Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Dodge Dakota Crew Cab - III
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Just a couple question hopefully someone can help.
1. The mystery oil. Do you put it into both the gas tank and in with the oil. Is it o.k. to use in the new 4.7?
2. This one is for tuckmiddle. Do you have the 4.7. I want to put FlowMasters on but I had them on my Ram and just wonder what the sound is like.
3. When changing the oil is it hard to remove the skid plate? Do you only have to remove one? I have awhile before I need to change my oil just getting info. before I get out there and start fighting and cussing.
Thanks to everyone on this site your guys are simply the best. Well back to work or atleast act like I am working
a Ratchet type sound when placed into Park. This
morning I heard the same thing, although not as
loud when shifted from Park to Drive. I thought I
read a post several weeks ago regarding this. Has
anyone heard this before? If so, can you provide
any insight into what this may be? To me this is
not normal and should not be heard. Any comments
welcome. Thanks in advance.
I can ad a little more to this discussion however. I run a hunting equipment business here in Texas and 99% of the walk in customers I have drive pickups or SUV's. Trucks are always a hot topic at my shop counter, accessories included. My customer demographics run the entire scale, from doctors and lawyers on down. Many of my customers make their living using their pickups for work . Of those who have spray in liners, rarely are any negative comments heard when I ask how they like 'em. Matter of fact I can't remember the last time I heard a negative comment from someone who has a spray in.
Bookitty
Bookitty
Bookitty
Voila! Close the rear door, and head for home!
This is somewhat of a relief, since I opted for the defrost rear window option and have no slider.
(Still waiting for my bedliner, so didn't want to hang this stuff off the rear of the tailgate...)
Just another surprise benefit of the volumnuous seating area of the Quad....
Off to another adventure-
quark
I'll update you on the Fold-a-Cover ASAP... Hoping it will arrive sooner, since it's made in Michigan and shipped in Michigan.
I'm certainly not knocking the rolling covers, and the idea of cranking it up into such a neat little package when you need an open bed is appealing! However, I have foggy images of my dad with a roll-up cover (not sure what brand) on his S-10 in the middle of winter, trying to chip the ice off and get the darned thing opened. Suffice to say that he expressed his displeasure with several choice four-letter words.
GSU1:
On that Marvelous oil... I've used it ONLY during engine break-ins (1 - 2K miles) and ONLY in the fuel. It may be added to the oil as well, with the benefit of preventing sludge, sticking lifters, etc. However, I guess I've changed my oil frequently enough so that such problems have never occurred.
Personally, I wouldn't add MMO to the crankcase, though others may have differeing views... Just one man's opinion!
BJA4:
Thanx for the impression of Line-X! It sounds like a solid product! But out of proximity from the supplier, his willingness to apply additional material where I request, and the invitation to monitor the application on my Quad, I'm going to stick with the Rhino... Bed mat goes in over it once it's cured.
TEX:
Thanks for the impressions on Rhino and spray liners in general! Belive it or not, I didn't even know spray liners were available until I began shopping for the Quad and pecking around this site! (Is it really true that they have push-button phones these days!?... KIDDING!)
BOO:
Glad to hear your initial impression on the truck, and envious that you've been able to put some miles on it! I'm still waiting on some tire-kickers to decide whether they want the Ram or not... In the meantime, I'll satisfy my urges by installing more accessories on the QC!
Sounds like you're serious about adding a few more suds to your Quad (i.e., Flowmasters)... My only comment would to keep the intake in mind (e.g., K&N)... As I'm SURE you already know, power and efficiency are factors of both how quickly you can get a good air/fuel mix in, and how efficiently it's expelled out the back end.
I've watched countless Harley riders swap the stock exhaust for drag pipes on the premise that "more noise means more power"... All this noise while never concerning themselves with a high-flow intake and recalibrating the carb. The result? A noticeable drop in low-end torque, and an engine that's starving for fuel at the high end.
