Hey all Im new to the forums, but could use some help from all of you out there.

Little back ground, Im 22 I have owned 3 dodge rams in my life. The first was a 71 d100 that the piston rings let go after 400,000+ miles on the motor. I was the 13 and 15 th owner on it. I also owned a 2000 dodge ram 1500 truck ran great until an injector broke and leaked on the freeway. The truck unfortunately burned down, but insurance prevailed. So I went and bought a 2005 Hemi 1500 4x4. The truck was running fine until the 5th day with about 400 miles on it, the rear main seal started leaking as well as the master cylinder. The dealership repaired the problems and I had my truck back. To make a long story short, the truck went in for service 16 times in the first 8 weeks of ownership for various problems with the headlights failing and brakes failing on me. The headlights were a faulty wire that kept shorting out, and the brakes were a result of a crack in the master cylinder resevoir that I found when the brakes went out, but the dealership failed to find it after 2 times in, and me telling them about it. Needless to say it was a lemon, now on top of all that I have my major problem. The motor hydrolocked after 5450 miles, as a result of hitting a 3-5inch deep puddle on the highway up to clearlake california. The dealership said that its my fault even though the stock cold air intake is well below the inner fender well. As a result of the hydrolocking the motor has a 6inch in diameter hole on the passenger side of the motor from the front of the motor to the motor mount. Its actually kind of cool because the motor still starts and sprays oil from the filter through said hole and all over the ground. Interesting sight to see. Any suggestions on how I can get chrysler to fix the problem, so far estimated costs are about 8000 and still climbing.

 

WOW![sm=jawdrop.gif] Good luck with that. Dodge came through for me but it took going to a different dealership. Mine wasn't hydrolocked but pistons 4 and 6 cracked and then broke the rings which then came apart and did a few laps around the cylinders. Dodge was very clear with me when they told me that if they tear down the motor and find any reason that it was my fault then i would be stuck with the bill. They didn't. I got a new hemi.
Your in a very bad situation. I can't see any way out of it at this point.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...62951936KCXEuy

 

Try another dealer. See what they say. Then I would call the Dodge HQ's. THreaten a lawsuit. The worst they can say is no, the won't cover it. But, I would definatley talk to a lawyer. That sucks man, and I hope it works out in your favor.

Chris

 

Thats just it, I have threatened with a laywer and Dodge HQ literally Laughed at me and said see if we care!!! not speaking well for customer service.

In my case chrysler was already going to buy it back under the lemon law, and three days after they said they would and needed to get the paper work in order I hit a puddle on the highway. They had the truck in thier possession for 2 months and all they did was put it in the air and go Yep theres the hole. They didnt tell me at any point that it was hydro locked either, im assuming that is what they mean when the say after pulling the plastic airbox off of the motor and looking through the throttle body and I quote "water intrusion in clean side of manifold" that is the only thing they told me. They never informed me of when the inspection was going to take place and the guy looked at it for less than 2 hours. What the heck does water intrusion in the clean side of the manifold mean anyway, especially after sitting for 2 months.

I forgot to mention when the dealership had the truck in thier possession at one point they ran it into a pole and forgot to replace the airfilter and I drove it for 3 weeks with out an air filter in it. A note for all of you out there do not buy nor have your truck serviced from Hartzheim dodge in california!!!

 

In my opinion threatening DCX with a lawyer is like threatening to shoot an elephant with a pellet gun. The folks I think you have a claim against are the dealership itself, along with perhaps a life lesson (i.e. if they are gonna lemon law it don't even so much as move it a foot 'till it's done). What may work better for you is to try once more to calmly take it up with the most Sr. person you can work with at the dealership. If you get angry and start to threaten stuff they will just clam up and your done....this is sort of a last effort and strategy. Assuming they'll do nothing your next step could be to then write a very fact based letter, which in-between emphasizes how this has ruined your hopes and dreams forever (again strategy) and send that to the owner of the dealership, with a copy going to your local BBB, State Attorney General, Dept. of consumer protection, and any other lemon, watchdog, etc. type group you can find. Also consider sending the same to say your local TV station...if you manage to get their attention the dealership would just loooooove to have that kind of story air At the very least most of these agencies, some with and some without any power, will demand a written response from the dealership (i.e. putting the poor person at the dealership through hell getting to re-explain to everyone)....So for the strategy, you were nice and didn't threaten anything in the end, just wanted to work it out....then BAM....they are in letter hell...I used to have to deal with this stuff for a technology company and can tell you that it can put real pressure on them to just make it go away...

Sorry to hear of your horrible issue and good luck....

 

I cant believe a RAM cant take a 6 inch puddle and survive. Try another dealer this is BULL that they will not take care of you.

 

I've put mine through puddle's over a foot deep, I dont know how it wouldnt take a 6 inch puddle. It's worded weirdly, "even though the stock cold air intake..." does that mean he has a non stock intake on it?

 

my question is what caused the hole. if the engine still turns then you did not hydrolock it. it sounds more like it threw a rod, which would be an engine malfunction and not your fault.

now, if it was hydrolocked, the engine wouldnt turn at all. you would have bent rods and most likely a cracked crank, or a cracked block.

 

What he said. I wish I had some good advice to give about this. I don't. I just know the squeaky wheel gets the grease so keep climbing the ladder.
I'm really confused on the water issue. When you hit the puddle did it blow? A 5" to 6" puddle should be nothing. Heck, even a Jeep is rated at 20" of water - STOCK! I'm thinking that an issue was found with your truck that was about to cost someone some money and they are doing everything they can to find excuses to get out of it. That's a real shame too. Everything has it's problems but for the most part, D/C makes a good product.
The real seal to me is an issue. Something caused it to start leaking - possibly from bad or improperly installed main bearings causing the crank to "wallow out" the seal since it was loose. Was it knocking or anything before it blew?

 

that a 6in puddle caused it to hydrolock has got to be bullcrap. the ram 1500 st has 7.4in (lowest amount of any of em) there should be no way if that thing was put together right for this to be a problem.