Power Wagon Registry

Had my truck at the dealer for a month because of a front pinion seal leak for the third time. They blamed it on me offroading the truck too much which I do. Its a damn power wagon and its made to go off road. I drive trucks offroad for a living and have never had a truck with a pinion leak(all fords). They ended up replacing the entire axle. My truck was returned to me with the death wobble which I never had before. Also the front locker doesn't work and that worked before I brought it in. I think they fried the actuator by not unhooking the battery according to someone I talked to there. They said they are going to fix the locker but they don't have time to get me in. I think they are trying to delay it because they have to take the diff apart I think to put the actuator in. I can tell they don't want to fix it because its a big job putting the actuator in. I ended up fixing the death wobble myself because the dealer said they could not find the problem. I had the service advisor give me the torque specs for the front end. Almost every bolt was not even close to the right torque. The Only bolts that were right was the pitman arm and track bar bolts. I could actually grab one of the upper control arms and move it back in forth by hand. One of the huge downsides of owning a power wagon is that not many dealers know how to work on them. I had to let the dealer know that the alignment specs are different on a power wagon compared to a 2500. There were also stripped nuts on the stabilizer links. Anyone else have bad experiences at the dealer?

Changing the actuator shouldn't be any more difficult than correctly replacing the pinion seal. However, before you open up the diff double check all connectors from the smart bar down. I'd also get FCA involved.

Unfortunately most dealerships don't understand the difference between the standard 2500 and the PowerWagon. They will dick with your tire pressures without checking the tires for max pressure too. Tire pressure screen shot after oil change at dealership.



I like my pressures high - but not that far over the tire ratings


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Not at all surprised about the stealerships lack of knowledge or care for our precious trucks. I avoid them by all costs, but when it comes to alignments, I'm still trying to find a place local that can actually align my truck properly. I've been using Firestone Auto Care because I have unlimited alignments with them, but every time I go they may fix one tiny thing, but another thing pops it's head out, and I never get a comfortable ride. I'm sure it's the same case, they plug in a VIN or select 2500 into the alignment computers and go to work. Does anyone have any experience with local, chain, shops that actually do a good job?

That's the problem with alignments, most go by some computer that tells them what to do and I think they plug in a regular 2500. The caster is always off and toe will be a wink to far out. I finally gave up once I realized how easy these trucks are to align myself. I can get it perfect and to the point you can set the cruise and get in the back seat.

Will wrote:... I can get it perfect and to the point you can set the cruise and get in the back seat.

And exactly how many times have you actually tried that

With your luck, thats when a bear would run across the road

olyelr wrote:

Will wrote:... I can get it perfect and to the point you can set the cruise and get in the back seat.

And exactly how many times have you actually tried that

With your luck, thats when a bear would run across the road

No worries if I'm in the PW. A new bumper is only $400 and I can change that in 30 minutes.

So if done right, we have a hidden Tesla Autodrive in our trucks?

I needed/still need the physical plug on the truck for the winch. When I asked the dealer they asked me if I installed the winch myself. Doh.

It really is disgraceful that so-called " factory certified " technicians don't know even elementary things about Ram trucks.
My dealership didn't know there was a grease fitting on the front driveshaft and then didn't have a $4 needle adapter to fit it.
This fitting is supposed to be greased, at every oil change, on all Ram 2500/3500 4X4 trucks. Yet the service writers and techs never heard of it.

jsemm wrote: ... I ended up fixing the death wobble myself because the dealer said they could not find the problem. I had the service advisor give me the torque specs for the front end. Almost every bolt was not even close to the right torque. The Only bolts that were right was the pitman arm and track bar bolts. I could actually grab one of the upper control arms and move it back in forth by hand. One of the huge downsides of owning a power wagon is that not many dealers know how to work on them. I had to let the dealer know that the alignment specs are different on a power wagon compared to a 2500. There were also stripped nuts on the stabilizer links. ...

Never been been to the dealer for service and I never will. I do all of my own work for this exact reason; I know how my truck has been put back together: properly. The peace of mind that comes from knowing that your wheels or steering won't fall off while driving 70 down the highway is priceless.

walc wrote:It really is disgraceful that so-called " factory certified " technicians don't know even elementary things about Ram trucks.
My dealership didn't know there was a grease fitting on the front driveshaft and then didn't have a $4 needle adapter to fit it.
This fitting is supposed to be greased, at every oil change, on all Ram 2500/3500 4X4 trucks. Yet the service writers and techs never heard of it.

Along with the origins of the universe, this will remain one of life's greatest mysteries. Isn't there even a sticker right there on top of the radiator support?

NovA ProspekT wrote:Along with the origins of the universe, this will remain one of life's greatest mysteries. Isn't there even a sticker right there on top of the radiator support?

Yes, and makes you want to pop the hood, point at it and while he is looking at it, grab him by the back of the head and slam his forehead into it. "Do you see it now?"

Yeah, I had to show them the sticker under the hood & the owners manual where it says to grease at every oil change....................................Their respose:.........wait for it..............."You see that rubber accordion boot"......Yeah......"Well, that is full of grease & as a result, is lubed for life" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just looked at him & said "your an idiot". So, then I had to point to the double cardan joint-----(which is at the opposite end of the front driveshaft), use his light & show him the little shiny dimple in it & said "that is the grease point right there". He continued to argue & they never did lube it.

