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Comments
i would have gladely given you a few bucks to wake up the dealers and d/c when i was dealing with my whiney hiney early on. the attorneys here wanted 1,000.00 up front to write anything so i just persisted and got them to finally buy it back after 6 attempts.
how about it partner, buddy o' pal?
would that even be legal across state lines and such, its just a letter to get attention right?
robert
The dealer didn't give me the old "they all do that", routine BUT, they still haven't fixed my Dakota, either. I don't want to count my chicks before the hatch; if you know what I mean.
FYI: Lawyer letters work about 50% of the time. The other 50% won't respond until you drag them in front of a Judge and Jury! Then, when they get zapped with a big verdict, they blame it all on the big, bad lawyer!
FYI: Most lawyers don't handle "lemon law" car cases because there's little or no profit in it for them. The consumer basically breaks even. If they pay the lawyer anything, their "net" is usually less than if they had merely traded the car in. Until the law changes to allow for reasonable attorney fees in these types of cases, you won't see many lawyers doing them.
GATOR72
the noises in the front end and steering column started for me at about 21000 miles.
i am seeing a non- dodge mechanic check out my front end and breaks before i rip the service dept a new rectum...
It will probably end up being a combination of brake pads and who knows what with the steering column.
stephen
In about a week or so I will take mine to the dealer to have them fix this. I'll see what they say about it and will post.
My right front wheel area creaks/pops when making slow right turns and applying the brakes. It makes a similar sound when turning into the driveway.
My QC is rear wheel drive, 4.7L V-8, Tire & Handling Pack, 16" wheels, Heavy-Duty everything. Dealer added the fender flares and hard, folding tonneau cover.
My QC goes in Monday (06-25-01). I'll keep you posted.
I know NOTHING about mechanical stuff, but, my ears and common sense tell me it has to be related to the brakes, suspension, or torsion bars. Time will tell.
One final note. Over the past 30 years, I've owned a lot of cars and trucks. So, I've had a lot of experiences with a lot of makes and models. There is no such thing as a "perfect" vehicle. But, my new QC is one of the best vehicles I've ever owned; in spite of the front end noise.
There is no other "crew-cab" out there that comes close to the Dodge Dakota Quad Cab. The front end noise has done nothing to change that.
GATOR72
I got yet another flat %#@$%%&$&&% tire. Geeeeeeeeeeesh this makes 2 flats in 2 months.
Not only did I get a flat, but had to change it in a torrential downpour. EEERRRRRRRRRR
What other tires have y'all used that may be a better choice than the goodlosers that come with the t&h package?
These tires seem cursed for flats. They pick up every darn stone on the road.
Would a "highway" type tire be a better choice? How about a LT rated tire or a 6 or 8 ply tire be more durable?
Please let me know of any options.
Gotta go and ring the water out of my shorts..haha
WET, COLD, and MISERABLE.
bob
Also, I,ve seen some postings about tire pressures on the 16" with the T & H package. I'm running with 41 PSI, the tire is rated for a max. of 44 PSI.Handling & traction is great, along with ride. The recommended PSI is 30 front 35 rear. ( the dealer had the tires set for the 15")
What is anyones opinion on this?
Truck is proving to be all I expected. Mileage is still around 17 MPG, having too much fun driving it to give it a chance to get better.
To add to the spare tire lock. I used the winch lock which comes with a U-shaped piece of flat bar that the rod connects to. They also supply a bolt, locknut & spacers to attach just forward of the winch and the U-shape attaches to.Took two tries to get it just right. Also added the rubber hose to take up slack and to help protect the finish on the rim.Less than a beer project.
Any suggestions on decent mud flaps?
Bookitty, where have you been? Have you moved to Fla. yet?
Regarding tires, the factory Goodyears are crap. If you get better tires you will see a significant improvement on the truck's handling. I also replaced the shocks with Trailmaster N7s and the truck handles even better.
BTW, the a/c on my 2000 model works extremely well. It has been spewing out very cold air, even when I drove through the AZ and CA desert with 106 F temps outside. The performance has been very good here in DFW as well during mid-high 90 temps and high humidity.
Would love some of your wisdom. Its black with a black hard tonneau cover. Please let me know what you think here or at
rascal2064@yahoo.com
Thanks!
Your 41PSI is right on where you are supposed to be.
One "problem" that the 16" wheels for 2001 has apparently started to show up. Larger wheels means LESS tire. (to get the same overall diamater) There is a reason that trucks have use tall tires for 40 years... the extra rubber provides 'cushion' for the wheels. The fad of using large wheels with very little rubber has drawbacks... one is more flats from road hazzards.
(the bead is easier to seperate over a curb or a rock.)
Some thoughts on your questions about repalcement tires;
LT / 6 or 8 ply tires have stiffer sidewalls mainly to carry more weight. Unless you carry 200LBS of tools in the bed of your truck all the time... these type of tires are a poor choice. Your ride will be MUCH more harsh.