Ah well... That's another story and another topic!
TRIVIA:
Just a quick trivia question for ALL:
Maximum volumetric efficiency is:
A. 60-70%
B. 70-85%
C. 85-100%
D. 100% or above
(Couldn't help myself there... Training is what I do for a living!)
ENJOY your Quads!!!
First - I fell in love with this truck the minute I first saw the commercial (my first mistake) better yet, the accomodations for a family of four made the sell to my wife easy. It was a mere week before I had ordered a 4X4 with the 4.7 and auto trans.
When I found out the truck would take three months to arrive - I was alarmed (NOTE to Dodge - how about a little research - it isn't rocket science to see why this truck would be popular, so make more). I decided to browse the dealerships and found the perfect truck quite a few miles from home - but I bought it then and there.
Next day: Truck has 186 miles on it and is broken down in the driveway with (you guessed it) tranny problems. It's still in the shop, no word on when, if ever it will be fixed. Original dealer smiles weakly and says it's my problem. The wife's mad at me, and I'm documenting my experiences for a possible claim under California's lemon laws.
Final Impressions?
If you want courteous, attentive sales and service departments, buy Toyota or Honda.
If you want a car/truck the runs the day after you buy it, buy Toyota or Honda.
This experience has been a nightmare - but even after all of this, I still do like that truck, I hope it gets fixed. But my innocence has been taken, and my NEXT car or truck will be (you guessed it) a Toyota or Honda.
bjb2.....I take it the truck you ended up with is an automatic transmission as well. I am sorry to hear about your misfortune, but I must tell you that if a dealer told me that "this was my problem" one day after I purchased the truck I would have been on the phone with the the sales manager of the dealership, followed by the Dodge District Office, the Better Business Bureau and a good local attorney. Sometimes it helps to raise some hell. You may have done all of the above, you didn't say. I am curious as to what events preceeded the transmission failure? A vehicle which is 24 hours old, under full factory warranty which then fails is the problem of Dodge. Is there a part of the puzzle you forget to mention?
Couple questions:
1) Why would the broken truck be your problem? Warranty will cover it, and you should continue to demand a rental (it works if you're persistent.)
2) Why instantly condemn all domestic autos-isn't this similar to the "impulse" buy you made?
3) Why is your wife mad? Are you supposed to have some uncanny ability to know which vehicles are good and which ones will have problems?
Every foreign car I've ever owned has been unreliable, gutless, and expensive to repair. But I don't automatically dismiss all imports as bad, nor would I limit my options by "never purchasing again"....
I'm not defending the QC...having spent 250,000 miles in 2 Neons and an Avenger, I'm well aware of the quality issues with DC stuff. Buying any car is a risk, perhaps more so if it's a DC vehicle.
Luckily, all my DC vehicles have been trouble-free...
Please post the continuing story behind the tranny and it's repairs.
About the treatment the gentleman received with his transmission problem. Go rip the mother's head off that talked to you that way. My wife's 95 Cherokee had 413 miles on it when the power steering gizmo exploded 250 miles from home on a Sunday afternoon. Chrysler's 1-800 person couldn't have been better. Rental car, towing to nearest dealer where we were going, everything was fine. the car never had another problem in the 50,000 miles we had it. We do love Hondas though, with 5 kids, all grown now, we had 12 of them. Only one blew up!
Be careful out there
Your explanation was excellent! However, I might add that normally-aspirated engines are now capable of producing well over 100% through such magical contrivances as 2- or 3-stage intake manifold runners (producing a "ram-air effect) in combination with variable valve timing and variable exhaust systems.
Hate to admit it, but the Eastern/Asian makers are still a step ahead of us on that stuff. Yet, such systems have still to stand the test of time and miles... Remember when turbos became all the rage here? Great power! But unfortunately they had a peculiar tendency to "cook" permaturely!
Ah well... Interesting subject nonetheless!!!
