Anyone else have this problem?

[TheAmbassador]

Well I bought a 2016 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie with the 6.7 and a 6 speed manual in July of last year. Ever since then I have had nothing but issues with it. It has been in the shop for repairs 7 times all related to the transmission and clutch. I love the truck too much to let go of it and lemon it but I may end up having to after my recent trek to West Virginia.

Friday (March 11th) I left home around 2 p.m. to go to Gilbert WV to visit a very dear friend of mine and her husband. About 30 minutes into my journey I started having problems with engine...it would sputter sometimes and other times it would just stall. I found myself behind an older couple going 15 under the speed limit. I saw an opportunity to pass them and I shifted down into 4th gear and pulled out into the other lane and I stepped on the throttle with no response from the engine. I tried several times to get the engine to rev but it just sat there and idled. So after about 10 seconds of looking like an idiot I pulled back into my lane and my truck stalled when I shifted back into 5th (40mph). For 15 seconds I had no brake power, the only thing that stopped me was putting it in gear and letting off the clutch. I spent the next 5 minutes trying to get the truck to start back up. It would just sit there and crank. I checked all the fuses and they were fine, yes I had diesel...I had just left the diesel pump 30 minutes prior.

After getting it to start up it seemed fine. Well I made it all the way to Marietta Ohio then I stopped to top of my tank before entering WV. Leaving the Marathon station my truck seemed gutless. I looked at the turbo PSI meter and it wasn't showing that my turbo was spooling up. Well...it wasn't...at all...and I felt it. I ended up spending the next 3 hours driving a naturally aspirated truck. Stalled it 3 more times...all in 1st gear. (I drive a Class B straight truck for a living with a 10 speed Non-Synchronous Transmission.) Never have I stalled in 1st gear. EVER.

The trip home was just as eventful today. Spent most of the time without a turbo...then at the diesel station in Marietta Ohio my turbo started spooling again! Except the most I ever got out of it was 5 PSI the entire trip home.

I brought it in 2 times for this issue and the dealer keeps telling me there is nothing wrong with my Dodge. Yet everyone who has ever driven my RAM asks me why it feels so gutless. For the amount of towing I due...it is really disappointing, I find myself borrowing my father's 2011 Dodge Ram 2500 a lot more than I should because my Ram 3500 Dually cannot pull the most simplest of things.

At this point...what do I do?

 

[Skrap]

Aside from the "open a case" with Ram on this issue, so you have a paper trail of the problems I would find someone with a go pro video camera and keep it in you truck. When the truck starts to act up wear the camera on your head or on a chest mount so it can film the gauges and will sound as well. Then show it to the dealer on the next visit.

 

[jasonw]

Try a different dealer maybe? I would take video of the turbo not spooling (smartphone or whatever works), since a gauge is showing that pretty obviously, and show that to the dealership.

 

[VectorZ]

Try a different dealer maybe? I would take video of the turbo not spooling (smartphone or whatever works), since a gauge is showing that pretty obviously, and show that to the dealership.

I agree with this. Shoot video of this happening and bring it to them. If they don't take care of the issue lemon law that sucker. One day that truck may kill you.

 

[Jerry1984]

May want to ask on the cummins forum as well. There are a few diesel owners on here but way more on that forum. Google cummins forum.

 

[RamCares]

Well I bought a 2016 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie with the 6.7 and a 6 speed manual in July of last year. Ever since then I have had nothing but issues with it. It has been in the shop for repairs 7 times all related to the transmission and clutch. I love the truck too much to let go of it and lemon it but I may end up having to after my recent trek to West Virginia.

Friday (March 11th) I left home around 2 p.m. to go to Gilbert WV to visit a very dear friend of mine and her husband. About 30 minutes into my journey I started having problems with engine...it would sputter sometimes and other times it would just stall. I found myself behind an older couple going 15 under the speed limit. I saw an opportunity to pass them and I shifted down into 4th gear and pulled out into the other lane and I stepped on the throttle with no response from the engine. I tried several times to get the engine to rev but it just sat there and idled. So after about 10 seconds of looking like an idiot I pulled back into my lane and my truck stalled when I shifted back into 5th (40mph). For 15 seconds I had no brake power, the only thing that stopped me was putting it in gear and letting off the clutch. I spent the next 5 minutes trying to get the truck to start back up. It would just sit there and crank. I checked all the fuses and they were fine, yes I had diesel...I had just left the diesel pump 30 minutes prior.

