I was reading a few posts on other dodge and/or truck forums and am starting to see a pattern of HEMI owners having a valve stuck open/closed or the valve actaully dropping completely right around 30K miles??? Has anyone else heard these rumors? Has anyone who works at a dealership seen or heard of any TSB's on the issue? I'm a bit concerned since my valve train chatters like a deisel and I'm fast approaching 20K miles already.

thanks,
Hemiwolf

 

I have heard this too from a couple people, one here at work, and a buddy in my neighborhood. I'm starting to wonder myself about these dang things!

 

Try this. I found a ton of stuff for the Durango, maybe theres some stuff for the Ram..


http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...aintsearch.cfm

 

This is the first I've heard mention of a potential problem. I have somebody I can check with to see if there's any word.

Where were you reading these posts at? I visit several Dodge boards and have never seen anyone mention this. I'll keep my eyes open though.

Get us some links if you can.

 

Thanks for the link to NHTSA

Sure enough complaints are out there as well as a service bullitin regarding valve spring breakage.
check it out using the following link and information.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...aintsearch.cfm

Make : DODGE Model : RAM Year : 2003
Service Bulletin Num : 02021
Date of Bulletin: NOV 04, 2002
NHTSA Item Number: 10000442
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

This sucks! I am going to call the dealership TODAY and see what they can do BEFORE my engine takes a giant heaping crap all over the place.

 

Hemiwolf. I saw the complaint you were talking about. I'm not familiar with the NHSTA site and how they compile information on vehicles, but it seemed that this is just one incident. Is that right? What is the "service bulletin number" above and what does it reference to? Is this dealer related?
Thanks for the information and let us know what the dealer said.

 

The technical Service Bulletin number is a DODGE issued notice that DODGE sends out to all the dealerships making them aware of the problem. Amazingly enough, dealerships will often deny a widespread problem exists unless YOU TELL THEM the TSB number directly. Even then they will still try to find some reason not to address it under warrenty. I believe you are right about the NHTSA complaint being a single compaint. But I have seen lots of others with the problem on the web. pickuptrucks.com I think had several with the issue. The fact that DODGE has a TSB on the issue is proof enough for me that I should be concerned and make a phone call. I will ceratinly let you know what the dealership says.

 

Thanks man. Good luck with the dealership. When valve springs break, REAL bad things happen.[sm=sigh.gif]

 

I called the dealership, they were not very helpful. They would not confirm for me that the TSB even exists. I also could not find the TSB on ALLDATA.com which is usually fantastic for such things. I'm a bit confused, have made an apointment to have the truck looked at, and can't do much more until "REAL bad things happen." If anyone else can shed any light on the issue it would be appreciated.

 

Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Several months ago I had a similar situation with my Intrepid. I had heard that a TSB was issued for a defective floor shifter and of course the dealership denied it. Two weeks ago I received a recall notice to have it fixed.