I took my 97 Dodge Ram 5.9L 4x4 xcab in to the stealership today to get the $12 inspection so that I can register it and become legal in Missouri. I told them that I was aware that the reverse lights didn't work and that it isn't because of the bulbs (I put new ones in). I told them to just go ahead and figure out why they don't work, and fix it, but to call me on anything else needed to pass inspection. And I threw them a bone and told them to give me the $35 oil change - hoping that they would be nice on me.

3 hours later I get a call. "Back up lights don't work, but they don't need to in order to pass inspection. And they probably don't work because the tranny is leaking onto the neutral safety switch, which will probably need to be replaced at some time." - ok, so I don't have to pay for them to diagnose the problem.

Here is where it gets hairy. They said, "Your steering dampener boot is cracked and leaking oil onto the track bar and the dampener will need to be replaced to pass inspection - $145.59"

"The trac bar needs replaced because it has play in it - $264.08"

and here is the kicker - "Your right front brake line washer needs to be replaced where the hose connects to the caliper. Because we would need to replace the hose, washer, and power bleed the system - $116.56"

I replaced the calipers back in Nov and haven't noticed a drip anywhere. When I picked up the truck and drove it home, I noticed there was enough brake fluid leaking to spray up in and around the wheel well. I climbed under and low and behold, it is actually dripping about every 15-sec. So I tighten the bolt, which I could move nearly a 1/4 turn, and sprayed everything off with Brake Cleaner........no leak!

Either they saw the leak and didn't want to put a wrench on it to try and tighten it, or they loosened it slightly to get the drip. Either way, I am now questioning everything else that was needed to pass inspection. (never mind that I can put a new rancho dampener on for under $60 in 2 min.)

So they want a total of $526+ to make it pass inspection.

I am thinking of taking it to another inspection place for a completely independant opinion after replacing the steering dampener. Worth the $12 inspection fee to me. What say you guys?

Oh...and here is a list of other items that they say is needed to be completed soon, aside from the inspection items:

Tansmission Cooler Lines $494
Valve Cover Gasket and breather $310
Rigth Ront Axle U-joint $354 (I actually think it needs a new wheel bearing because I noticed the play in the wheel when it is jacked off of the ground)
Rear main seal $508
Transmission service $214 (power drain and fill, replacment of tranny filter)
Transfer Case Extension Housing Seal $311 (no explaination why)
Neutral Safety Switch $75

 

lol dude dealers suck *** but they usually do a good job and what they do lasts along time.

 

Go to a different shop. Most of the stuff you talked about is easy to fix by yourself.

 

that is messed up....they are taking you for a ride dude. I would definitely take it somewhere else for a second inspection. I hate stealerships so much, I would never take somethin there. They get called stealerships for a reason.

I took my wife's blazer to a private shop (not a dealer) for an inspection in November, after replacing everything that I could find that might not pass, like tires, new windshield, couple other small things. They called me back saying it needed close to $1000 worth of repairs to pass. Wheel bearings, exhaust, pitman arm, ball joints, the works pretty much.... Well I always do all my own work anyway so I took it home to check all this stuff out, well turns out it was all fine. So I took it to a closer shop in my town, trustworthy long time mechanic in the community. Passed with flying colours.

This isn't really a lesson in bad dealer service, but it goes to show that a second opinion really matters.

 

Yeh, I can't find any play in the track bar. There is play in the steering wheel, but it doesn't go past the power steering pump, nor the track bar. It is all between the steering wheel and the pump. ( I chalked that up to a 13 year old vehicle).

 

chalk that up to Dodge's crappy, sloppy steering

 

I was going to say that I have been used to Toyota's solid steering for the past 10 years....but in light of recent developments, I kept that one to myself. lol.

I bet you with a new steering stabilizer, I could take it anywhere and it will pass. I know the right front wheel bearing needs replaced, but that shouldn't effect the safety inspection, right?

 

around here a bad wheel bearing would fail it, it should be like that anywhere, its a safety issue..... No one wants a front wheel bearing to let go while driving....

So them yotas steer good eh? Too bad about the whole, y'know, other stuff

 

[quote=Maxx_Magnum;2022873So them yotas steer good eh? Too bad about the whole, y'know, other stuff [/quote]

HA! Well, I am sure it does steer good parked in the driveway lol

 

You need to tell that dealer he needs to seek help b/c they have "lost their mind". The steering stabilizer on my 95 is for looks. There was absolutly no difference at all in the stock steering stabilizer, not having one on it at all, and a new Rancho.