After getting it to start up it seemed fine. Well I made it all the way to Marietta Ohio then I stopped to top of my tank before entering WV. Leaving the Marathon station my truck seemed gutless. I looked at the turbo PSI meter and it wasn't showing that my turbo was spooling up. Well...it wasn't...at all...and I felt it. I ended up spending the next 3 hours driving a naturally aspirated truck. Stalled it 3 more times...all in 1st gear. (I drive a Class B straight truck for a living with a 10 speed Non-Synchronous Transmission.) Never have I stalled in 1st gear. EVER.

The trip home was just as eventful today. Spent most of the time without a turbo...then at the diesel station in Marietta Ohio my turbo started spooling again! Except the most I ever got out of it was 5 PSI the entire trip home.

I brought it in 2 times for this issue and the dealer keeps telling me there is nothing wrong with my Dodge. Yet everyone who has ever driven my RAM asks me why it feels so gutless. For the amount of towing I due...it is really disappointing, I find myself borrowing my father's 2011 Dodge Ram 2500 a lot more than I should because my Ram 3500 Dually cannot pull the most simplest of things.

At this point...what do I do?

Hi TheAmbassador,
I'm so sorry to hear about this experience! Could you PM me your VIN, contact information, and dealership info so that I can look into this more to see if there's anything I can do to assist?

 

[chris1965]

Check the Turbo Bypass Valve. Replace it, just for the heck of it and see what it does.

 

[TheAmbassador]

Check the Turbo Bypass Valve. Replace it, just for the heck of it and see what it does.

I did some investigating today and I was told by a friend to replace the TBV, so I found the part at OReilly's and replaced it. I also cleaned my K&N Air Filter which was filled with corn dust from last season's corn harvest. I was surprised the truck could even breath. So the combination of cleaning my air filter and replacing the TBV fixed the problem with the turbo spooling. I brought it out afterwords and had no trouble getting it up to its 28 psi max.

Now...that just leaves me the question of why I am stalling in first gear and why the truck did a sudden black out.

Also...when I am shifting from gear to gear...there is about 10 seconds between each gear (sometimes) before I get power. Its like there is something limiting the power. I'll shift into 4th and there will be a few seconds where the RPM's increase slowly then all of a sudden the RPM's jump dramatically making you feel like you're driving a 800hp monster. I don't know how to describe it other than that.

I did make an appointment with my dealer today and they want me to bring my truck in first thing tomorrow morning.

 

[chris1965]

Seems like the pressure builds up too slow. Can you force a DPF (diesel particle filter) regeneration? Can be, because of soot, your dpf is full. you might as well check the EGR Cooler. Soot is from your problem you had.
If you have no turbo, you will have heavy soot built up. Also, because the exhaust will be cooler than normal, you will have moister in the system, which let the soot get sticky and built up everywhere in front of the DPF. If you now have the turbo pressure back, it can be, that in lower rpm- or when you step on it, the air simply can't get out of your exhaust, pressure builds up and if a certain pressure is arrived, the air will get pressed out. but it does not solve your problem.
you could see this, if you can monitor the EBP Sensor (exhaust back pressure sensor). you should see a spike there and when the power kicks in, there should be then a significant drop.
It's a common diesel problem. If you go to the shop, tell them to check the DPF and the EGR Cooler as well.

 

[TheAmbassador]

Well I received a call today that my truck was done and fixed. My father and I got to the dealership around noon and took possession of the truck and headed out for lunch. Well he told me to meet him at Panera's in Boardman Ohio and he left well before I did. I got into my truck and allowed it to warm up to a nice 140 degrees before I left the dealership. Well getting onto the highway was a treat, as soon as I shifted into 3rd the truck stalled. Spent 2-3 minutes trying to get it started again. Once I got it started and moving it took almost a full minute to get it up to 65 mph.

So after lunch we took it back and the service manager had their diesel tech drive around with me. The original problem of the truck feeling gutless made its self known right as we got onto the highway. After that one time it never happened again...mainly because I never got to stop even when we got onto the exit ramp, the light was already green so I didn't have to stop. He has narrowed it down to a transmission issue because he went over the entire engine front to back and tore it down and rebuilt it and found nothing amiss.

