Door alignment tool, and forward pics to FCA

[FXCLM5]

Anyone care to elaborate on how long I should be expecting to wait for a response from FCA?

So I am trying to get my leather seats warrantied because they rise up like 1-2inches from day 1 of ownership.

My driver door is like 1/4-1/2" taller then the rear door, asked them to re-align it too.

At first the service writer was looking at me all crazy, and after I explained to him I was a auto tech he had the audacity to say why dont I just go home, align it and fix it myself. I kinda glared at him and said this is pure warranty work for you the dealership and the tech - its a win win situation, he then tells me at end of service the "tool" to realign doors is broken and out getting fixed. Also my passenger seat belt doesnt click in on 1st try like 50% of the time and he had to order that too.

Well its 6 weeks just wondering how much longer should I be waiting? A seatbelt buckle surely doesnt take 6 weeks nor does a tool repair, unless I am missing something.

 

[S0CAL]

@ramcares, FYI.

 

[88ROOK]

Anyone care to elaborate on how long I should be expecting to wait for a response from FCA?

So I am trying to get my leather seats warrantied because they rise up like 1-2inches from day 1 of ownership.

My driver door is like 1/4-1/2" taller then the rear door, asked them to re-align it too.

At first the service writer was looking at me all crazy, and after I explained to him I was a auto tech he had the audacity to say why dont I just go home, align it and fix it myself. I kinda glared at him and said this is pure warranty work for you the dealership and the tech - its a win win situation, he then tells me at end of service the "tool" to realign doors is broken and out getting fixed. Also my passenger seat belt doesnt click in on 1st try like 50% of the time and he had to order that too.

Well its 6 weeks just wondering how much longer should I be waiting? A seatbelt buckle surely doesnt take 6 weeks nor does a tool repair, unless I am missing something.

sorry to say but there is no special tool to align doors. its called rubber mallets, hammers and chisels. takes a little knack to know what your doing, i worked by finish line where they do the adjustments. little whack here and little pull here is all it takes

 

[chrisbh17]

Umm, no. NO hammer required.

NOTE:
Up/down door adjustment is done by loosening either the hinge to the hinge pillar fasteners or the hinge to door fasteners and moving the door to the correct position.

NOTE:
When the up/down adjustments are done correctly, the top of the door is positioned over flush to the roof. (Refer to 23 - Body/Body Structure/Gap and Flush - Specifications)

Support the door with a suitable lifting device.
Remove the latch striker (1). See: Rear Door Striker\Service and Repair\Door Latch Striker - Removal (Refer to 23 - Body/Doors - Rear/STRIKER, Door Latch - Removal)



If necessary, loosen the hinge to door fasteners (3). See: Rear Door Hinge\Service and Repair\Removal and Replacement\Rear Door Hinge - Removal (Refer to 23 - Body/Doors - Rear/HINGE, Door - Removal)



If necessary, loosen the hinge to hinge pillar fasteners (2). See: Service and Repair\Rear Door Grommet - Removal (Refer to 23 - Body/Doors - Rear/DOOR, Rear - Removal)
Adjust the door to the correct position. (Refer to 23 - Body/Body Structure/Gap and Flush - Specifications)



Tighten the door to hinges fasteners to 22 N·m (16 ft. lbs.)



Tighten the hinge to hinge pillar bolts (2) to 24 N·m (18 ft. lbs.).



Install the latch striker. See: Rear Door Striker\Service and Repair\Door Latch Striker - Installation (Refer to 23 - Body/Doors - Rear/STRIKER, Door Latch - Installation)

 

[S0CAL]

If you are under warranty, don't do a thing. Be patient, get into the dealer and let them do the work. I pinged @ramcares, and this team is awesome at helping you get your local dealer to respond.

(If you were out of warranty, HELL YEAH, great advice from @chrisbh17 -- I did this on my 2010 a few years back).

 

[Pull Ya]

Seems like the seat belt buckle is a safety issue and they would take care of that part of your problems a little more quickly--------or not
Jay

 

[HEMI_Finn]

6 weeks is unacceptable. Try another dealer?

 

[88ROOK]

Umm, no. NO hammer required.

NOTE:
Up/down door adjustment is done by loosening either the hinge to the hinge pillar fasteners or the hinge to door fasteners and moving the door to the correct position.

NOTE:
When the up/down adjustments are done correctly, the top of the door is positioned over flush to the roof. (Refer to 23 - Body/Body Structure/Gap and Flush - Specifications)

Support the door with a suitable lifting device.
Remove the latch striker (1). See: Rear Door Striker\Service and Repair\Door Latch Striker - Removal (Refer to 23 - Body/Doors - Rear/STRIKER, Door Latch - Removal)



If necessary, loosen the hinge to door fasteners (3). See: Rear Door Hinge\Service and Repair\Removal and Replacement\Rear Door Hinge - Removal (Refer to 23 - Body/Doors - Rear/HINGE, Door - Removal)



If necessary, loosen the hinge to hinge pillar fasteners (2). See: Service and Repair\Rear Door Grommet - Removal (Refer to 23 - Body/Doors - Rear/DOOR, Rear - Removal)
Adjust the door to the correct position. (Refer to 23 - Body/Body Structure/Gap and Flush - Specifications)



Tighten the door to hinges fasteners to 22 N·m (16 ft. lbs.)



