RE: Old I know...but still.
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RE: Old I know...but still. - 5/14/2008 10:34:56 AM
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92GreenYJ
Posts: 104
Joined: 12/9/2007
Status: offline
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just as an FYI, the trackbar has nothing to do with your alignment. the trackbar is what helps locate the axle underneath the vehicle and prevent it from moving from side to side. this is a necessity with a coil spring and link suspension, at least with the Rams front link style anyway. Your alignment has to do with your tie rod. its actually pretty easy to do an alignment at home in your driveway. take a couple of 2x4s and strap them to your front tires. take a tape measure across the front of the 2x4s in front of the tires, then measure again across the back. this number should be the same both on the front side of your front tires and the back side. if the numbers dont match, your out of alignment. adjust your tie rod until your numbers match.
As for tire choices, I suggest you take a look at the Pro Comp Xterrains. I run them on my Wrangler and love them. they are directional tread so they are pretty quiet on the road, but they still look and are nice and agressive. they do well in the snow (lived in RI when i first got them) and mine have lasted for a long ass time. I got my 35x12.50xR15s from Summit racing during Pro Comps semi annual buy 3 get one free sale for $620 shipped to my door.
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98 Ram 1500 SLT. 5.2L
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RE: Old I know...but still. - 5/14/2008 3:40:55 PM
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hometheaterman
Posts: 2586
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: online
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Were you able to get this checked out yet? Any updates?
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2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Offroad Edition with the 360.
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RE: Old I know...but still. - 5/15/2008 12:23:40 PM
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01DodgeRam360
Posts: 2406
Joined: 4/18/2007
From: Maine
Status: offline
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Alright, I dropped the truck off this morning at the shop. I left the list of things I wanted them to look at in the truck. About 5 hours later, the head desk man, Mark, called me back. He started right in with rushing everything. He said he didn't experience the "stutter/skip" into overdrive, and said it was probably an engine skip. Then he said the touchy gas pedal was probably due to a worn throttle linkage and said it didn't have anything to do with the transmission. And then he went on to say I should be happy with the transmission, and that if I wanted it to drive stock I should go buy a stock truck and leave it stock (yes, he actually said this). He said the tires on the truck are oversized and that the vehicle is not stock, so it's not going to drive like a stock vehicle. Of course this concerned me because my falling apart stock transmission didn't experience this overdrive stutter. He basically told me there isn't anything wrong with it and that I should be happy with it, all of this with a condescending and disrepectful tone. He brushed me off like I was unpaid customer just being anal. Of course he fumbled me like he probably planned to, and I ended the phone call like a coward. And then I got really mad after I was able to let everything sink in.
So I'm leaving the truck there and getting it in the morning. I'm going to spend the night planning on how I want to address him tomorrow. Essentially, I plan to go in there tomorrow and ask him to stop treating me like a child, and as an unpaid customer. I spent A LOT of money so the job would get done right, and I have this jerk brushing me off trying to intimidate me into not getting my truck perfect. Even if it is infact normal, he still should treat me with respect and as a peer, not like he's talking down to me. I don't know about you guys, but my truck is not very abnormal, it's 35" tires, and THATS IT. To boot, I paid them the big bucks BECAUSE of the big tires, so the tires should not even be apart of the equation. Furthermore, I am putting the 33" tires on that truck. The truck came stock with 275s. If that truck stutters into overdrive with 33s, then he will have nothing to say. Anyways, I'm just trying to keep cool and make sure I deal with this the right way. Either way, I am going in there tomorrow morning and making sure he knows I am not going to take his crap anymore. I have a 3 year/70,000 mile warranty with this company, so he better get used to dealing with me as a customer. I don't care what the truck is, there is no excuse for the truck to stutter into overdrive. I should not have to let off the gas for it to seamlessly shift into overdrive. I didn't have to do that with the stock transmsission, so I should definalty not have to do it with this $4,100 transmission. What are your guys thoughts? Help would be nice. I want to make sure I deal with these guys the right way. I have to execute this perfect tomorrow morning.
