Another lifter failure

[carey]

I figured I would go ahead and get a thread started for what is likely to be a long story.

2009 1500 Laramie - 5.7 EZD series
238,000 miles
Lifetime Powertrain Warranty
Well maintained 5w20 oil changes - a mix of at home and Jiffy Lube joints.

A couple days ago I noticed a new ticking noise. I've had the normal exhaust leak for quite a while and have pretty much given up on that ever being completely fixed. I've had the bolts replaced by the dealer 2 or 3 times.

The other day I got a check engine light which presented P0304 - Cylinder #4 misfire. I was due for plugs anyway, so that was my first step. No change. Swapped #2 and #4 coil pack. No change. Swapped #2 and #4 injector. No Change. Compression on #2 and #4 were both around 180. Leakdown test showed no meaningful difference in 2 and 4.

I decided it was time to pull the valve cover. Springs looked good, rockers looked good, rods looked good. No slack in the rods on #4.

After some google work I found out about the seized lifter issue. Back to the garage with camera in hand this is what I found -


I went to the local dealer to chat with them about the coverage under the Lifetime Warranty. The service writer said there is nothing at all they can comment on, speculate about, or even talk with FCA about until they diagnose the issue. I showed her the above video and suggested that it was likely a problem the mechanics were familiar with and that there really wasn't any diagnosis that need to be done to begin the conversation about the warranty. She insisted that the diagnosis was the required first step and that it was a week before they could get me in to take a look at it.

So the truck sat for a week waiting on my appointment.

I took it in this morning to drop it off. The new service writer asked what brought me in today. I explained the situation and got a kinda blank stare back. He finally responds "So you want a ... cam and a ... lift kit?"

I explained it all again and showed him the video. The ticket he entered said "Replace cam lifter and cylinder #4" He said that should be all they needed. They would take care of everything and have have it ready for me this afternoon by 5.

Somehow, I doubt this is going to be a fun experience. I'll keep you all up to date.

 

[chrisbh17]

I admire your detail to finding out exactly what went wrong, but with the lifetime powertrain warranty, my speech to the dealer would have been "something is wrong with the engine, please fix"

Too many details to people that dont understand them will result in you getting a bill for a 4" lift kit install

 

[Ramnewbie]

I'm sure they'll be more than happy to fix it for you. Now honoring the lifetime warranty might be a different issue. Wish you the best of luck, please keep us posted.

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[Riccochet]

I'm sure they'll be more than happy to fix it for you. Now honoring the lifetime warranty might be a different issue. Wish you the best of luck, please keep us posted.

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"It appears you've changed the pre-set radio stations in your vehicle. We'll be unable to honor the lifetime powertrain warranty under these circumstances."

lol

 

[carey]

I admire your detail to finding out exactly what went wrong, but with the lifetime powertrain warranty, my speech to the dealer would have been "something is wrong with the engine, please fix"

Too many details to people that dont understand them will result in you getting a bill for a 4" lift kit install

I've had a few other small issues like sensors and such that I knew were not covered under the warranty that I've always taken care of myself. So I always do my own troubleshooting where I'm not paying someone else to replace parts that aren't actually the cause. My hope was to have a chat with them before they tore the engine open about the warranty where any issues could be worked out. But they didn't want to go that route...

I'm sure they'll be more than happy to fix it for you. Now honoring the lifetime warranty might be a different issue. Wish you the best of luck, please keep us posted.

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Yeah, that's the fight I'm not looking forward to. When I had Campaign K17 (for the HVAC controls) done, they dealer insisted that it was not a warranty issue and that I had to pay for it. Even though my complaint was identical to what the stated issue and the parts they used were the exact ones that the Campaign docs listed. I went back and forth with them for a few days before getting FCA involved. That ended up being resolved with me paying the dealer and FCA mailing me a check to cover it.

I hope it doesn't get to that point this time.

