Truck is broken down again. This time had the whole family along, on the highway going to town. Truck just turned off, no noise, no hint of trouble, just off. Dash went blank and battery is good it just won't start. It'll turn over but it won't start. This time it was the last straw. Standing on the side of the highway with my whole family really made me feel angry. I really wished that I had Bill Ford there with me at that moment.
I had just gotten the truck back from the dealer after 4 months and 16 days (yes thats not a typo) for a leaking head, engine change nightmare. After trying to still find the good in the vehicle I can't make excuses for the truck anymore. The rear window seal is leaking, the throttle body is sticking, I have door cracks and the slip shaft on the steering columm is rattling again. I'm going to have to finally give in to the fact that this the worst piece of machinery that I have ever owned and you know after it's all said and done I have to admit that I really like the truck it has great power good styling but sometimes you get a lemon. I learned my lesson with a 90' Mazda van and will be selling the truck as soon as I get it back from the dealer.
I have an offer in on an 02 Dakota Quad Cab with a 7/100,000 power train warranty and will probably be purchasing the truck. So goodbye Ford, hello Daimler/Chrysler!
So this is my last post and I don't want to make it sound like I'm a Ford basher I'm just tired of the bull that I get from Ford everytime my truck has problems. I really want to thank all of you out there that have answered my questions and for this great site. My misfortune will soon be someone elses opportunity, so check the classifieds on this website I'll be selling some great stuff soon. Mahalo nui loa

 

I've never heard of one these trucks just dieing and not starting like that. I'm thinking volcano ash.

Anyway, best of luck with your new ride.

 

Now, unfortunately, he'll have to start relying on a Dodge dealer for his service. I've been there and it's no picnic.

 

Talk about going from bad to worse! Not the ford doesnt have its problems,but I would do alot of research before buying a dodge.
Just my .02

....Also the problem with you truck shutting down like that sounds like a PATS problem, sometimes the transponders in the keys go bad. Just an idea
Good Luck on what ever you decide to buy!

 

another thing I noticed you have an airforce one intake. I had my truck die on the turnpike, it would turn but not engage. Problem was the boot that holds the K&N to the trottle body came loose letting in unmetered air cause the truck to die.

 

I believe the problem was the camshaft sensor, had it happen on our PSD. It quit dead and would start.

 

HI!... Check your crank sensor. I've had my truck JUST DIE on me twice in 3 years. 1ST time it was a loose connector to the crank sensor. 2ND time it was a bad sensor it'self. Exact same symptoms. It only cost me $30(CAN) to fix it. I'm happy now. You could'nt PAY me to take a DODGE let alone, BUY ONE!lol!

 

If you say u just got it back, we had a guy in our shop do a head gasket job and forgot to put the wires back on the alternator, he had them tucked out of the way and out of sight. The customer picked the truck up and it died soon on him and left him on the side of the road. It was our fault, not the "Ford's Fault"

It cant be a PATS problem, the authentication from the PATS system at startup lasts only a fraction of a second, and after that, the key isnt needed anymore, it doesnt keep checking it.

 

Dodge? You are asking for trouble. Consistently rated as having the worst repair record by Consumer Reports. You may not like their new car recommendations, but repair history comes directly from owners.

Find the problem in your current truck and fix it... cheaper in the long run... and you still have a Ford.

 

I hate to pipe in on the "sell the Ford", but I know how you feel. After you have had a certain amount fo trouble, it is just time to get rid of the thing.

I was in a similar situation many years back. I had an awful Chevy Luv truck (laugh if you like, I can take it). It really was a nice truck. It only had 30,000 miles, and I paid just about ten times what it was worth becasue it was low miles. After a series of troubles with the brakes, steering, engine, exhaust, and general running I had enough. I had just fixed it (myself). I decided if I had any more trouble I was getting rid of it. I had already nearly lost my job over the thing. I washed it up real nice, and after the wash it refused to start. I would have thought it was bad ignition, but it was all new. I won't bore you with the details, but it was the last straw.

That was when I got my first Ford F150. I got it with 90,000 miles (all I could afford after the Luv truck). I drove that truck for over 10 years. I sold it (for more than I paid for it) after driving it to 292,000 miles. I trusted it so much I drove it on a 5500 mile round trip when it had 262,000 miles on the odometer.

I guess thats really the point. If you are spending the kind of money it takes to drive a new(er) car these days you need to be able to trust it. You need to know that you can just get in and go. After all, if you didn't mind sitting on the side of the expressway you'd buy a junker and take the risk.

Good luck what ever you decide. I hope you have luck like mine when I got rid of my problem truck.

 

kamanakai:

sorry to hear about your problems. Possibly bad servicing dlr or shop doing the work on it. Maybe just a bum truck. Dont know the history but I dont blame you one bit.

Good luck with your Dodge--you'll need it. Yeah they are nice.....Until you have to have it serviced. At the local dodge dlr all the service writers got so fed up they all quit!!!! Dont know what the issue was, but they had to send a writer over from the Ford dlr they are associated with. Too bad, she's really cute...and smart, too.

I've had great service from several jeep dlrs I've had my jeeps worked on, but, they didnt sell dodge's, either.

--karl

 

But wait, before you go, you better have Cluckdropper blow some sunshine up your pants about how great his truck is. I wish you luck with your Dodge, I used to drive them and may go back to them. Or maybe a Chevy........

 

I have owned FOrds all my life. However, I really love the Dodge Ram truck....best looking truck on the road, IMO.

So, I bought one, a 2000 model. Traded it on a 2001 Ford Screw after 11 months and three transmission.

The d**n thing broke down on me 1000 miles from home, and the local dealer took 3 weeks to get a reman trans in stock.

Two transmissions later, at 34,000 miles, the dealer recommended that I buy an extended warranty for $2700!!!!

I told him that I could fix the trans permanently -- I'll buy a Ford...

Never another Dodge, or Chevy, or Toyota, or ?????

In 34 years of driving, I was only stranded on the road 4 times -- once by a Chevy and 3 times by a Dodge....enough said!!!!

 

I bought a new 1993 Dakota, 3.9L Magnum, and with less than 15,000 miles, the Rear Main started to leak. I carried it to my local 5-Star Service Dodge Dealer and they put some sort of Stop Leak in it, they claimed it was a dye to find the leak. Two months later it was still leaking and I traded it in on a new 1994 Explorer. Most Ford Dealers would have replaced the seal, especially since the factory was paying for the repair anyway. My last Chrysler Product.

 

How much for the seat covers?
If they are for 40/60 split bench, let's deal.

I hate to be the materialistic scavenger of the bunch, but if the truck is getting sold, far be it from me to miss an opportunity, hehe

Habibi