Second, I agree with quark99. I think it probably is more likely you'll have problems with a DC vehicle than, say, a Toyota.
But, even though I realized that, I still ordered a QC-- after doing a lot of thinking and research, about six months worth.
Why? Because of the design. It simply fits my needs better than anything Toyota, Honda or Nissan currently have to offer. I do worry about problems, and I, for one, take Consumer Reports reliability ratings seriously. But reliability was only one factor in my decision.
Also, in the 10 years I have owned my Camry, I've dealt with precious Toyota few dealers who deserve to be called "courteous" or "attentive".
In fact, one thing that helped me settle on the QC was my local Dodge dealer. It was the most pleasant purchase I've ever had. I'll have to wait and see what happens when I have problems. (I assume I will; I just hope they're minor.) But my guess is they'll help me solve them.
I don't really want to encourage another one of those domestic v. foreign pissing matches on this board. There are too many others where this kind of "discussion" has simply turned to white noise, but I had to add my two cents.
And finally, I wholeheartedly agree with several other posters. If your truck falls apart the day after you drive it off the lot, it's most emphatically NOT your problem. You need to make your dealer understand that. And if the appropriate folks at DC can't or won't help him see the light, you should consider getting a lawyer.
Now your post was a little unclear as to whether or not the dealer from whom you bought the vehicle is saying it's not his problem, or is it the local dealer, from whom you didn't buy, that's stalling on a fix?
Please tell us exactly what the current situation is.
Once it's understood, you will get sound advise here.
As I grew up here in the Motown metro area, I observed so many of the elders saying, "I'm a Ford Man" or "I'm a Chrysler Man" or "I'm a GM Man."
During the late 70s and through the mid-80s, I began to hear, "I'm a Honda Man" or "I'm a Toyota Man."
In the late 80s and early 90s, I began to hear the realities... Doesn't matter what badge occupies the hood of the vehicle, it's not going to be perfect. Body rust and design flaws crept up on some foreign models, just as they have in the domestics... We've all had "unfortunate" experiences with vehicles, and I have more than my share of stories to tell about that!
Point is... Give DC a chance to make things right. If they fall down on that, then you have every right to seek compensation either in the form of a buy-back or through legal means.
Point is... Talk with your dealer principle, express your concerns, and see what he/she will do to resolve your dissatisfaction first. If it's a good dealership, you just might find that you'll become a PRIORITY customer in no time!
Good luck... And hope you'll keep the faith!
For those waiting, it was built 5/8, shipped 5/9 on Norfolk-Southern RR, passed over to Union Pacific and arrived in Omaha 5/16. Thats pretty good in transit time, the dealer estimated two weeks.
For bjb2, Sorry to hear of your problem, Statistically a certain percentage of any vehicle be it domestic or foreign will have defects. I had a 4wd Datsun that left me stranded going cross country for 3 days in Normal, Illinois. Once it was fixed I never had another problem till I traded it for a Maxima years later. I just traded off my 93 Dakota Club Cab 5.2 auto with just shy of 70,000 almost trouble free miles, I had to replace an erratic starter at about 55,000. I drove it for 7 years and would still be driving it if I didn't need the additional 2 door to transport elderly parents and in-laws. I hope once you have it fixed that will be the last of your problems. Rick
And good to hear some positive news!
Let's face it! These Quads aren't the "be-all and end-all" of Automotive News! But it's a remarkable vehicle! Hope you feel the same after some miles on it!
It seems to me someone mentioned a klunk when stopping. I have a 5-sp, and when coming to a stop I sometimes hear and feel a klunk. Any ideas.
Also my security alrm was not working upon delivery. I have an appointment to have it fixed Friday. Anyone else with this problem or and ideas for when I take it in. I'd like to know as much as possible before hand.
I need to do so. I'm very pleased with the truck, and the Amber Fire Pearl paint job is a real head-turner.