 

[carey]

"It appears you've changed the pre-set radio stations in your vehicle. We'll be unable to honor the lifetime powertrain warranty under these circumstances."

lol

HA! They can't use that one! The radio hasn't worked for the last 4 months!

 

[Ramnewbie]

Seems like everyone loves their ram trucks, I know I do. All this fighting with warranty and known issues just puts a bad taste in you're mouth for ever buying another one. Wake up FCA, you have a loyal base, don't screw it up. It ****** me off everytime I get an email, which is pretty much daily, wanting me to buy a lifetime warranty, knowing full well ever collecting on it will most assuredly wind up on a court battle.

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[HitchHiker]

Hate to say it but I would never have showed the dealership that you opened the engine yourself via a video like that. That’s basically potential proof that you violated lifetime warranty terms up front. I dearly hope you don’t have any coverage difficulties as a result. Sometimes sharing too much information isn’t the best route to take. Best of luck moving forward. They will want most likely want to see proof of regular maintenance records before covering the repair. Keep us all posted!


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[Ramnewbie]

My step son just bout a new Cherokee and got a lifetime warranty. I causioned him on reading the fine print and getting it clairified by the dealer as how to make sure it stays in effect.

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[carey]

Seems like everyone loves their ram trucks, I know I do. All this fighting with warranty and known issues just puts a bad taste in you're mouth for ever buying another one. Wake up FCA, you have a loyal base, don't screw it up. It ****** me off everytime I get an email, which is pretty much daily, wanting me to buy a lifetime warranty, knowing full well ever collecting on it will most assuredly wind up on a court battle.

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I agree Newbie, I haven't had a bad thing at all to say about my truck other than the exhaust manifold bolts. I mean, 238k with very limited failures is nothing to be ashamed of. I had a front hub bearing go out around 150k (not covered under the powertrain warranty) and the backend started roaring pretty loudly around 200k. I didn't even think about the warranty when that one happened for some reason, but it should have been covered. I ended up getting a new set of gears and rebuilding the chunk.


The truck has it's share of creature comforts that have died (drivers power seat motor died, seat covers look like hell, backup camera went out, most recently the head unit stopped powering up) and I still do a good bit of interstate travel and a lot less stuff that requires a truck. There is a Challenger sitting on that lot with my name on it... This is pretty much the deciding factor for me.

Hate to say it but I would never have showed the dealership that you opened the engine yourself via a video like that. That’s basically potential proof that you violated lifetime warranty terms up front. I dearly hope you don’t have any coverage difficulties as a result. Sometimes sharing too much information isn’t the best route to take. Best of luck moving forward. They will want most likely want to see proof of regular maintenance records before covering the repair. Keep us all posted!


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As far as I know, there is nothing in the warranty that prohibits work being by outside parties. I have the 2009 model with the Factory Lifetime Limited Powertrain Warranty, not the add on MaxCare. It is my understanding that the factory warranties are bound by the Magnuson-Moss act - Basically, they have to say "You doing X caused this failure, so it's not covered" Removing the valve cover (it's like 10 bolts) couldn't cause a seized roller on a lifter in any way.

Sure, it's potential ammo for them to use, but I guess I was naive and figured they would be glad I came in and pointed to exactly what the failure was.

Only time will tell now.

 

[Pull Ya]

"No good deed goes unpunished"
Jay

 

[carey]

Well - I'm still a little confused...

Hadn't heard anything since dropping it off at 7am Tuesday, so I gave them a call a little before closing today. They said they had tried to call, but the number they had in the computer was not working. Anyway - he said said the motor had a "bad rod in the bottom end" and that the warranty was covering a replacement engine.

I didn't argue that it was clearly not a rod causing the valve to not open.

He also said there is currently not an ETA on the engine in the computer, so they will have to give me a call back when it gets here. I'm cautiously optimistic!

For now, I'm in a buddies borrowed 1993 Dakota. It's a world of difference from the 1500 Laramie!

 

[OCDTech]

Well - I'm still a little confused...

