I dropped my '05 Ram 1500 QC 4x4 off Sunday night and slipped my keys in the early bird slot. I left a note saing I had a pwoer steering leak, a P0404 code (EGR) and a P0700 (trans malfunction). Plus a burned-out cigarette lighter and I needed an oil change with Mobil 1 (too freakin' cold out right now to DIY).

Monday I get the call. Everything's done except for the power steering. It needs a new reservoir and they are out of stock and it won't be in until Tuesday morning. Can you leave it? To be honest, I think they are changing the reservoir as a precautionary move, but that's fine with me.

So yeah, keep it! I got my neighbor to drive me over so I could get my work-related articles, and Tuesday morning I drove my wife to work in her '06 Santa Fe and continued on to work. I picked her up on the way home and I dropped myself off at the dealer and told her I would see her at home in a few minutes. I paid for the oil change, cranked up teh engine and took about 5 minutes recording the warranty repairs and oil change in the service manual.

Done with that, I put the trans in D and I made it to the end of the lot when ding! the Check Engine lamp illuminated! I brought it back in, they hooked up the scanner and said it probably is a PCM or a wiring discrepancy. So I had to leave it overnight again!

At least they put me in a decent rental. Decent as far as it isn't some econobox. But driving to work in a '07 Grand Caravan just ain't the same as my Ram!

But I'd rather all the repairs be done, and done right, then to have to bring it back again later on.

 

Sounds like alot of fun. How is it being a soccer mom for a day? I bet that thing has some power...

 

At least they didn't leave you walking... What code did it set as you were trying to leave?

 

It popped the P0404 code again, which shows it most likely wasn't the EGR valve itself, but something in the circuitry or control.

Hey, I'm not complaining about the dealer's service. They have been doing great! I just wasn't prepared for a minivan that smelled like a French whorehouse!

 

OK, it was finished after I got off work yesterday. They drove it over 30miles and the CE lamp never illuminated again and no more P0404 code. Must be just "one of those things."

Now, I drove about 6-7 miles from teh dealer and picked my daughter up from her friend's house on the way home. After a few miles I asked her if she detected anything different. She said yes, it feels like it's running smoother. That's what I felt. No more shuddering under acceleration, especially undera load (like uphill). The trans seemed to shift crisper, also.

This morning I reset the mileage computer. After my 32 mile commute I was averaging 17.0 MPG. I had been averaging 13.5-14.0 MPG. I certainly need to put some more miles on it before I come to the firm conclusion that replacing a faulty EGR valve would increase my fuel economy that much, but it appears to be doing so.

Oh, be careful if you get a replacement cigar lighter! On my first use, it popped out like a rocket and almost went under my seat! It doesn't seem to fit as tight as the original one.