Bookitty
bjb2: I think you've found that we are all sorry to hear of your experience. Of the previous three trucks I've had (87 Nissan, 89 Mazda, 95 Dakota), the Nissan was THE worst I've had for reliability and quality. The passenger window came off track three times in the first two weeks, and the center bearing on the driveline disintegrated while going down the turnpike at 25,000 miles. The best was the 89 Mazda, but I went through a radiator core job every two years and the air cleaner kept breaking loose from the block. The dakota I had was excellent for 60,000 miles, but it did have A/C work and a CAT done under warranty. The point is....you may (probably will) have problems with whatever you buy; there's a lot of moving parts on a car that can fail.
You are definitely entitled to have the vehicle fixed by Dodge, but is that where you took it? If it wasn't a Dodge "authorized" facility, maybe they are trying to say you voided the warranty. Also, talk to the service manager if you haven't, the service department is usually like a different business under the same roof. The salesman is done with you....he's off selling more vehicles.
Finally, it's not a Toyota, but you weren't drawn to it because it was "Toyota-like". Right?
Scott
bookitty - I opted for the factory (Mopar) liner, same as Dura to me as mine was really cheap at purchase. But I'm still p/o'd about the double sided tape 'fiasco' on the tailgate! Didn't henne get the blame for that one? :-P My use involves a lot of sliding in & out (don't go there people) of some oilfield type valve equipment and such + moving washer / dryer combos for ex-wives and stuff (just twice). I HATE bed dings when I drop something - no problem with the drop-ins - AND factory warranty. Only caveat is plastic fuel can 'detonation.' I also (now) use the factory gullwing for coverage and it suits my work area 'break-up' and easy liftover height needs quite nicely with the 3 separate openings. Seals well, looks great - factory paint AND warranty - and keeps the road noise down (as does the drop-in liner). I also divided the area with some interesting carpentry, and I have a 5X9 trailer that I bought from Sears 5 years ago (heavy duty 3/4 ton cap.) that will haul most anything I need - added 12" tires from a trailer outfit to help the load and tow-ability a bit. Color also matches the truck (black) as a bonus.
bjb2 - I've got THREE Acura Legends (each with less than 50k) that you can have if you'd like. They're sitting out behind my shop with 2 locked engines and 1 'unresponsive' auto tranny and some electrical problems that a NASA engineer would be proud of. ALL were used as simple commuters and serviced at near museum stds. These are the ones with the Indy Car based engines. $100k of superior product, folks. Guess what towed em in: an old 85 Dodge Prospector with 225k+ on the clock and NO repairs - ever. And I'm still not a Dodge guy, though that's starting to sound a bit hollow. fft
Macguy, thanks for the thoughts on the tire swap. If it's true that the T&H package is off restriction, then I won't need to do it.
Anyway, I'm not pleased with my service. I am with the truck and how it was made, but I won't be going back to this dealer. And I would suspect that many of the people I talk to in my small town won't either.
Sorry for the rambling.
The point to all of this, don't let the salesman bully you into thinking it is now your problem. I agree with one of the other post go rip his head off. Then call DC and get them involved. They are great in getting problems resolved.
As far as the nonsense of asian vs big three, for a while in the 80s this was true. The rule of competition is that you find your opponents weakness and exploit it. This requires manufacturers to continually move the bar up. Is Dodge worst in quality? That is subjective. They still are not top tier in quality, but the quality in the Quads I checked out was better than any vehicle I looked at when I bought my 91 F150. My experience with GM is so horrendous that I would never consider buying a chevy. I even have a sticker that says 'Friends don't let friends drive Chevys'. They may make good vehicles, but I could never feel comfortable owning one. Unfortunately, there is a narrow minded large group that equates 'made in Japan' as THE sign of quality. Interesting, since that same sticker before WWII was commonly considered a sign of low quality. Sorry guys, I sometimes ramble on.
I've got no reason to disbelieve the guy. I really think he's trying his best, in part because my deposit is fully refundable if I'm not in D status (the dealer's explanation of which was confirmed by Bookitty) by June 12.
