They'll probably tell you that you are the first and only complaint with a tie rod end fracture and blame it on the road conditions. Either that or they blame it on your driving and cargo...better hope you haven't changed your tires since purchase because they'll blame it on that, lol! Good luck!

 

When something fails like a tie rod fails someones got to be first.If more fail Chrysler seems to dig into the issue pretty quick it seems.RRT and recalls seem to happen in a hurry to address issues.Until the failure reason is known lots of times techs in dealerships don't have a clue to why.Engineering then will feed the info down to dealer level.I would think tie rod failures etc.would get addressed pretty quick. Oh and by the way.Smelly ac units happen on many models and manufacters.Worse with certain owners.Been that way for several decades.

 

Bull****...there is absolutely no excuse for moldy smelly vents or air conditions on a brand new vehicle, nor should there any excuses or to find something to blame other than satisfying the customer. I know and you know it...that is if you have 30 yrs running shops like you say you do, lol! The tie rod end failure is due to non other than poor quality material period, they're probably made in china! Just like the rust on these bumpers, I'd be willing to bet that they are not made in America but in some low income country for Chrysler. I know for a fact that OEM bumpers are better made then after market bumpers that usually come with rust on them new and they are cheaper. Some body shops buy and use them all the time to save money and screw the costumer. Seems to me that these Chrysler bumpers are just that... after markets or at least the quality seems to be on some. With all due respect, I've been waiting for someone like you to come along to talk to about this so called Hemi tick. You have 30 yrs of running shops, well tell me Mr. Retired Foreman (I'm laughing), what is your oppinon on this? Why do some of these trucks lifters bleed down after sitting a while and why does Chrysler refuse to acknowlege this problem to the public? Do you think that this is normal too, do you think that the ticking noises are normal?

 

I've never heard Hemi tick.I have had noisy lifters on cold start.Only using a Wix oil filters. Had two Wix filters do this.Hanging upside down it shouldn't be able to bleed off.But does.Never any lifter noise using a Factory or Pure One filter.I agree on low quality parts more then likely causing tie-rod failure.All these auto manufacturers outsource lots of parts and to low bids.Its no excuse but its how its done.Some things are beyond dealer level and if not for TSBs or RRTs would never be repaired.It takes engineers for that. As far as AC smells.ITS NORMAL LOL until a sure fire repair is discovered.Then again.Engineering. AC smells are a pet peeve of mine.I have had them beat me to death in years past. On Nissan's,GMs Chrysler's and a few others.Some owners are like a bulldog to get rid of the smell.I have seen evaporators,all internal plastic duct work replaced and tons of chemicals used.The stank came back. The best I can say about bad ac odors is that its only SOME vehicles with SOME drivers.I found that in some cases the driver or repeated passengers stank in some way.Perfume,hand cremes,smokers,dogs.Not all but I found that enough times to be more then by chance.Of course vehicle owner didn't want to hear that,Best repair I found was staying off Max or Recirc on the ac controls.Some owners said that it didn't help.Others did.I'm actually surprised that it still happens.Its a very old issue.Then again a engineering issue not for the most part a dealer issue looking for the cure.

 

Musty A/C odor: Loaned my Dak to son for six months. Came back musty. I noticed when riding with him in the Dak that he ALWAYS had the A/C on RE-CIRC. I had ALWAYS used OUTSIDE AIR.

 

ReCirc is supposed to used initially cool the vehicle down.Once insides are down then fresh is suppose to be used.I had a big go round with Dodge techs about my 03 3500 dually.Too high of head pressures and freon gets by the blow off valve.Chronic problem on 03/04.Any how if you use RECIR when its low on freon it will cool just ok for a while.Even at its best it dosen't cool well on fresh.They insisted RECIR should be used ALL the time.Only vehicle I have EVER owned to cool it you had to keep it on RECIR.Just plain poor ac. I got Chrysler to keep a open file on it for 4 years or so as a issue never repaired.They did allow a updated orifice tube/line to be installed way out of warranty.It helped a little.

 

Do you turn your truck to full lock and hold it there? Your turning radius is limited by hard stops on the axles, so you'd have a hydraulic press (power steering box) smashing those ends when you go to full lock. My wife used to go thru tie rod ends in about 60k miles, until I got her to quit turning it to full lock and holding it there.

 

After a month of digging and sending my broke parts to a lab in New York for testing I know what happened to my tie rod ends. The tie rod end at the pitman arm was overtightened and nearly twisted off when my lift was put on. I have a 3.5 inch suspension lift.

The tie rod end on the drivers side was left cocked to one side after the lift and alignment. The result of that was that when I was making right hand turns the tie rod stem was binding against the side of the tie rod end housing. Looking at the part I could see a wear spot and a buldge in the housing where the stem was striking it. I have also gained some turning radius since correcting this problem. So hard right hand turns kept bending my stem over the edge of the housing until it finally failed.

I had to figure this out on my own. Sad to say Dodge had no idea and neither did 4Wheel parts my installer although 4 Wheel Parts did go out of their way to correct the problem and replaced my whole steering system. If you have a tie rod fail inspect the failed part because you won't be able to get a dealer to. I had dealers do everything from say they had no idea and seem not to care about figuring it out to saying they knew exactly what it was and thier conclusion was not even reasonable.

MAKE CERTAIN YOUR TIE ROD ENDS ARE MOUNTED CENTERED AND NOT COCKED TO ONE SIDE OR ANOTHER AND TELL YOUR INSTALLER TO USE A TORQUE WRENCH NOT AN IMPACT ON YOUR PARTS! THEN WATCH THEM BECAUSE IF YOU DONT THEY WILL LIKELY IMPACT IT ANYWAY.

 

Hum.. any one who lifts a truck and expects all the stock oem parts to work with aftermarket can't expect Dodge, GM ect to honor the warenty, if the brand name rolled out the truck with a lift kit direct from the factery, than I understand the intial complaint.

Glad to hear your concerns were adressed.

 

This is a know problem lifted or not. I can post several links or you can search the net. Its a design flaw.