Hadn't heard anything since dropping it off at 7am Tuesday, so I gave them a call a little before closing today. They said they had tried to call, but the number they had in the computer was not working. Anyway - he said said the motor had a "bad rod in the bottom end" and that the warranty was covering a replacement engine.

I didn't argue that it was clearly not a rod causing the valve to not open.

He also said there is currently not an ETA on the engine in the computer, so they will have to give me a call back when it gets here. I'm cautiously optimistic!

For now, I'm in a buddies borrowed 1993 Dakota. It's a world of difference from the 1500 Laramie!

Sounds like a possible misdiagnosis at the dealer may have worked out in your favor. Though it may have anyway. With all the bad stories that i hear, nice to hear a good one.

 

[Ramnewbie]

Well - I'm still a little confused...

Hadn't heard anything since dropping it off at 7am Tuesday, so I gave them a call a little before closing today. They said they had tried to call, but the number they had in the computer was not working. Anyway - he said said the motor had a "bad rod in the bottom end" and that the warranty was covering a replacement engine.

I didn't argue that it was clearly not a rod causing the valve to not open.

He also said there is currently not an ETA on the engine in the computer, so they will have to give me a call back when it gets here. I'm cautiously optimistic!

For now, I'm in a buddies borrowed 1993 Dakota. It's a world of difference from the 1500 Laramie!

Did you verify that in fact that it would be covered under you're warranty?

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[Hootbro]

Hopefully they are sending a long block for replacement and not a short block reusing the heads off the old engine.

 

[HammerHead]

Well - I'm still a little confused...

Hadn't heard anything since dropping it off at 7am Tuesday, so I gave them a call a little before closing today. They said they had tried to call, but the number they had in the computer was not working. Anyway - he said said the motor had a "bad rod in the bottom end" and that the warranty was covering a replacement engine.

I didn't argue that it was clearly not a rod causing the valve to not open.

He also said there is currently not an ETA on the engine in the computer, so they will have to give me a call back when it gets here. I'm cautiously optimistic!

For now, I'm in a buddies borrowed 1993 Dakota. It's a world of difference from the 1500 Laramie!

New engine? That's awesome, hopefully congratulations are in order when it actually happens.
I do have some questions, I read your post that you and a local jiffy lube did your oil changes. Did you use a Mopar oil filter every time? Did you use the same oil over the years? Only reason I ask is I was told by my Lifetime Maximum Care warranty representative that I Must use a Mopar oil filter? Nothing aftermarket can be used; I find that ridiculous but that's what I was told. Any info on your oil and filter combo would help me out.

 

[pacofortacos]

New engine? That's awesome, hopefully congratulations are in order when it actually happens.
I do have some questions, I read your post that you and a local jiffy lube did your oil changes. Did you use a Mopar oil filter every time? Did you use the same oil over the years? Only reason I ask is I was told by my Lifetime Maximum Care warranty representative that I Must use a Mopar oil filter? Nothing aftermarket can be used; I find that ridiculous but that's what I was told. Any info on your oil and filter combo would help me out.

If that is the case, then by federal law they have to provide the oil filters for free.
I am pretty sure they are not doing this and thus just blowing smoke up your rear.

 

[Hemi450hp]

I just went through this myself on my 2015 Ram with 51,000 miles. Luckily, I have a good relationship with the service dept, so they didnt ask any questions...even gave me a loaner.

Bad side is that the mechanic dropped a tool on my fender, so they ended up having to re paint the fender. Paint looks good though, motor runs smooth, and I didnt come out of pocket for the repair. I'm happy with the outcome. Could have been much worse.

 

[Riccochet]

If that is the case, then by federal law they have to provide the oil filters for free.
I am pretty sure they are not doing this and thus just blowing smoke up your rear.

This. I would have asked when all those "Mopar" parts were going to be sent to me, for free, to maintain my warranty.

 

[huntergreen]

Sounds like you might have a bit of a wait, but all should go smoothly.