< Message edited by 01DodgeRam360 -- 5/15/2008 12:32:24 PM >
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2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport/Offroad 5.9L
K&N FIPK II
Pacesetter LTs + Y-Pipe
Flowmaster Super 44 w/ Gutted Cat
285 Pirelli Scorpion ATRs
Monroe Reflex Shocks
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RE: Old I know...but still. - 5/15/2008 1:09:58 PM
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ron333
Posts: 245
Joined: 3/12/2004
Status: online
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The way it sounds like it drives based on the way you have described it, it sounds like something IS wrong, somewhere. Did you go with them during the test drive? I think this would be best since you know at what times it acts up and showing the condition to somebody something in person is a lot of times better than just trying to describe the condition. They really don't seem to be dealing with you in a professional manner. If it were me, I would take a drive with them, and drive it the way I normally did when it acted up. I would start by approaching it as you don't think they really understand what you are telling them and you just want to show them exactly what you are describing so they know what you are trying to describe to them. Try being respectful, but firm, and assume they aren't trying to be jerks to you, but they just don't understand what you're trying to tell them. If they refuse to look into it any further, then you will just have to get more demanding, be persistent, and get them to listen to you. If by being a nice customer doesn't work, then you go to the next level.
For instance, is there a news station somewhere local that does stories on everyday people that get jerked around by companies? If so, you may be in luck. Whenever a story about a company goes on TV during an investigation by the news channel, this is bad publicity for the company involved. Everyone in the community will be alerted to your dealings with that company. It would loose them their reputation and future business, and they of course really don't want that. If they don't want to work with you on figuring out this issue and they keep pushing you off, you might want to drop the hint that you will see what News Channel _____ has to say about anybody else being given the run around. If they think you are contemplating this course of action, they may be a little more forthcoming. If they aren't, you would be surprised what things can be accomplished when going on a local public broadcast. They won't like the bad publicity at all, and they will want to come out looking like they aren't really the bad guys after all by making sure you are a satisfied customer. Don't feel that because you are young you don't have just as much a voice as anybody else. Your money that you paid them spends no differently than the money paid to them by anyone else. You have purchased a product with a warranty and by law, that warranty HAS to be honored. You could emphasize the fact that you feel like they aren't listening to you because they think you're "just a kid", but they sure had no problems taking your money. You can play for sympathy from the news station and the public, and this will in turn put pressure on the business to make good on their sale to you.
I would only go to these extremes if they refused to correct the problem, or if they keep saying "it isn't the tranny" without providing proof that it isn't. If you get other people involved, make sure you tell it just like it has happened without exaggeration. You will want to be factual, and expressive on how you feel you have been treated.
_____________________________
Build it like you drive it.
Drive it like you mean it.
Don't be cheap!
It'll only cost you more in the long run.
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RE: Old I know...but still. - 5/15/2008 3:21:36 PM
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hometheaterman
Posts: 2586
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: online
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Did you tell them to get that list of parts used ready? You really need to get that no ifs ands or buts about it.
As for them not being able to find the problem this is something that is often said or even more often said so they don't have to fix it. I'd go for a ride with them and show them exactly what it's doing then see what they say.
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2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Offroad Edition with the 360.
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RE: Old I know...but still. - 5/15/2008 3:44:19 PM
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hometheaterman
Posts: 2586
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: online
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I'd also probably mention how you told them you had big tires and wanted the transmission built for them and they assured it would be.
As for the news thing that might would be a last resort for me as that would just kind of tick me off if one of my customers came to me saying they were going to go get the news. I probably would tell them to go get them and not do as much to help them. Of course I'd have helped way more if I could in the first place or if it was something normal atleast explained to you what it was and why it did it.
These guys just make me glad I went with APS. Everytime I call him with a question even if it's stupid he is super nice and helpful it's just like talking to my buddy everytime I call him up.
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2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Offroad Edition with the 360.
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RE: Old I know...but still. - 5/15/2008 6:03:23 PM
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01DodgeRam360
Posts: 2406
Joined: 4/18/2007
From: Maine
Status: offline
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Good feedback. I've thought about what I would like to do. Tomorrow morning I am showing up again. I'm going inside and asking Mark if I can have a moment to speak with him outside. When we get outside, I am nicely going to dig into him, and make HIM feel like the kid. I am going to tell him that I feel very disrespected with the way he treats me. I am going to tell him that I can tell he thinks of me as a kid. I also will mention the fact about how nice he was to me before I bought the transmission, and ever since I picked it up with the misfire, he's been a complete jerk and condescending to me. I may be young, but I am a very nice and intelligent young man, and I don't deserve to be treated like the annoying kid who hasn't paid up yet. I am paying for this loan, the least I want is somebody willing to help me out. The way he talked to me on the phone was very demeaning and nasty, and I didn't like it at all. I also am going to point out that my truck is not modified at all. It is a half ton truck with 35" tires, this truck came stock with 33" tires. I am basing all of my observations on this transmission to the STOCK transmission. The stock transmission didn't stutter into overdrive, so this new "heavy duty" transmission should defiantly not being stuttering into overdrive whatsoever. I could have had a dodge replacement put in for $2500, but instead I paid the extra big bucks so the truck could handle the bigger tires and extra horsepower. Furthermore, I am going ahead anyways and lowering the truck down a couple of inches and putting 33" tires on the truck, which is essentially came factory with the truck. I am going to let him know that if the problem persists after the new 33" tires, then the truck will be right back to the shop and it will be further investigated. If I have 33" tires on the truck and 4.10 gearing, there should be no excuses to say that the tires are doing it (even though that shouldn't be a valid excuse anyways). And an engine skip? Please. The truck is running perfectly. It's the shift into overdrive that is the only problem I wanted them to address, and he went and made a big deal about how the transmission is fine. I think it is fine, but something simple about it is not fine, and as a high paying customer, I deserve the right to have it assessed, and repaired. It's 2 months old, there shouldn't be any skipping, period. I am going to make him look like a little school boy tomorrow morning when I calmly ask him to come outside so I can talk to this guy, and I will make him feel stupid.