Dealer = Last resort, for me.

walc wrote:This fitting is supposed to be greased, at every oil change, on all Ram 2500/3500 4X4 trucks. Yet the service writers and techs never heard of it.

How can I tell if this has been done?

Honestly, doing it yourself insures it is done & done right. That is a fitting that is easy to do wrong, meaning, if you see fresh grease in there, that still does not guarantee it was done right.

If you see grease coming out by the u-joints, then it is done right. Many people can do it while on the truck. I can't. I take it off the truck & do it on a table. PITA, yes, but when I do it, i know it is done right.

LagunaH1 wrote:

walc wrote:This fitting is supposed to be greased, at every oil change, on all Ram 2500/3500 4X4 trucks. Yet the service writers and techs never heard of it.

How can I tell if this has been done?

You will see some evidence of fresh grease at the fitting.

I posted a negative review, on Yelp*, and contacted Ram Customer Assistance about my issue.
The reply from Ram follows:

Dear Wm A Lee,

Thank you for contacting the RAM Customer Assistance Center.

Your dissatisfaction with the way the situation was handled is
understandable. We are very sorry you?ve had such an experience, and can
only imagine how you must have felt having technicians seeming to not
know what to do.

Information received from customers such as yourself, enables better
evaluation of our dealerships' sales activities and the way they speak
to our potential and long term customers. Your complaint will be
retained in the dealership?s permanent record and forwarded to our
Dealership Development Team for further review. Their conduct in this
case has also been documented in our system.

We do very much value your feedback and opinion, as they are both
extremely important to us. We would hope that your reply is
significantly more favorable the next time you contact one of our
dealerships.

Any future communication related to this issue will be retained in
corporate records.

Thank you again for your email. Should you require additional
assistance, or have any new information to provide, please reply to this
email message or call 1-866-RAM-INFO (1-866-726-4636).

Sincerely,

Royal

Customer Service Representative
RAM Customer Assistance Center

For any future communications related to this email, please refer to the
following information:
REFERENCE NUMBER: 30116494
EMAIL CASE NUMBER: 3385843
REPLY LINK: http://www.chrysler.com/wccs/brand_form ... V35179L0KM&



Original Message Follows:
------------------------
US Customer Service - Ram Brand Site
Brief Description:
Required Maintenance
Comments:
On 8/31/16, I went to Sherwood CDJ Ram, Salisbury, MD for required 8000
mile
service on my 2016 Ram 2500 Power Wagon 4X4. All Ram 2500/3500 4X4
trucks
require lube of the front drive shaft at every oil change, per warning
sticker in engine compartment and owner manual. Sherwood did not even
know
where the grease fitting is located. After I showed the tech, the
grease
point, Sherwood did not have a $4 needle grease fitting to perform this
required maintenance. I asked the service department to contact me when
it
got the necessary $4 tool. Two weeks later, Sherwood has not contacted
me.
This means that a Ram dealer is not doing this required maintenance on
any
2500/3500 4X4 Trucks. I find this negligence unacceptable.

----------------
* Yelp Review: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sherwood-chrys ... e=(direct)

Just curious, has anyone ever taken their truck to a dealership that DID service this grease fitting?

Low_Sky wrote:Just curious, has anyone ever taken their truck to a dealership that DID service this grease fitting?

yep. my dealership 30 minutes away services the blm and ranger pw's. they know all about the sway bar disconnects, lockers, and factory installed winch. they are one of the few.

mike

Low_Sky wrote:Just curious, has anyone ever taken their truck to a dealership that DID service this grease fitting?

Only after I showed them some YouTube videos...

The same dealer left a 1 3/8 inch wrench under the hood after replacing fan clutch. These guys really don't care. If my truck was not under warranty no way would I take it to the dealer. You need to do it yourself if you want it done right.

MSCH2112 wrote:

Low_Sky wrote:Just curious, has anyone ever taken their truck to a dealership that DID service this grease fitting?

yep. my dealership 30 minutes away services the blm and ranger pw's. they know all about the sway bar disconnects, lockers, and factory installed winch. they are one of the few.

mike

When my dealer did not know how to fix/replace my rear locker actuator/tone ring, I asked them---ever so nicely (seriously, I did not even cuss), to please call any 5 star Dodge dealer along the US/Mexican Border & ask them, they will know. Their response: Lots of laughter & "Now why on earth would we do that" !!! I them told the that BP & BLM has fleets of Power Wagons & they service them daily---therefore, by default, they work on them more than anyone else & know more about them. His response: Duh..........I never thought of that . I pointed out that hmmmm, me, just the dumb ass truck owner knew that, yet the service manager did not ??? So, in the end, they said someone had to fly out from somewhere & show them how to do it on my truck, with a tool they did not have, so he brought it with him when he came. I told him it would have been a LOT cheaper to call another dealer & have them walk you through it.

Truck is back at the dealer to get the actuator replaced. They said it will take two full days to replace. I'm thinking it should only take one day. Has anyone had an actuator replaced and how long did it take at the dealer. They told me they know how to do it but if they did it would have been done right the first time.

See above post.

They had my truck 2-3 weeks. Everything has to come out. Axle shafts, ring & pinion, everything. I checked on mine & saw a completely bare axle housing. There was a special tool needed. GL with your repair.

Well assuming they have all the parts and tools I think it should take one day assuming they work on it the whole day