I Luv my Dodge, at least I keep telling my self that? NOT

[oregon]

This summer started out with the a/c not working, Dodge dealer wanted like $1200 to put a new compressor on. So I shopped around and ended up buying a Brand New autozone compressor and had a local shop flush and charge the system after I installed the compressor my self leaving lines disconnected. Well the compressor lasted just past the 90 day warranty and went out again. This time it had metal shavings in one of the ports of the compressor.(wasted)
Probaly my bad for going with autozone compressor.:banghead: But is was brand new, not reman.

This time I went to every shop in town getting quotes on replacement. All quotes were in the same ball park of $1100 to $1400. Some shops were 2 days just getting a quote. And most including dodge dealer the warranty is 12000miles or 1 year. Which I would burn up the milage in a month and half. Also most shops were a week out getting parts.

Then I called a radiator shop that does nothing but cooling and heating systems. Guy had a quote of $1600 in 10 minutes and would have it done in 2 days. Parts needed is compressor, dryer, orfice tube and CONDENSOR. None of the other shops mentioned replacing condensor. On newer vehicles the condensor must be replaced, it cant be flushed out.

So all said and done I have spent close to $2500 fixing my a/c this summer. Plus I was down all last week, I had done 2previous trips east in the heat with no AC and that sucked.

Just when things are going smooth and the bank account is a rising then ya get hit with another big $$$ fix on top of the regular maintance that takes place. MY truck just turned 300k, gettin a little worried about the future. These little trucks might save a buck in fuel but sure seem to take alot $ in maintance, and the fixes really arent that cheap.

What gets me is I have or have had several older vehicles that never had ac problems. Currently have 2 pos jeep cherokees and a 04 d-max that blow great cold air and never a issue with a/c.
According to the A/c shop, on newer vehicles anymore when the compressor goes bad everything pretty much has to be replaced.

[haulin rv]

My AC quit last year just before summer. Guess its a pretty common failure since the compressors were on back order. I bought mine off ebay new for about half what the dealer wanted and my local shop did the install.

One thing I have figured out is somehow these Dodges have a direct link to your bank account. Every time you get some extra breathing room in there it knows and takes it!!! I now have a mysterious CEL that has something to do with a ground??? Have not figured it out yet, and I am hoping within another week or so it will be retired to back up duty anyways.

[ccoop769]

My first compressor went out at 130k. Dodge charged me like $400 installed. At 405k now still blows cold. But I hear the compressor clicking so I know its do again in the next few months. I didn't know the bigger duty dodges were different from the 3500 6.7.

Bright side is u have cold AC again....

Motor pulls great so far. Don't lose faith in ur girl. She will really start pms'ing then...

[cosgo]

I did the whole deal (compressor, one line, dryer, orifice tube, etc) for about $600. That includes parts lane and evac and refil of refrigerant. Been about 2 months now (and 20,000 miles) and it's still working like a champ. Hopefully it lasts a while, but I'll be the first to admit that on the average I spent $1000 each summer on each truck just on a/c work. I must be unlucky, but I've just come to accept it. =(

[ETS]

That sucks Shaun! I replaced my compressor earlier this year. The dealership owed me for another on going problem, so they did the install for nothing, then I had to replace the fan clutch. Double check your fan clutch, if it's bad it will take out the compressor. With the truck at idle, turn the a/c on and see if the fan is pulling a heavy amount of air through. If it's not a strong blowing of air, it's time to spend some more money (sorry).



My AC quit last year just before summer. Guess its a pretty common failure since the compressors were on back order. I bought mine off ebay new for about half what the dealer wanted and my local shop did the install.

One thing I have figured out is somehow these Dodges have a direct link to your bank account. Every time you get some extra breathing room in there it knows and takes it!!! I now have a mysterious CEL that has something to do with a ground??? Have not figured it out yet, and I am hoping within another week or so it will be retired to back up duty anyways.

What's the code haulin? I may be able to help ya out with this one.....