He is calling his district manager to see if he can place one more 2000 order, but I don't think it's going to happen.
However, since I placed mine two days later than yours, you may be OK. Also there doesn't seem to be an excess of rhyme or reason here, so who knows.
Bookitty, thanks for all that info. I hope you either cut and pasted it or you're a fantastic typist.
I'm in agreement with the others! It's ashame you had to involve your insurance company since the dealerships have "discretionary dollars" available from the factory to cover customer complaints on quality/damage issues.
Here in Michigan, it's the Dealer's responsibility to fully inspect the vehicle prior to delivery and notify the customer of any known defects/damage. EXAMPLE: When my '95 Ram was delivered, I looked it over before the dealership prepped it and found nothing wrong. A day later, the sales manager called me to tell me that there was a goudge in the roof that occurred as the truck was being unloaded from the piggyback. My choice was to either reorder or have it fixed in their body shop. I had it repaired with the WRITTEN stupulation that if any paint peeling, rust, etc. appeared where the roof repair was made, the dealership would be responsible to re-do the thing.
5-1/2 years later, not a sign of any damage... Because the dealership voluntarily held itself accountable for the condition of the vehicle. I think that's what you should EXPECT!
STEVE234:
Very good points you made regrading "foreign vs. domestic"! Fact is, there's NO SUCH THING these days as a purely "American" vehicle, just as there's no such thing as a purely "Asian" vehicle. I know darned well that my Quad has parts manufactured in Japan, Taiwan and China... And anyone with any sense knows that Toyotas and Hondas have parts manufactured in the U.S.A.!!!
Phew!!! The whole idea that "quality" is either guaranteed or measured against benchmarks of one maker or another is preposterous, isn't it!!??
BOO:
Some GREAT info you provided on the build status codes!!! ANYTHING that can arm owners or waiters with what they need to let the sales guys know they're dealing with informed customers is an advantage to us all!... And frankly, it's the base purpose of this forum!
I've never owned a Dodge before but I've been considering a trade for a Dakota and I am grateful of all the messages posted here about these extremely good looking trucks. I've been massaging a salesman for three weeks now to get a Club Cab (on my terms), but after reading all the comments here, I will not settle for any less than a Quad Cab. I've test driven both (Club and Quad) and they're superb vehicles.
I'll post some comments after he "bites" and I get what I want. Thanks again for this forum.
Why am I switching? My Ford (short cab) has no room other than seats. The Club Cabs are just too darn big, and even a two year old one goes for over 27K. I found the Dodge to be just the perfect size and the 4.7 V8 is one tough powerplant. The price for a fully loaded 2000 QC here is about 24K (that's where the "massaging the salesman" comes from). I expect to get a better deal. You can't beat that little BIG truck.
http://dodgeram.com/buying_info/Order_status.htm
Other helpful information on the site also, just start at dodgeram.com.
White Quad 4x4
4.7
5 speed
3.55 lsd
SLT Plus
Tire/ Handling pkg 10.5 x 15 tires
AM/FM/CD/Cassette
radio controls on steering wheel
leather steering wheel
overhead mini computer
sliding rear window
fog lights
body side molding
skid plates
trailer tow package
I think thats all, window price is about 27.5K
I considered the truck when I was still deciding if I wanted 2 or 4 wheel drive but I didn't want to spend the big bucks for the radio and steering wheel controls, I just wanted the basic radio. Rick
This is probably trhe 5th or 6th time repeating myself, but the QC is truly a remarkable truck in a very important "niche"... Serving the needs of the "full-size" buyer while allowing the convenience of that SUV many of us have been tempted by!
BTW... Spoke with two Ford clients today. Broke the news that I'd be driving the new Quad. One relented that the Quad is "impressive," but that he'd preferred I'd gone with a SportTrac... The other simply replied, "Awesome!!!"
Good luck!