Frustrated with FCA..

[Quiganomics]

This is my 3rd Ram in 8 years, 2017 1500 with now 39,500 miles. Never had any of mine in for warranty repairs, in fact even when my last Ram's rear diff went out at 59k, I just traded in and got a new one. Now with 39k on this one the abs light comes on and throw a code for the left rear speed sensor. Bought a new sensor at the dealer and installed it, still same code. Asked the dealer for assistance for warranty due to the low miles and they said to call Ram. Sat on hold for 35 mins with Ram to get the "Nothing we can do, you're 3000 miles out of warranty." response. What a joke of a company, I've spent over $100k on vehicles with them in less than a decade, pushed people I know towards Ram by talking up their trucks, and then when I ask for assistance I'm told to pound sand. Really makes me regret staying loyal on my end when apparently they don't hold their customers in the same regard.

 

[crazykid1994]

What is your warranty? I have a 50000 mile on my ram. Also did you pull the battery and let it sit to reset the computer?

 

[Quiganomics]

What is your warranty? I have a 50000 mile on my ram. Also did you pull the battery and let it sit to reset the computer?

3/36k. Tried to clear it with my snap on versus. It still shows current.

 

[Brandon-w]

Not to sound like an ass but everyone knows when they're out of warranty theyre out. That's it, no grace period no real special cases it's Just part of the new truck deal.

That said I'd reccomend finding someone with a good code reader and see if it says short circtit or what and watch the speeds and voltages. It could be debris in your tone wheel or it could be a broken wire. Might also be a case of just clearing the code after the new sensor is installed.

 

[crazykid1994]

I’m not familiar with snap on but I’ve tried clearing codes with a regular code reader and it wouldn’t actually clear the codes. I had to use one that physically went into the bcm to clear codes. Alfaobd.

 

[Quiganomics]

Not to sound like an ass but everyone knows when they're out of warranty theyre out. That's it, no grace period no real special cases it's Just part of the new truck deal.

That said I'd reccomend finding someone with a good code reader and see if it says short circtit or what and watch the speeds and voltages. It could be debris in your tone wheel or it could be a broken wire. Might also be a case of just clearing the code after the new sensor is installed.

Sure I get it, warranty is technically up. I also just saw my brother in law have issues with his 2016 Tundra that is 35k out of warranty and without even asking they offered to cover 50% of the repair (head gasket). What burns me is that FCA wouldn't even offer to diagnose the issue and it's less than 4k out.

A friend has a snap on Verus that we used, wouldn't clear as the code is active, new speed sensor is still reading 0 mph at the left rear.

 

[Brandon-w]

I'd try ohming the wires out of you can also check the harness sometimes they take a beating or fill with rocks and chaff.
I can see them helping with a headgasket. Hard to say though. I hate dealerships with a passion though.. Much rather do the work myself or pay someone I trust than have one of those parts changers do the work.

 

[Joshua Collins]

Some good suggestions in the above post and to add realistically could be a faulty sensor wouldn't be the first electronic part not to work out of the box. I would disconnect the plug and ohm the sensor out to see if it out of limits. Check the wiring over real good. I would also clean the tone ring for the sensor if you haven't already. Lastly i would do a battery disconnect to try to reset it.

 

[Tach_tech]

ABS lights will clear within seconds of driving if the problem is fixed. There not like a CEL which can take awhile to clear the light, so if you clear it and it comes right back there’s still a fault.

Good example of just because the code says left rear wheel speed sensor, doesn’t mean it needs a new sensor.

Its somewhat common for the wiring to get beat up near the connector. I’d be checking for power/ground at the connector and go from there.

 

[Pull Ya]

^^This is from one of the best tech's on the forum--I'd check out his advice--
Jay

 

[huntergreen]

Sure I get it, warranty is technically up. I also just saw my brother in law have issues with his 2016 Tundra that is 35k out of warranty and without even asking they offered to cover 50% of the repair (head gasket). What burns me is that FCA wouldn't even offer to diagnose the issue and it's less than 4k out.

A friend has a snap on Verus that we used, wouldn't clear as the code is active, new speed sensor is still reading 0 mph at the left rear.

Are Toyotas know to have head gasket issues along with a s few other known issues ?

 

[GsRAM]

Honda and Toyotas customer service and stepping up to address issues are second to none. Not so with GM, Ford and Chrysler. It's sad but true. The time I've personally invested in fighting the drag link recall on my 2500 to get FCA to do the right thing is ridiculous.

I bought a new jeep Cherokee in December and honestly FCAs response on the drag link issue makes me second guess that. I prefer to buy American, but this issue, examples like this thread, similar dealings I've had with Chevy on warranty issues, my brother has gotten similar treatment from Chevy on warranty issues, etc....I dont know if my future vehicles will be American, and that's sad.

 

[Quiganomics]

Honda and Toyotas customer service and stepping up to address issues are second to none. Not so with GM, Ford and Chrysler. It's sad but true. The time I've personally invested in fighting the drag link recall on my 2500 to get FCA to do the right thing is ridiculous.

I bought a new jeep Cherokee in December and honestly FCAs response on the drag link issue makes me second guess that. I prefer to buy American, but this issue, examples like this thread, similar dealings I've had with Chevy on warranty issues, my brother has gotten similar treatment from Chevy on warranty issues, etc....I dont know if my future vehicles will be American, and that's sad.

My thoughts entirely. This example shows a lack of customer retention on FCA's part. I was 2 months out of powertrain warranty when the rear diff on my last Ram **** the bed. No assistance from FCA, but I bought a new one regardless. Pretty sure this will be my last FCA product, not because something broke, but because of their lack of customer service.