Tighten the hinge to hinge pillar bolts (2) to 24 N·m (18 ft. lbs.).



Install the latch striker. See: Rear Door Striker\Service and Repair\Door Latch Striker - Installation (Refer to 23 - Body/Doors - Rear/STRIKER, Door Latch - Installation)

sorry but the way i stated is exactly how its done. first hand knowledge of working on assembly line does wonders in the know how department

 

[chrisbh17]

sorry but the way i stated is exactly how its done. first hand knowledge of working on assembly line does wonders in the know how department

Interesting.

What I copied was right out of the factory service manual, so maybe its the way to do it *after* assembly?

 

[88ROOK]

Interesting.

What I copied was right out of the factory service manual, so maybe its the way to do it *after* assembly?

that probably is what it says but each assembly worker doesnt get a service manual while assembling the vehicle I just know the "easy" way to do it. BUT if the doors are way off some new hinges might be in the works. And way back in the day when i had a grand cherokee it was just easier and cost effective to get the new hinges and put them on, the truck was only 4 years old. probably tell the dealer you want new hinges

 

[FXCLM5]

The trucks brand new 3-4 months old, curious if you guys manual has information on how to re-align the tailgate.



The dealer says no-alignment possible on my tailgate.

Also complained about my front bumper to the body, i can stick my entire hand between the bumper and headlight fairing on 1 headlight and the other I can barely get my finger tips in there.

They said it was all a optical illusion!!!

I said my driver side fender flare is painted like crap - they said nothing wrong!

 

[S0CAL]

The trucks brand new 3-4 months old, curious if you guys manual has information on how to re-align the tailgate.



The dealer says no-alignment possible on my tailgate.

Also complained about my front bumper to the body, i can stick my entire hand between the bumper and headlight fairing on 1 headlight and the other I can barely get my finger tips in there.

They said it was all a optical illusion!!!

I said my driver side fender flare is painted like crap - they said nothing wrong!

Man that is BS right there. That is obviously not quality checked. Ping @ramcares and they can help you with the dealer.

 

[bruce219]

Wow,looks like you got a truck that came off the assembly line close to quitting time on a Friday.If that was my truck I would go insane.

 

[McBroom]

The trucks brand new 3-4 months old, curious if you guys manual has information on how to re-align the tailgate.



The dealer says no-alignment possible on my tailgate.

Also complained about my front bumper to the body, i can stick my entire hand between the bumper and headlight fairing on 1 headlight and the other I can barely get my finger tips in there.

They said it was all a optical illusion!!!

I said my driver side fender flare is painted like crap - they said nothing wrong!

Sounds like you need to go to another dealership for repairs! And I’d also start a file with ramcares on this forum.


I Love My 2018 RAM 2500HD 4x4 Off Road. 6.4L. USMC (ret)

 

[14RAM1500BG]

not sure why it wouldn`t post but check out on you tube
Car assembly worker makes final tweaks to the doors

 

[SYKRAMMAN]

Funny but true.

 

[chrisbh17]

Funny but true.

I have to admit thats a lot better than what I thought they were doing

Visions of hammering on the tops of doors were dancing in my head

I can kinda see doing it their way, as long as they dont really wail on it and bend the latch hook (or worse, the door jamb where it connects to)

 

[RamCares]

Anyone care to elaborate on how long I should be expecting to wait for a response from FCA?

So I am trying to get my leather seats warrantied because they rise up like 1-2inches from day 1 of ownership.

My driver door is like 1/4-1/2" taller then the rear door, asked them to re-align it too.

At first the service writer was looking at me all crazy, and after I explained to him I was a auto tech he had the audacity to say why dont I just go home, align it and fix it myself. I kinda glared at him and said this is pure warranty work for you the dealership and the tech - its a win win situation, he then tells me at end of service the "tool" to realign doors is broken and out getting fixed. Also my passenger seat belt doesnt click in on 1st try like 50% of the time and he had to order that too.

Well its 6 weeks just wondering how much longer should I be waiting? A seatbelt buckle surely doesnt take 6 weeks nor does a tool repair, unless I am missing something.

Hi FXCLM5,
This is not what we hope to hear from our customers. It is important to us that you are enjoying your time as a new Ram owner. We would be more than happy to get you in contact with the proper teams on this while you are working with your dealer. Please send us a private message with your VIN, phone number, current mileage and servicing dealer.

Julie
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[ronheater70]

Wow,looks like you got a truck that came off the assembly line close to quitting time on a Friday.If that was my truck I would go insane.

Looks like it came out of a salvage yard, thats ridiculous.

 

[wallacemf]

My 2018 2500 had the cab and bed both on the frame out of alignment, they were both on skewed. The dealer had to loosen both and shift them until they were correct.

The fender flares were detaching as well, dealer fixed that as well. Kinda makes you wonder....

I will say that RamCares opened a case for me, and the rep called me right away, worked with the dealer to get it squared away, and paid for a rental. They backed their product well. I get the sense that when a case is open with FCA, the dealer tends to pay more attention to getting it fixed quickly and correctly.

Thanks, RamCares!