As I was on the way to a job interview, at highway speed and with 3/4 tank of fuel, my truck started to sputter, then after a few more miles it completely died and would not restart. I called a friend that fortunately worked at the very exit that I was broke down at, she took me to my interview while the truck was being towed to the local 5 Star Dealership. After renting a car and then driving to the dealership from my interview, the dealership service adviser told me that I had a dirty fuel filter and tried to charge me $75 to replace it. I had just changed the filter out and knew it to be fine, When I asked to see the filter they had conveniently thrown it away. I refused to pay for the filter change because they did not call me first to ask if they could perform the work which I would have refused because I change mine out every other oil change and had just changed it the week before. And I simply object to paying someone $75 to change out a paper filter element in a screw on canister. They gave me the freebie since I was a loyal customer that has purchased 5 new vehicles from their dealership and handed me the keys. When I tried to start it up with the new filter in place, it sputtered and stammered, then ran long enough to get me out in traffic on the very busy road in front of the dealership before sputtering to a stop once more. I walked back in, handed them my keys and had them tow it back in to later discover that the Lift pump that takes fuel from the tank and pumps it to the engine to supply fuel to the high pressure injector pump, had completely died. Of course they told me that it was a dealer only part, and around $700 later, I had a new chrysler lift pump and a running engine. After I got home and got online I found that there are several aftermarket lift and injector pump manufacturers online that make pumps that perform even better than OEM and have higher pressure as well for less money depending on the manufacturer. I live and learn. Hopefully you will not have to go through the same thing as I did to learn as well. If your Diesel Powered truck sputters to a stop and your mechanic tells you it is a dealer only part, go online and research for yourself before spending the money. You may even find that you can install it yourself.
Dodge should not be charging owners for this design flaw. The fuel pump on the engine creates problems for the entire fuel system. This should be a no-charge recall repair. I am going to write letters until I drop dead. NEVER will I purchase another Dodge diesel truck. NEVER.
- Michael H.,
Aurora, CO, US
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
As I was on the way to a job interview, at highway speed and with 3/4 tank of fuel, my truck started to sputter, then after a few more miles it completely died and would not restart. I called a friend that fortunately worked at the very exit that I was broke down at, she took me to my interview while the truck was being towed to the local 5 Star Dealership. After renting a car and then driving to the dealership from my interview, the dealership service adviser told me that I had a dirty fuel filter and tried to charge me $75 to replace it. I had just changed the filter out and knew it to be fine, When I asked to see the filter they had conveniently thrown it away. I refused to pay for the filter change because they did not call me first to ask if they could perform the work which I would have refused because I change mine out every other oil change and had just changed it the week before. And I simply object to paying someone $75 to change out a paper filter element in a screw on canister. They gave me the freebie since I was a loyal customer that has purchased 5 new vehicles from their dealership and handed me the keys. When I tried to start it up with the new filter in place, it sputtered and stammered, then ran long enough to get me out in traffic on the very busy road in front of the dealership before sputtering to a stop once more. I walked back in, handed them my keys and had them tow it back in to later discover that the Lift pump that takes fuel from the tank and pumps it to the engine to supply fuel to the high pressure injector pump, had completely died. Of course they told me that it was a dealer only part, and around $700 later, I had a new chrysler lift pump and a running engine. After I got home and got online I found that there are several aftermarket lift and injector pump manufacturers online that make pumps that perform even better than OEM and have higher pressure as well for less money depending on the manufacturer. I live and learn. Hopefully you will not have to go through the same thing as I did to learn as well. If your Diesel Powered truck sputters to a stop and your mechanic tells you it is a dealer only part, go online and research for yourself before spending the money. You may even find that you can install it yourself.
- momosapien, Columbia/Greenville, SC, US