Ram not so tuff!!!!
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Ram not so tuff!!!!
I need some advice.
Situation: My son was driving my 2008 Ram, 41K miles on it, when at a stop light the light turned green. My son hit the gas to go and heard what he called "tick, tick, bang" and then smoke poured out from under the hood. This happened right in front of the stealership. Upon further investigation by myself and the stealership, we found a hole the size of a half dollar in the block by the started. The dealer claims that I threw a rod due to hydrolock. Keep in mind that it hadn't rained in days. So I know it wasn't from hitting a puddle. With so few miles, I would doubt that the engine cracked and coolant caused it. I don't know what to think. Luckily it has an extended warranty. However, the warranty company is making this as painful as possible. I am having to pay a grand to have the stealership take the block apart before the warranty folks will even send an inspector out to look at it. What can I expect from inspector gadget? I have heard nothing positive about this process at all. Though I am not ASE certified, I am pretty mechanically inclined. We have done all of the scheduled maintenance at the prescribed intervals and have the reciepts to prove it (as well as having filled out the maintenance log in the owners manual). Any tips/advice are greatlly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Situation: My son was driving my 2008 Ram, 41K miles on it, when at a stop light the light turned green. My son hit the gas to go and heard what he called "tick, tick, bang" and then smoke poured out from under the hood. This happened right in front of the stealership. Upon further investigation by myself and the stealership, we found a hole the size of a half dollar in the block by the started. The dealer claims that I threw a rod due to hydrolock. Keep in mind that it hadn't rained in days. So I know it wasn't from hitting a puddle. With so few miles, I would doubt that the engine cracked and coolant caused it. I don't know what to think. Luckily it has an extended warranty. However, the warranty company is making this as painful as possible. I am having to pay a grand to have the stealership take the block apart before the warranty folks will even send an inspector out to look at it. What can I expect from inspector gadget? I have heard nothing positive about this process at all. Though I am not ASE certified, I am pretty mechanically inclined. We have done all of the scheduled maintenance at the prescribed intervals and have the reciepts to prove it (as well as having filled out the maintenance log in the owners manual). Any tips/advice are greatlly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Champion
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,697
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From: Cape Carteret NC
I hate lawyers.. even though I'm dating one..
they are a necessary evil, though.. mine is on more than one level.. anyway:
the warranty folks have to prove it's your fault, you don't have to prove anything.. they try to keep you from knowing that for some reason.. huh.. anyway- get a lawyer involved, and see how fast things 'correct' themselves..
there is no reason that engine should have tossed a rod unless something was wrong- and I doubt you had anything to do with it.. it sounds like something put together wrong to me.. at the factory..
they are a necessary evil, though.. mine is on more than one level.. anyway:
the warranty folks have to prove it's your fault, you don't have to prove anything.. they try to keep you from knowing that for some reason.. huh.. anyway- get a lawyer involved, and see how fast things 'correct' themselves..
there is no reason that engine should have tossed a rod unless something was wrong- and I doubt you had anything to do with it.. it sounds like something put together wrong to me.. at the factory..
Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 723
Likes: 8
From: Dublin, OH
I agree with Drew, get a lawyer involved and I would imagine you will see them straighten up. I hope you got that warranty through Chrysler, not aftermarket, those aftermarket ones are all a bunch of garbage imo. The Chrysler one seems to be ok in my experience. I imagine you will have to fight them the whole way, but stick with it you are clearly in the right in this situation. Good job on keeping your maintenance records, that may help.
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The warranty was bought at the dealership at the time of purchase. An extended warranty paid for itself on my son's SAAB (bad fuel pump). So I am an advocate for an extended warranty. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen. Thanks for the legal advice. I got screwed by Toyota with one of their "stuck gas pedal" cars. I had a 2008 SE with a V6, that rascal was fast. But the gas pedal did go all the way to the floor on me in that car 3 times. I traded it in for the safety of my wife and son, as they wouldn't know what to do if it happened to them. This left me WAY upside down. Sad part about this ram is; my son just paid for dual exhaust $381 and I haven't even heard the new magnaflow's yet.
My thought is; I got screwed by Toyota and I'll be damned if I get screwed by Dodge. Plus I am going through chemo and got PTSD from Iraq. Ah hell, it might be a wrestling match when inspector gadget shows up.
I want to be there when inspector gadget comes. My theory is, I can be an *** when need be. Do you advise against that and let the dealer and the warranty co. hash this out.
I checked into the warranty company online. In big bold red letters they state "Backed by $55 Billion in assets". If my engine is 10k that is less than 1% of their assets. So their asses can write a check from their assets and not even flinch.
My thought is; I got screwed by Toyota and I'll be damned if I get screwed by Dodge. Plus I am going through chemo and got PTSD from Iraq. Ah hell, it might be a wrestling match when inspector gadget shows up.
I want to be there when inspector gadget comes. My theory is, I can be an *** when need be. Do you advise against that and let the dealer and the warranty co. hash this out.
I checked into the warranty company online. In big bold red letters they state "Backed by $55 Billion in assets". If my engine is 10k that is less than 1% of their assets. So their asses can write a check from their assets and not even flinch.
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I keep a receipt book for all of my cars. It has paid off so many times on my other cars that I have changed wheel bearings or batteries. If anyone reads this and hasn't started a folder on their car. Take my advice and start one today. I have EVERYTHING from window tint to tires.
