why not keep the customer happy, by having good communication, and a positive attitude. I will post more when this is resolved.

 

[crbr]

......... I really want this truck.

With all due respect, there is an opportunity to better itself. Divorce yourself from this machine and move on. It's nothing but a light duty truck. I'd not want anything else to do with it or the dealership. Just my $0.02 but a fresh start would make me much happier if I were in your shoes.

The part about them getting burned on a trade-in.... you are correct and now they are willing and happy to pass that risk on to you for your full acceptance.

 

[JB4310]

Well it's to bad you had to blow your top, but that's their fault for the way they tried to handle the 300. difference.
Pretty stupid of them to even think it.

I'm sure by now they wish they never seen that truck or you :laughing: But that's their problem not yours. They should be giving you something (like a gift card) for the hassles you've been thru so far.

If your still hot and heavy for the truck then go for it. At least with the BTB warranty you'll be covered. Just make sure you document all your maintenance with hard records.

Good Luck, keep us posted.

JB

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would run. To me it seems like this is just the beginning of the problems. I have been down that road. Yes, a warranty is nice but that does little or nothing when you are losing work or broke down 100's of miles from home with a 15,000# load behind you. Been there done that.

Chris

 

[tlbuser]

They now think that the vibration is being caused by having the Kodiak 19.5 wheels and tires on the truck without the correct hub adapters. These parts are on order.

The plot thickens. Six steel wheels or 4 aluminum and 2 steel or all aluminum?

 

[davygp38]

The plot thickens. Six steel wheels or 4 aluminum and 2 steel or all aluminum?

4 aluminum and 2 steel. I had thought of that as well. I do not care if they have to replace the 2 steel wheels with new aluminum, I do not care if they have to replace all the wheels, just as long as I do not have to pay for it.

 

[tlbuser]

yea, I understand sort of. It's just that, as far as I know, 3500 series vehicles use an 8 x 6.5 (8x165.1mm) bolt circle with 14 x1.5mm lugs. The 45/5500 uses an 8 x 275mm bolt circle with 20x1.5mm lugs. Two different, not really compatible setups. So the question is, if they didn't have an adaptor on them before, how'd they get it to fit?

 

[MD09]

I had just posted a few weeks ago about the 2007 Chevy 3500 Duramax Diesel truck I bought, and I am now having big problems. When I bought the truck I also purchased a 4 year 45 thousand mile bumper, to bumper warranty. After paying for the truck, I drove it over to the local truck center to have a flatbed, with a gooseneck hitch installed.
About three days after I took possession, I get a call from the salesman telling me there was a problem with the warranty, and I might not be able to get it, because the company thinks it will be used commercially, which it will not be. I told him that I did not feel comfortable not having the warranty. he said he was appealing to the company and he was pretty sure he could get it for me. Guess what happened when I got the truck back from the body installer? Yup...big puddle of oil under the truck. As I am standing there looking at the puddle I hear a poof, and there is the rear shock gushing oil all over the driveway. I climb under the truck, and I have oil all over the skid plate, and all the tranny cooler lines are wet. I call the dealer, and bring it over. As I am driving it over on the interstate it starts to shake violently when I get over 55. It also needs an alignment, which I new before all this, and the dealer had sent me a check for. As of Wednesday, they were replacing an Axel seal, all the cover gaskets on the tranny all the tranny cooler lines, and the rear shock. They still could not figure out what was causing the vibration, at 55, and did not have a date for completion. I called the salesman today, to remind him that now more than ever, there was no way i was taking this truck without a warranty. I told him I was willing to start over, on a different truck. He says to me " thats a problem," because the truck is in your name, and we can't take it back until you have the Tittle to give to us. I need all the advice, I can get on how to handle this. I live in New York State, so the lemon laws are good, but I feel like they reneged on the deal by not getting me the warranty, and no matter what, the deal was off the minute it did not go through. I need all the advice I can get. Let her rip.