I left the truck there as one of the other issues I have been having with it has rendered that truck a dangerous truck to drive until it has been fixed. They are supposed to bring some people in from Corporate to have them drive the truck and get their opinion on the truck. But since I have had another dealer involved they are saying they will have to send it back to them which is all the way towards Cleveland Ohio.

I am looking at about another month before I have my truck back. Longer if I am going to lemon law it. What are you supposed to do without your truck? I mean that is a money maker for me and without it...how am I supposed to move material that I need on the farm? Ahhhh...this whole process has already made me look at buying a different brand.

 

[TheAmbassador]

Seems like the pressure builds up too slow. Can you force a DPF (diesel particle filter) regeneration? Can be, because of soot, your dpf is full. you might as well check the EGR Cooler. Soot is from your problem you had.
If you have no turbo, you will have heavy soot built up. Also, because the exhaust will be cooler than normal, you will have moister in the system, which let the soot get sticky and built up everywhere in front of the DPF. If you now have the turbo pressure back, it can be, that in lower rpm- or when you step on it, the air simply can't get out of your exhaust, pressure builds up and if a certain pressure is arrived, the air will get pressed out. but it does not solve your problem.
you could see this, if you can monitor the EBP Sensor (exhaust back pressure sensor). you should see a spike there and when the power kicks in, there should be then a significant drop.
It's a common diesel problem. If you go to the shop, tell them to check the DPF and the EGR Cooler as well.

I showed their mechanic and the service tech your post and they immediately dismissed your post saying "He doesn't know what hes talking about."

 

[chris1965]

yeah. it's an honor thing. People don't like it, when the customer comes and tells them, what to do. you shouldn't have showed him- just say- I have the feeling the Diesel Particle filter is full- can you check it? If you drive without turbo, you probably had a lot of black smoke out of your exhaust. If so, my suggestion would not be so far off.

I am not at the vehicle, I haven't drove it, I'm just guessing, from what you said. I've seen it before and actually this would be the first step of trouble shooting. They haven't found the Bypass Valve either- didn't they?

but it's just one of my opinions.

 

[VectorZ]

Make sure and file at NHTSA complaint.
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

 

[chris1965]

Make sure and file at NHTSA complaint.
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

I think your complaint is more a complaint about the dealer.
You got to see- they are often not really trained and working off a check list. actually you don't have to know anything to do the checks. at the end is: replace this or that.
If you understand the engine and know what all the sensors and actors do, you know what to look for and don't need a check list.
The check list should only be a help.
I would check into another dealer and start all over. might be more successful.

 

[VectorZ]

I think your complaint is more a complaint about the dealer.
You got to see- they are often not really trained and working off a check list. actually you don't have to know anything to do the checks. at the end is: replace this or that.
If you understand the engine and know what all the sensors and actors do, you know what to look for and don't need a check list.
The check list should only be a help.
I would check into another dealer and start all over. might be more successful.

There is still something wrong with the vehicle, a problem that may result in serious injury or death of not corrected. Think of trying to hit a gap across a 4 way road, you floor it and....nothing! Then you get broadsided by a semi that is unable to stop in time.

The dealer didn't build the vehicle, and there may be others with this same defect. There have been many recalls issued because of the issues people reported with their vehicles through the NHTSA website.

 

[TRCM]

With a manual transmission, I can't for the life of me think of HOW the trans can stop the engine from making power, unless it has nothing but metal to metal inside, and you'd know if that was the case.

And again, with a manual, you lose boost as soon as you push in the clutch because the load is off the engine at that point, and then when you let the clutch out again to engage the gear, the load is back with a vengeance, which is why you feel the surge of power.

My 97 3500 12v w/5 spd was the same way. Shift quick or you lose all your boost.

Only time mine ever acted like it had no turbo spooling up was when a boot blew off the intercooler...talk about a dog with no turbo power.

 

[TheAmbassador]

The dealer who fixed my clutch issue called me about 4 and said they wanted to see my truck asap. So I got to the dealership in Austintown about 4:30 and got the keys to my truck and took off for the dealership in Aurora near Cleveland Ohio. The service manager drove it home tonight and tomorrow he has his District Manager, someone from Chrysler Corporate and the owner of the dealership coming to drive the truck with him and then they're going to go to another dealership and drive the same type of truck with a manual in it and compare my truck to a new one to see if they can track down the issue.