Thanks for the fast reply's. You guys are awesome.
Thanks for the fast reply's. You guys are awesome.
Champion
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,697
Likes: 3
From: Cape Carteret NC
my guess is if you tell them politely and with a smile on your face, pleasant tone of voice, and all that jazz :
"I'm not going to argue with you; You're going to repair it without complaint or I'm going to cut a lawyer loose on you and it will end up costing you not only the repairs, but also the legal fees for both of us- I don't have any other inclination to deal with you any other way if you attempt anything I view as dishonest"..
allow that to sink in for just a second before adding:
"I'm dead serious, I won't stand for anything else- and I will make this as painless or painful for you as you make it for me.."
then straight up ask them what their projected time your out of wheels will be..
you'll get their attention a lot better if you're not a raving lunatic, but instead, calculated and firm.. do it.. hide and watch.. see what happens..
"I'm not going to argue with you; You're going to repair it without complaint or I'm going to cut a lawyer loose on you and it will end up costing you not only the repairs, but also the legal fees for both of us- I don't have any other inclination to deal with you any other way if you attempt anything I view as dishonest"..
allow that to sink in for just a second before adding:
"I'm dead serious, I won't stand for anything else- and I will make this as painless or painful for you as you make it for me.."
then straight up ask them what their projected time your out of wheels will be..
you'll get their attention a lot better if you're not a raving lunatic, but instead, calculated and firm.. do it.. hide and watch.. see what happens..
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Record Breaker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,130
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From: Eastern, NC
Rarely does being an *** help things. And, believe me, that doesn't come from my being a goody 2 shoes, it comes from past experience of being an *** and finding it didn't help after the fact.
Don't keep it a secret that you can prove everything was maintained properly. So many people, including myself, don't do a great job of keeping a good history and they may try to play that card against you if they can. You not have to go through the expense of getting a lawyer if you can do a good job of convincing them that you won't hesitate to retain one if necessary.
I assume that grand you have to pay would ultimately be reimbursed under the warranty as long as the findings show that the warranty should cover the repairs? If not, that's a pretty chitty warranty plan.
Don't keep it a secret that you can prove everything was maintained properly. So many people, including myself, don't do a great job of keeping a good history and they may try to play that card against you if they can. You not have to go through the expense of getting a lawyer if you can do a good job of convincing them that you won't hesitate to retain one if necessary.
I assume that grand you have to pay would ultimately be reimbursed under the warranty as long as the findings show that the warranty should cover the repairs? If not, that's a pretty chitty warranty plan.
Well to start off, thanks for serving our country I also was in the Army
Second,you can get a lawyer but most lawyers won't touch the subject without some kind of down payment and it will probly cost about a grand which is same for tearing the block apart
Third, being an a$$ can help you but also screw you but before you try that route which is the route I always take but know your facts and all the info you can otherwise you go from being an a$$ to a dumba$$ which probly won't work, I would start out by talking to a supervisor of the warranty company and explain to them what's going on and then ask him to show you where in the warranty it states you are required to pay to have engine taken apart so they can look at it or you can tell them you will pay the grand but once they see that you are under warranty and they can repay you for the grand you had to spend to show them that what happened was under warranty and if they refuse then I would go to the lawyer solution and spend the money on one and I would go after them to replace part along with repaying you for the lawyer fees along with a small compensation for the time it took to get the problem solved
Like I said tho I'm always an a$$ and it usually works member customer is always right, but I know my facts first
Second,you can get a lawyer but most lawyers won't touch the subject without some kind of down payment and it will probly cost about a grand which is same for tearing the block apart
Third, being an a$$ can help you but also screw you but before you try that route which is the route I always take but know your facts and all the info you can otherwise you go from being an a$$ to a dumba$$ which probly won't work, I would start out by talking to a supervisor of the warranty company and explain to them what's going on and then ask him to show you where in the warranty it states you are required to pay to have engine taken apart so they can look at it or you can tell them you will pay the grand but once they see that you are under warranty and they can repay you for the grand you had to spend to show them that what happened was under warranty and if they refuse then I would go to the lawyer solution and spend the money on one and I would go after them to replace part along with repaying you for the lawyer fees along with a small compensation for the time it took to get the problem solved
Like I said tho I'm always an a$$ and it usually works member customer is always right, but I know my facts first
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Rarely does being an *** help things. And, believe me, that doesn't come from my being a goody 2 shoes, it comes from past experience of being an *** and finding it didn't help after the fact.
Don't keep it a secret that you can prove everything was maintained properly. So many people, including myself, don't do a great job of keeping a good history and they may try to play that card against you if they can. You not have to go through the expense of getting a lawyer if you can do a good job of convincing them that you won't hesitate to retain one if necessary.
I assume that grand you have to pay would ultimately be reimbursed under the warranty as long as the findings show that the warranty should cover the repairs? If not, that's a pretty chitty warranty plan.
Don't keep it a secret that you can prove everything was maintained properly. So many people, including myself, don't do a great job of keeping a good history and they may try to play that card against you if they can. You not have to go through the expense of getting a lawyer if you can do a good job of convincing them that you won't hesitate to retain one if necessary.
I assume that grand you have to pay would ultimately be reimbursed under the warranty as long as the findings show that the warranty should cover the repairs? If not, that's a pretty chitty warranty plan.
I will definitely keep you all updated as this plays out.