I'd start with a lawyer and go from there. Legal letter head will get you many things that opionions will not.

 

[pilot-werx]

Do yourself a favor and learn from my mistakes..... Get rid if the GM and look for a 1997 ford or 2001 ford with the 7.3... I only haul my 4210 and a 36 ft center console and that **** duramax was worthless.... After selling my 2001 ford I flew down to Dallas and drove a 2001 back to Maine a month later...

 

[hawkeye08]

yea, I understand sort of. It's just that, as far as I know, 3500 series vehicles use an 8 x 6.5 (8x165.1mm) bolt circle with 14 x1.5mm lugs. The 45/5500 uses an 8 x 275mm bolt circle with 20x1.5mm lugs. Two different, not really compatible setups. So the question is, if they didn't have an adaptor on them before, how'd they get it to fit?

I have been told to watch out for aftermarket wheels, some are centered by the lugs, some are centered by the center hole/hub. Had a co worker get caught up in a new truck deal where the dealer sold a "new" truck that had aftermarket wheels... supposed to be centered by the hub/center hole but the hole was enough bigger than the hub that the lugs did the centering and it was off just enough to cause him problems at certain speeds. took them a couple months to figure it out..

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have been told to watch out for aftermarket wheels, some are centered by the lugs, some are centered by the center hole/hub. Had a co worker get caught up in a new truck deal where the dealer sold a "new" truck that had aftermarket wheels... supposed to be centered by the hub/center hole but the hole was enough bigger than the hub that the lugs did the centering and it was off just enough to cause him problems at certain speeds. took them a couple months to figure it out..

Very true. 3/4 ton and up that I have been around are hub centered and for that matter so are many modern 1/2 tons like the F-150 and Titan. Not sure about the others. But if its off a little it can cause big issues.

Same reason I do not like Mobil Home and Trailer wheels that are not stud mounted. Pain in the butt to get them true and when you finally do they need to come off for some reason or the other.

Chris

 

[davygp38]

Very true. 3/4 ton and up that I have been around are hub centered and for that matter so are many modern 1/2 tons like the F-150 and Titan. Not sure about the others. But if its off a little it can cause big issues.

Same reason I do not like Mobil Home and Trailer wheels that are not stud mounted. Pain in the butt to get them true and when you finally do they need to come off for some reason or the other.

Chris

You guys are right on the money with your hub and stud concerns. The service manager told me that he is almost positive that the cause of the vibration is the after market wheels. They use the hub to stay centered, and there is just enough play that they can't get it right. He told me that his recommendation is new (OEM) wheels. he also told me that they (the sales department,) don't want to spend the money on the OEM size wheels and tires. he says they want me to split the cost. I immediately called the salesman and told him, that under no circumstances would I be paying anything for this truck while under their warranty. I did tell him that if it would help, I did not care if they bought used wheels as long as they were in good shape. I did not specifically tell them the tires had to be new, but I thought that would be obvious.

 

[Newblue]

I bought six aluminum 19.5s for my Ram and they could not balance them for squat. Ended up being the Goodyear tires (that I also bought from the wheel manufacturer) were out of round. The wheel manufacturer (Brentz Wheels out of Texas) paid to have them sent to his competitor, Rickson wheels, to have them shaved and balanced. It was over a grand out of his own pocket to have the problem fixed. That was great customer service!

 

[JB4310]

You must be getting into that lemon law period by now.

Sounds like they are playing poker with you, they know you can't really walk away from this truck since you invested in the flatbed.

They are trying to sell a truck that could have a serious safety issue with the wrong wheels installed, then they want the buyer to split the cost of installing the right wheels :confused2:

Must be getting pretty frustrating by now.

Stay calm, JB

 

[Diamondpilot]

I know you like this truck but dont have blinders. Its just so deep right now I can not believe you have not run. If the wheels are not right what else is not and what will be next.?:confused2:

Chris