I can definitely tell you I am excited to hear what they have to say at the end of the day. I am even more excited that they are taking my issue so seriously. I really don't want to get rid of my truck, I love it to pieces (when its working.) So hopefully they will have some news for me tomorrow.

 

[TheAmbassador]

yeah. it's an honor thing. People don't like it, when the customer comes and tells them, what to do. you shouldn't have showed him- just say- I have the feeling the Diesel Particle filter is full- can you check it? If you drive without turbo, you probably had a lot of black smoke out of your exhaust. If so, my suggestion would not be so far off.

I am not at the vehicle, I haven't drove it, I'm just guessing, from what you said. I've seen it before and actually this would be the first step of trouble shooting. They haven't found the Bypass Valve either- didn't they?

but it's just one of my opinions.

I did tell them what you said at first without showing them your post but they remained adamant about it so I showed them exactly what you said and that is when they puffed up their chests.

Make sure and file at NHTSA complaint.
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

I am unsure of what good filing a complaint thru them would do.

With a manual transmission, I can't for the life of me think of HOW the trans can stop the engine from making power, unless it has nothing but metal to metal inside, and you'd know if that was the case.

And again, with a manual, you lose boost as soon as you push in the clutch because the load is off the engine at that point, and then when you let the clutch out again to engage the gear, the load is back with a vengeance, which is why you feel the surge of power.

My 97 3500 12v w/5 spd was the same way. Shift quick or you lose all your boost.

Only time mine ever acted like it had no turbo spooling up was when a boot blew off the intercooler...talk about a dog with no turbo power.

That is the second transmission that is in that RAM. The first one seized up causing everything to destroy itself. That happened after only having it for 2500 miles. So who knows what is going on now...my truck seems to be the destroyer of G56 transmissions and clutches.

The surge of power happens though right at 2500 rpms, its like a gate was allowed open all the way instead of half of the way. When I shift into 4th from 3rd it takes about 14 seconds for the truck to get to 2500 rpms, that is with no load and the pedal to the floor. I know in previous trucks I've driven with manuals, it doesn't take that much time to get to 2500 rpms. So the 0-60 time on my truck is anywhere from 45-60 seconds. It takes an extraordinaire amount of time. My little red, a 1975 International Loadstar 1600 grain truck with the 185 hp motor makes it to 60 in 30 seconds. So my Cummins is slower than an undersized motor in a 10,000 lbs grain truck.

 

[chris1965]

Fact is, a modern diesel should not do this. I still see it not as a Lemmon but the inability of the dealer to locate the issue.
Just check the Ford forum and read the symptoms and complaints of the power stroke owners and they all end up with egr coolers and dpf's.
I would try another dealer and start from scrap. Maybe a check at a diesel specialist. Without having the vehicle, there is only a 50/50 chance to guess right.

But I'm excited as you, that they really do something. Keep us updated- I'm interested in the case. Thanks and good luck!

 

[TheAmbassador]

Fact is, a modern diesel should not do this. I still see it not as a Lemmon but the inability of the dealer to locate the issue.
Just check the Ford forum and read the symptoms and complaints of the power stroke owners and they all end up with egr coolers and dpf's.
I would try another dealer and start from scrap. Maybe a check at a diesel specialist. Without having the vehicle, there is only a 50/50 chance to guess right.

But I'm excited as you, that they really do something. Keep us updated- I'm interested in the case. Thanks and good luck!

No motor company makes a perfect car or truck, they are all going to have their problems. But right now it seems like Chrysler has their hands full. I called my service manager today and he said they couldn't find a thing wrong with it...it didn't act up today at all. But he put a call into Chrysler's Safety Adviser to see what the next step should be.

The service manager gave me a 2015 Chrysler Town and Country Sport to drive and I have put 150 miles on it (I live 70 miles from that dealership) plus the driving around town already, it has already broke down. It has 654 miles on it and it has died. Can't get it out of park, it stays in one gear never shifts the gears, my battery light is on, the traction control light is on and so is the ABS light. Can't roll up the window, can't roll down the window, cant use the entertainment system, cant control the AC or Heating, blasts heat on full no matter what the settings.

Im telling you what man, I am a very patient man, but my patience is running thin. Now I don't have a vehicle to drive at all. They will have to bring a flat bed and drag the minivan onto it and haul it back to the dealership.