If you choose tires with a more plyable sidewall, you will get a less jarring ride.
Check out this URL... they have a GREAT comparison system that allow you to narrow in on your specific requirements for tires. All based on REAL WORLD people reporting about their purchaces.
www.tirerack.com
The problem I have with this deflector?? is that it does little deflecting. When the bugs are out in force, the windshield is littered with bug bodies.
Do any of the so called bug deflectors really work? If any one has one that works, please fill us in.
Thanks. Ken
Noticed a drastic improvement in keeping the bugs off the windshield, and I probably have the deflector installed lower then it should be (harldy see it when driving and looking down the hood)
Thanks, Happy quading!
Tom.
You are correct in that the rear differential should be warm to the touch even after a long drive. The HOT running after <15 miles that you found would certainly make the gear-oil thin out. This, in turn, could cause the whining to become more pronounced. Over time, this condition may damage the rear end components.
Do you have FULL TIME 4WD?
Please consider taking this discussion to the DAKOTA MAINTENACE forum since this will be of value to a lot of folks.... not just Quadders....Thanks
I will provide additional insight in the DAKOTA MAINTENANCE forum once we are over there.
I just turned 30K on my Quad this morning, and my Goodyear tires (215-75R-15)are holding up really well. At this pace, I should get 50K out of them
If the owner's manual says synthetic for towing, then synthetic it is. That is unless you want to pay for any rear end repairs out of pocket due to a voided warranty.
The diff fluid was supposed to already be synthetic if you bought the factory tow package, but somebody else on this forum had to have the diff replaced after towing due to factory NOT putting the synth fluid in.
JimH
GATOR72
http://www.chryslerwarranty.com/ and here's what I paid for >>> an how much
Product ID :A7100GX 100000 miles 84 months
'Added Care' for all four wheel drive Chrysler Passenger Cars and Light Trucks, in service 12 Months or less, $50 Deductible 84Mo 100000 Miles Price: $1,565.00
P.S. here's My History so-far :-)
#974 of 982 First time on Here by decentman4you Jun 03, 2001 (09:46 pm)
I ordered last year and recieved on 8 August 2000
My 2001 Dodge Quadcab 4x4 w/awd Auto 3.55 4.7L Amber Fire is the Color. Everybody that see's this Color remarks that its such a striking color. Ablosutely fully loaded with Everything except for the CD-in-dash, got the radio w/changer controls, and the sliding rear window-didnt get that either. I am 6'6" and in my shopping around of buying a new truck I wanted a Safe truck that could do all that my previous 87 Nissan Kingcab 4x2 2.4L "which I still own" could do and more. I settled on the Dodge QC 4x4 because of the EVERYTHING that this Truck afford's me to do. I bought it in Dallas TX with my Dad-and after I bought it he liked it so well that he bought 1 as well adn he got the CD in-dash, well I was going to add the changer-later, cause I thought that no having the CD in-dash would prevent My New truck from being stolen.... Nope.... Yes i had the Factory security Alarm installed and March 6,2001 my truck was broke into & stuff stolen but they didnt steal it, I had to have the steeering column replaced amoung other things, then on 21 April 2001 they stole my truck, got it back the next morning and then I had to have another steeering Column replaced again, The dealership is getting to know me quite well. Then I had the EVS-II installed and nobody has messed with it sofar I guess because of the blinking light on the dash.. When I first got the truck (in Dallas) I had to drive it home(Houston) and breaking it in I recorded 21mpg @ 55mph with the Cruise-control on. Since then I get around 15 to 19 mpg depending on my driving habits for that tankfull :-) I am 6'6" and I discovered that I had to have the 6-way electric adjustable seat to be able to fit into this truck and if in the same Cab of a QC-without that electric seat that my head would hit the ceiling, So the electric seat was a huge selling point with Me. I now have just over 10,000 miles on it and I cant get over the ride, the quietness of it the Power available, the speed, the handling, the accident avoidance of a vehicle this size, the suredness of confidence when Behind the wheel of can go anywhere and do anything....
James
I am always amazed at how much the dealer wants to charge for work. One of my foglights went out. I asked if the dealer if they could just hand me the bulb and I'll put it in. They said they couldn't do that. I ended up spending a couple of hours in the waiting room, I guess they wanted to be able to bill Chrysler the half hour of labor to install the bulb. I had already removed it and replaced it in less that 2 minutes to verify that it was the bulb that had gone out...oh, well.
well after a 1200 mile trip towing my 4800lb boat & trailer i tore up the rearend and dodge didnt want to pay for it because i didnt add synth and dodge doesnt put it in at the factory and they said i should have read the manual and talked to my dealer.
well i told them i talked with my dealer and they did a blind call to that dealer and asked the manager if the towing package came with synth and he said yes. dodge accepted responsibility for this action and replaced my rearend 6 times and still couldnt get it back to normal because when the rearend failed it cause other damage to the drive line and dodge offered to just get me another truck and thats what we did.
get away from that dealer fast but let him know what kind of damage he is going to cause for lots of people and let the owner of the dealership know what kind of people he has working for him.
good luck and get synth!!!!
robert
When I returned, I called my dealer and gave them 2 options.