[h2oskibumz]

I think the code was something like "ha ha, your broke again!" but that's just my recollection...

[haulin rv]

P2509. From what I've read it's battery or ground related. Going to check the batteries tomorrow.


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[Tony]

P2509. From what I've read it's battery or ground related. Going to check the batteries tomorrow.

Check the ground next to the intake heater... REALLY common for that code

[Mrs Coop]

I think the code was something like "ha ha, your broke again!" but that's just my recollection...

The code means "GIVE ME ALL YOUR MONEY"

[redline]

my 06 had that code come on along with air intake grid heater or something I ignored it but it led to hard starts and had to be jumped. Wiggling the battery cables made it go away sometimes. replaced cables and a battery and code went away

[haulin rv]

:shoot:A road flair could fix it too!:shoot:

[ETS]

At least one of the batteries is going bad. New batteries will fix it.

[haulin rv]

Likely the "newer" Walmart battery I bought:wtf:

[ccoop769]

Yep I replace my batteries every year and thats the code that pops up on mine. i was using the advance auto brand with warrenty but that wont work any more/ "warrenty reasons" to many freebies. Since then I moved on to some AGMs. I paid like 140 a peice but we shall see. Still only a couple months old.

As for ground on fender flare on my truck. That shit has been burnt to a crisp over 100k miles ago and still no codes. I have 2 gauge cables from my truck batteries to trailer batteries with a quick connect. Well on trailer side a strap rubbed into the cable and next thing I know my engine is smoking and on fire. I pull over and that ground strap to fender was on fire and roasted till nothing else was left.

what is that ground for anyways?????

[haulin rv]

My ground cable on the DS battery was loose and that is the one with the ground cable to the fender. Anyways I cleaned it and re-installed, cleared the code, and it didn't come right back. When I cleared the code the other day it would just come right back, I'll drive it someplace later and see for sure.

[Tony]

I'll drive it someplace later and see for sure.
I ain't driving anywhere... tired of chasing my wheels down the road :D

like I said, check the lead going to your intake heater ;)

[ccoop769]

Thats weird how I dont even have that ground anymore connected and I dont get the code. Maybe its because I have all 4 batteries linked together and the other 2 batteries on the trailer are heavily grounded!!!!

[haulin rv]

And the ground on the trailer is going back to the truck through the hitch?? That would be my guess. Been running some errands and it's been fine, going to Mo tomorrow so we'll see.


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[ccoop769]

Seems like that fixed ya. I have 2 gauge quick connects so I'm always grounded thru that and hitch I guess too. But come to think about even when I'm not connected I still don't get that code. Weird.......

[ColoradoRVHauler]

All dodges from the 3.7 to the hemi, to the 6.7 all use the same ac compressor. There are tons of used ones all around you Oregon. Some with as few as 10k miles on then. 150 bucks. All pickups from the 1500 to the 5500 use the same compressor.

I bought an entire ac system for my dodge from a place in Utah. They convert new dodge trucks to underground mine vehicles. An air compressor takes the place of the ac compressor. They remove the entire unit cause its worthless underground.

Anyway I replaced all of the lines, compressor, condensor, and dryer for 250. Then charged it myself. so for 300 bucks I had a new system.

You can save yourself a ton of money by searching for used parts on usedcarpart.com. Always look there first. I have found many new take off parts at wrecking yards.

There was a guy in minneapolis who had bought a ton of dodge pickup stuff back when the went bankrupt. I remember buying a brand new take off alternator for 75 bucks.

Its ALWAYS better to buy a low mileage factory part then an aftermarket foriegn made replacement. I always would go searching for the part, then get a load going there. There are a ton of new take off and very low mileage quality parts sitting at junk yards all over america.

To be successful is all about how much you keep. Junk yards allow you to keep more of your money. Many will even install the parts for you too. They have the evac machines in house. Freon is very very cheap at junk yards. They have to suck out every vehicle that comes thru by law. So they have tons of perfectly good freon laying around.

Just food for thought on the next time man.

Carey