this is probably mostly for parts/service, but anyone can chime in if they want with their experiences. The more I look at trucks, the more i'm turned on to a brand new one. The lifetime powertrain warranty is really pulling me to it, but I'm curious if chrysler or cummins has actually in writing, what ACTUALLY voids the lifetime warranty on the powertrain?

I'm still just stuck. For the prices that they are offering for brand new trucks right now, it's hard to turn one down, even with the DPF and stuff. Also, what all (parts/service???) does the computer "track" for lack of a better word. Like if I put a programmer on my truck, would the computer tattle on me at the dealer if i brought it in without the programmer on it?

Its not anything I want to modify right away. I'll keep it stock for a while, i'm just considering the future. If I'm going to lose my warranty anyway, I'll keep looking into some cummins 600's.

Also, does anyone have the manual 6 speed (manual) 4x4 6.7 with 3.42 gears? Is it even orderable? I'm not going to lift it or anything, and I think since 70% most of my driving will be unloaded, and the other 30% just towing my car around (pretty light) it'll help with the fuel economy.

 

You dont have to worry about voiding your lifetime power train warrenty. You won't have one. That warrenty applies to all vehicles EXCEPT diesel and SRT models. Depending on the programer, some are harder than others to find. But, they ALL can be found if someone that knows what they are doing is looking.
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Yup, I agree with Brian. Just the thought of making any modifcations in my mind crushed the 100k power train warranty. I just accepted the fact that these engines are strong enough on their own in their stock form, and to rarely have an issue. Besides with ownership at less than 19 months and over 56k miles, the warranty will be out soon anyway.

 

it's not like you can rely on your warranty anyway. There's been many, many issues where people have gone to them for repairs just to here it was their own fault. Things like " you used bad fuel " - " you didn't change your oil enough " - " we don't cover that under warranty "

parts/service is the exception but, IMO it's a waste of time going to the dealer for anything. Half the time their techs don't know anything about our truck.

Don't be shy though... like it's be said, our truck are very strong and will last a long time with the right care. To answer your question about gearing.... you can order anything you want to be on the truck. If you find one at the dealer that doesn't have 3:42, just ask them to install it or you won't buy the truck. That's what I did with my limited slip ;-)

 

Like Brain said above, the lifetime warranty does not apply to the CTD. And like Ty said, alot of "techs" are just parts swappers. I am blessed with one of the top diesel techs in the country. One of the problems that I hear about other dealerships these days is that a tech will look for anything to disguise the fact that he doesn't have a clue of how to fix your truck.."oh your air conditioner doesn't work, the edge programmer must have killed it". "Your CD player is dead, well sir those 35 inch tall tires vibrated the player more than the factory planned on it being vibrated, so we can't help you"
Another problem is the fact that alot of Cummins parts are restricted. This means that if you need a fuel injector for example, you have to call the "STAR" center. They ask questions as to why you need this part. They will want to see data/tests results. And they can have us hook up the STAR scan to the truck, and through wireless internet, these powers-that-be can sit on their throne and dictate what we can and can't do to repair your truck.. One of the first questions that is asked of the tech by these gate keepers is " are there any performance enhancements on the truck"? If you remove your programmer before you take it in for service, there is a way to tell that you have had a programmer. I have not found a programmer yet that is undetectable, if you know what to look for...One exception to this that I am not 100% sure of is the Smarty. A member of this forum let me use his truck to test for the Smarty. And I thought that the results that I ended up with busted the myth, but he also had a Banks or Bully Dog that was removed, So the data that I ended up with my have been tainted...
As far as what does the computer track, what doesn't it track would be a shorter list. I joke that I can almost tell you what your favorite radio station is.

The bottom line is that if you are gonna mod it, be prepared to accept the fact that you may be denied warranty repairs.

 

great info guys. good call on the 100K warranty... i hadn't read into that one enough. Parts/Service... if you can confirm/deny that smarty sometime, it would be beneficial (not just to me, but everyone with a current warranty I'm sure). I think I can keep my greasy hands out of it for a few years (and give the aftermarket time to catch up to the 6.7 too) before i start tinkering.

Unfortunately I'm very familiar with standard dealership warranty issues. I was a honda tech for 3 years. Aside from the fact that the techs get screwed on their hours and don't want to perform the work, the factory has their greedy fingers all over the "go" or "no go" button for work that, in all rights, should be covered.

dunno now... I'll have to keep on weighing pros and cons. Thanks for the replys guys!

 

Well, I guess I need to chime in here a bit as this subject is a severe sore spot for me.

If you mod it, be prepared to pay for it. Don't expect the factory to cover soemthing that you messed with.

If you blow your TC because you cranked up the power and then decide to take it off, bring it in and hope that they fix it, you are screwing all the rest of us the next time we go to buy a truck. Nothing comes free, it just passes the buck down the line to the next guy.

And you can blame nearly ANYTHING in the driveline on a power mod. You can blame nearly ANYTHING electrical on a programmer or box. Hell, throw a set of auxillary lights on these things and you run a chance of f'n up something electrical.

Now, do I say not to mod your truck. Hell No! Stock Sucks! I don't think I own anything that I haven't modded in one way or another. But, if you wanna play, don't expect someone else to pay for it.