Attn. Craig Clement/Dodge Boy

[Scott Smith]

Craig,



Just thought I'd run something by you which I was told at my Dodge dealer this morning when I took my truck in for service. Seemed rather odd.



Took my '02 Ram 1500 in for service this AM, it's got the 4.7 liter motor which has the recall on it for the replacement of the blower motor wiring harness. Also asked em to check out a little fluid leak, which I believe to be oil. I also asked them to check out a little stalling problem which has just recently began to rear its ugly head. Every now and then at idle, it seems the truck is struggling to stay running and will occasionally stall out, it starts right back up after this with no problem or ill effects. I informed the service manager of this and he advised me that this was a common occurence with the 4.7 liter motor. He advised me that Dodge has looked into the problem, tried correcting it via "computer modifications" but that did'nt solve the problem. He advised me that Dodge discovered if you leave the blower motor running all the time, it won't stall anymore. I asked him if this was Dodge's remedy to the problem and he stated "yup." End of story. Nothing about there still looking into solving it, still working on it or anything. I was amazed and disgusted. Here I buy a $30,000 truck brand new which stalls out occasionally and there remedy for the consumer is to leave the blower motor running all the time..! I don't get it. Have you heard of this "phenomonom" as my dealer referred to it..? I sure hope it does'nt just "stall out" when I'm pulling out in front of a semi truck someday...!

 

[Jim B]

Smitty

I have a Dakota with the 4.7 and it does the same thing. If i leave the ac on its fine but without it is does idle low. Mine has never stalled but it idles a little rouogh. I replaced my plugs with platnium tipped ones at 30k and it somewhat cured it, its much smoother now. I was thinking about having the dealer kick the idle speed up in the computer and see if that fixes the problem.

 

[Bruce Freeman]

Thats what leaving the a/c or blower on does. kick up the idle to cover the extra load..

BF

 

[Michael S]

Sounds like you guys should have held out for the Hemi.

 

[Bill Hamilton]

Or the 5.9L. I have a 2003 Laramie Quad Cab and love it. Has the 5.9L like my previous Durango and while the gas use is a little high it sure performs well for my use. Hemi would have been nice but the one I found had everything I wanted. Don't have the rough idle either. Sounds like Dodge is giving you the run-around on the idle issue by telling you to turn the blower on. Give it some time and maybe they will have a recall on that issue.

 

[Michael S]

Sounds like Dodge won't issue a recall, becuase they don't seem to know how to fix it.

 

[Michael S]

My Cousins got 2003 Hemi off-road package, I think he has close to 15,000 on it. It hasn't given him any problems at all.

 

[Marke Cicero]

Hey Smitty,



When I drive by the Chrysler Tech. Center Corporate headquarters on my way to work (in my Chevy truck) I'll flip'em the bird for you....LOL

 

[Tony Payne]

this is very interesting, I just bought a 4.7L Dakota and have not noticed the rough idling, yet.



Will have to pay attention now... if anyone comes up with a solution be sure to post it!

 

[Michael S]

Oh I agree gto guy, I think its the luck of the draw with almost every car manufacture. Sometimes you have problems, and as fast as car manufactures are producing new and more powerful cars and trucks the first few years they are out there will be bugs in there systems.