1) Give me the replacement bulb over the counter.
2) give me the $$ that the replacement costs THEM. (yea right... as if I expected them to accept this)
I was informed that I had to REINSTALL the bad bulb and make an appointment to have it replaced.
BTW... when I did go in to have the bulb replaced... the mechanic "wiggled the wires" and it came back on. I was told that it was a loose connection. I walked the service manager out to my truck and turned on the headlights.... it was burned out again. (of course)
(THIS IS LUDRICOUS....CERTAINLY NOT CUSTOMER ORIENTED SERVICE)
Serv. Manager said it will take about 2 hours to install; an afternoon job.
FYI: My '01 QC SLT-Plus, 4.7L, 2-wheel drive is making a popping/creaking noise when making slow right turns and applying brakes. It makes a similar noise when turning onto driveway or going over speed bumps slowly.
I am impressed with the attention given to this problem; albeit after sending a letter on my lawfirm letterhead. As fate would have it, I could not duplicate the noise for the Service Manager this morning. He took the truck on a short trip. When he got back, he said he heard some of the noise I described. By midafternoon, the problem was identified and parts ordered. My only gripe is: Why does it take a WEEK to order simple bushings?????
GATOR72
The only oddity I found was after we dropped off the trailer at the end of the trip, the truck made a clicking noise once when put into reverse. The sound reminded me of the times we put baseball cards between our bicycle spokes as kids. Does anyone have any info on this?
I would say the dealer is going to have a hard time replacing bushings that don't exist on your vehicle.
I would say the dealer is talking out his rear on this one.
Are you sure he said torson bars? Perhaps he said antisway bar?
If he actually did say torson bar.... run for the door and find another shop.(Or have them check the fluid level in your front differential and transfer case while they are replacing the bushings ;-)
Come to think of it, I may only have it when going from drive to reverse, never park to reverse. And I don't have it all the time.
When I need service, I'll ask the Service Dept to look at it
Service Bulletin Number: 1900900
Bulletin Sequence Number: 167
Date of Bulletin: 0012
NHTSA Item Number: SB616728
Make: DODGE TRUCK
Model: DAKOTA
Year: 2001
Component: STEERING
Summary: EXPERIENCING A POPPING SENSATION / SOUND FELT AND / OR HEARD IN THE STEERING
COLUMN DURING SHARP TURNS (PARKING LOT MANEUVERS). *TT
Service Bulletin Number: 0803200
Bulletin Sequence Number: 183
Date of Bulletin: 0012
NHTSA Item Number: SB618395
Make: DODGE TRUCK
Model: DAKOTA
Year: 2001
Component: INTERIOR SYSTEMS:INSTRUMENT PANEL:GAUGE:INDICATOR
Summary: A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE SERVICE 4WD LAMP IS ILLUMINATED ON 4.2 VEHICLES.
A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE SERVICE 4WD LAMP IS ILLUMINATED ON 4X2 VEHICLES. A
CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE SERVICE 4WD LAMP IS ILLUMINATED ON 4.2 VEHICLES. A CONDITION
MAY EXIST WHERE THE SERVICE 4WD LAMP IS ILLUMINATED ON 4X2 VEHICLES. *JB *JB
Service Bulletin Number: 0832000
Bulletin Sequence Number: 188
Date of Bulletin: 0010
NHTSA Item Number: SB618862
Make: DODGE TRUCK
Model: DAKOTA
Year: 2001
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary: ON SOME VEHICLES, THE SERVICE 4WD LAMP IS ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK IS
NOT A 4X4 VEHICLE. *TT
Onward to goodyear. Well it seems that Goodyear in their infinate wisdom has discontinued the white letter tires as found with the T&H package.
Blackwall tires is all they carry now in that particular size and style. So the truck now has white letter tires in front and blackwalls on the back. Have to pick up a black magic marker to eliminate the white letters...haha.
I also got road hazard protection for all the tires now, so I should be set if this string of bad luck continues. 2 flats in 2 months. Of course the punctures were too close to the sidewall to fix. Seems to be my luck lately.
Other than that, truck is running great, A/C is nice and cold. Average about 18 mpg.
Still unemployed,
Bob
I was backing into a parking spot, typical maneuver. That noise turned some heads! I put it in drive and circled the parking lot, then backed into the spot. No noise this time. I say NOT NORMAL, as this is first time in 2500 miles this has occurred. If it was normal I would have expected to hear it sooner AND honestly, nothing that loud is normal. Any takers on guessing this one? oh yea, it sounded like it was coming from the front, and I have 4.7 auto part time 4x4, was NOT repeat NOT in 4 wheel drive at any time...
Can we get Dodge to sponsor this event???
Bob