Hey all this is the first time in a while for me on the Ram forum. I was on the Plymouth Breeze forum last month. So here it goes.

1. Took the Ram to Savannah Ga Dodge back in Jan 21, for the 60,000 mile tranny filter change (both filters) that was at about 61,800. They are the big Dodge dealer here on the national circuit and all for South East GA, it is where we bought it from. It now has 65400 because of a trip up to NC and back. Well I go and check all the fluids last week on 21 Feb the Saturday before the trip and low and behold the tranny is 2 3/4 qts low WTF!!! I'm freaking and take it to my local mechanic and the Advanced Auto guy so I have witness's to this. I call Savannah Dodge and tell them what has happened and they said the service guy will call back right away I end up recalling 45 minutes later I retell my story to him "Willie" and he says go get some from the auto parts store and put it in and recheck it and bring up the receipt and they will reimburse me. I had already done this at the Advance Auto and checked it. It's G-2-G, so I ask him what about the 12,000/1 year warranty they put on the bottom of the bill he said they "could” not "would” do something. I'm like hey I've been towing and put about 2200 miles on it since the change WTF?? I told him I'll be up there when I get back from NC because we had no time for it now.

Savannah Dodge is about 30 miles out our way, but I know I'm going to take it as soon as I get back. Well we get back on 28 Feb had to go to work I figure that I'll run up this week on Thursday. Here's the thing all of a sudden the "Check Engine” light comes on I do a check of the oil and it's about 3/4 low another WTF. I just changed it at 61,000 with Mobil 1 synthetic 5W-30 it wasn't low before the trip so I add in Valvoline 20W-50 synthetic they didn't have Mobil 1 in 20W-50 at the time not sure if the Mobil 1 5W-30 is too thin. But the light is still on. What could it be?? Please any suggestions, we checked the manual and it mentioned the emissions but not really anything else

The tranny thing shouldn't have caused it right?? Or should I wait for the oil to work through?? I'm taking it into my mechanic tomorrow then up to Savannah Dodge, not sure if I trust them though.

Thanks, Hayden

 

Find out what code it is, turn the ignition on off on off on

 

Getting the code read and posting it here will be a huge help. Advanced, Autozone, etc will do this for free. Sounds like the dealer screwed something up big. There's no way it should lose that much tranny fluid. 3/4 of a quart low could mean that they didn't put in the right amount. Did you check it when you first got it back?

 

First of all, the Check engine light could be for something as simple as a loose of faulty gas cap. There is no way of knowing unless you pull the code.
Second, the 5w-30 is not too thin, but if you look at your owners manual, it's on the thick side as 5w-20 is called for in '05 and newer Hemi's. The 20w-50 is not only too thick, but will cause issues in an engine with tolerances as tight as the Hemi.

 

Thanks all, I'll try the on off on off with the key tomorrow. And I'll get the code checked at Advanced Auto or my regular mechanic nd post it in the next day or two

And it was 2 and 3/4 quarts low on the Tranny fluid. No I should have checked it after, but again it was the dealer and I was sure they would get it right. Last time that happens, boy was the wife mad on that one. The Tech that did the change even stated how clean the fluid was and I didn't even have to change it. I still have the filters they took out in my shed.

You hear all the horror stories but you try to be trusting of the "Big" dealers. I'll be doing my own tranny filter change out in anothe 45,000 + miles.

Will the 3/4 of a quart of 20W-50 really mess it up?? I'm considering doing another oil change and switching to the new Valvoline Snythetic. Why would it burn/use 3/4 of a quart, it never did that before and no there isn't any leaks or blow by out of the exhaust. Wierd.

 

For the oil: With such a small amount mixed in with the right stuff, you are probably ok. Just change it out sooner rather than waiting for your next change interval. Check for obvious leaks (the filter, the plug), and if you don't see any and the level remains ok now, I would think that they just didn't top it off properly. I wouldn't take it back to that dealer again...

 

You don't need to take it to autozone to have the code checked, you can check it yourself with the key in the ignition.

 

Yeah, I forgot the older ones still did that. I don't think mine does.


I'm not a big fan of dealers for work. Not only are they more expensive, but they don't have the same personal attention as a local shop. On my old truck I took it to a local place down the street from me. I also get my gas there often, and talk to the owner when he pumps the gas for me (it's full service). They know they have to earn your business, and take the extra steps.

 

My 08 does it, will display codes like that.

 

Yeah like it was said in previous posts you can check the codes by just turning the ignition on,off,on,off,on and the codes will come up in your odometer window. Get them and post them on here and someone will tell you what the problem is.