 

[88ROOK]

Sure I get it, warranty is technically up. I also just saw my brother in law have issues with his 2016 Tundra that is 35k out of warranty and without even asking they offered to cover 50% of the repair (head gasket). What burns me is that FCA wouldn't even offer to diagnose the issue and it's less than 4k out.

A friend has a snap on Verus that we used, wouldn't clear as the code is active, new speed sensor is still reading 0 mph at the left rear.

if you have a good relationship with your dealer they usually help you out, Obviously you dont. FCA is in no way shape or form to help you out, now the dealer on the other hand is the one to step in and there are technically 2 Checkbooks, one from FCA and the one the dealer has in these cases. This is all on the dealership so no need to get pissy with FCA, especially if you spent that much money and you didnt get an additional warranty from your dealership.

 

[Jrod]

Honda and Toyotas customer service and stepping up to address issues are second to none. Not so with GM, Ford and Chrysler. It's sad but true. The time I've personally invested in fighting the drag link recall on my 2500 to get FCA to do the right thing is ridiculous.

I bought a new jeep Cherokee in December and honestly FCAs response on the drag link issue makes me second guess that. I prefer to buy American, but this issue, examples like this thread, similar dealings I've had with Chevy on warranty issues, my brother has gotten similar treatment from Chevy on warranty issues, etc....I dont know if my future vehicles will be American, and that's sad.

Funny, I ran into a couple of “out of warranty issues” in the last couple of decades over the span of a Neon, 3 Ram’s, 3 Jeep’s, and a Challenger. My service department has never let me down. In short, it seems like you’ve got a bum dealer.

 

[chrisbh17]

if you have a good relationship with your dealer they usually help you out, Obviously you dont. FCA is in no way shape or form to help you out, now the dealer on the other hand is the one to step in and there are technically 2 Checkbooks, one from FCA and the one the dealer has in these cases. This is all on the dealership so no need to get pissy with FCA, especially if you spent that much money and you didnt get an additional warranty from your dealership.

Define "good relationship".....

Are you saying if I pay them for the overpriced, unnecessary "3 month checkup" every 3 months, maybe they'll make sure FCA covers something on my truck that might happen a month or two after the warranty ends?

Or does paying them to change my oil every now and then qualify as a "good relationship"?

FCA reimburses a dealer for the warranty work they do. If the dealer isnt 100% sure FCA will reimburse them, I wouldnt expect them to "goodwill" anything, regardless of how many unnecessary services and/or oil changes Ive paid them to do.

 

[88ROOK]

Define "good relationship".....

Are you saying if I pay them for the overpriced, unnecessary "3 month checkup" every 3 months, maybe they'll make sure FCA covers something on my truck that might happen a month or two after the warranty ends?

Or does paying them to change my oil every now and then qualify as a "good relationship"?

FCA reimburses a dealer for the warranty work they do. If the dealer isnt 100% sure FCA will reimburse them, I wouldnt expect them to "goodwill" anything, regardless of how many unnecessary services and/or oil changes Ive paid them to do.

NO FCA wont reimburse them if its out warranty, its on the dealerships dime. not sure why people that worry about the warranty wouldnt take their truck to the dealership. i get 50% off coupons all the time from mopar for oil changes and check ups

 

[chrisbh17]

NO FCA wont reimburse them if its out warranty, its on the dealerships dime. not sure why people that worry about the warranty wouldnt take their truck to the dealership. i get 50% off coupons all the time from mopar for oil changes and check ups

We used to have an Acura TL that had "lifetime free oil changes" from the selling dealer. For the first couple years it was OK, then I started to notice things like grease marks left on the interior, smoking from oil that was splattered onto exhaust manifold, etc.

I basically assume dealers put their newest, least experienced tech onto small things like oil changes and tire rotations.....that's not how I want my vehicle taken care of.

 

[Brandon-w]

We used to have an Acura TL that had "lifetime free oil changes" from the selling dealer. For the first couple years it was OK, then I started to notice things like grease marks left on the interior, smoking from oil that was splattered onto exhaust manifold, etc.

I basically assume dealers put their newest, least experienced tech onto small things like oil changes and tire rotations.....that's not how I want my vehicle taken care of.

The thing that chaps me and keep in mind everyone has to start somewhere. That guy doing your oil change with minimal experience is being charged out at the $100-120 an hour but getting paid $15-20 and isn't being watched or work double ckecked. This is why I don't like dealerships. When I worked at the dealer and you did the job in better than book time and customer was waiting you were to leave the vehicle on the hoist and bring another in and start on it so they could charge it out at full without customers complaining...

 

[chrisbh17]

The thing that chaps me and keep in mind everyone has to start somewhere. That guy doing your oil change with minimal experience is being charged out at the $100-120 an hour but getting paid $15-20 and isn't being watched or work double ckecked. This is why I don't like dealerships. When I worked at the dealer and you did the job in better than book time and customer was waiting you were to leave the vehicle on the hoist and bring another in and start on it so they could charge it out at full without customers complaining...

Yep. So basically Im supposed to trust a business that pulls stunts like that with the vehicle I already paid them for, so I can pay them to "service" it in that manner. SorryNotSorry, its not going to happen.

Also a timely email just arrived....offer from our Lexus dealer for $50.00 off an oil change. The fact they give $50 off and it isnt actually FREE is just crazy IMHO. Its $125 to change the oil in my wife's ES350....why? "it requires fully synthetic oil". But if it didnt require synthetic, the oil change would be $24.95. Im sorry....when did synthetic oil cost $100.00 more than non-synth?

I can buy the exact same oil they would use from their very own parts department for $7/quart. The non-synth stuff is probably $4/qt, the engine takes 6 quarts. Total price difference between synth and non-synth oil: $18. Where does the other $82 difference come from? Is it somehow more labor intensive filling with synthetic vs non-synthetic?