_____________________________
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport/Offroad 5.9L
K&N FIPK II
Pacesetter LTs + Y-Pipe
Flowmaster Super 44 w/ Gutted Cat
285 Pirelli Scorpion ATRs
Monroe Reflex Shocks
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RE: Old I know...but still. - 5/15/2008 6:10:46 PM
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hometheaterman
Posts: 2586
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: online
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So are you getting the list of the parts used or are you going to forget about it? Maybe write it down so you don't forget. Thats something I'd get for sure as to diagnose the problem a little more we all need to know what is in it as different parts will make it do different things.
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2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Offroad Edition with the 360.
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RE: Old I know...but still. - 5/15/2008 6:16:29 PM
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01DodgeRam360
Posts: 2406
Joined: 4/18/2007
From: Maine
Status: offline
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Yeah, it will be something I am going to demand to have after I complete ringing this asshole out. I'm a really nice guy, and I give people many chances, but if you **** with me too much, I am not very pleasant. I don't like people taking advantage of me niceness and because I'm young.
_____________________________
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport/Offroad 5.9L
K&N FIPK II
Pacesetter LTs + Y-Pipe
Flowmaster Super 44 w/ Gutted Cat
285 Pirelli Scorpion ATRs
Monroe Reflex Shocks
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RE: Old I know...but still. - 5/16/2008 12:38:32 AM
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Slomojo
Posts: 188
Joined: 3/2/2008
Status: offline
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Your f***ed... I say this with the utmost sincerity. This guy will still be a dick seeing as how he's the cocky mof***er who obviously knows jack about transmission if he thinks the stutter and lack of power whatsoever in OD is normal.
Whatever you do, stick to the basics. You payed for a heavy duty tranny that was supposed to be flawless from day one, which in fact has never been flawless. From day one it has been gutless, and not even on the same level as the old tranny that was bone stock and not heavy duty like they say their tranny is... That alone speaks poorly enough upon the tranny shop's quality of work and evidently shows that the shop gave you a product that had never been properly tested. After you first recieved it there were problems and there are still other issues that need to be resolved just like there was before... If they forgot to properly do something the first time, who knows what else hadn't been done properly...
Now would be a good time to, not ask but, demand the specifications and build sheet consisting of details of what exactly is inside that tranny you purchased.
Continue with more facts. State that the stock tranny that was replaced by the shop was supposed to be replaced with a higher quality unit that was supposed to handle anything your truck currently has on it, which is what they stated to you and is something which you can hold against them. It was also supposed to operate just as smooth as the original if not better. That was the reason for spending the $4000. This they can not argue. Point out how your original stock transmission, in the same exact truck, didn't ever stutter going into OD so this tranny shouldn't either.
Then, take them for a ride, show them the problems concerning the stutter and lack of power in OD, and then tell them to fix it because it's under warranty, was stated to be able to handle anything your truck currently has on it, and because it's yet to perform the way they, not you, said it would. Hold them to their word...
Don't give any ground, if you do, they will keep advancing until they push you out the door, off the lot, and into the street.
Same kind of shit happened to me the other day. I bought something in one autozone and tried returning it to another. They said we can't take it back, I said you sell it for the same price here as there, I have a reciept, it's the same store owned by the same corporation, and that there is no reason not to take it back seeing as how nothing was ever used or opened. They argued, I stood my ground, I repeated myself, I made myself clear, I didn't go away until I got what I wanted since I had every single right seeing as how their return policy stated nothing about the bullshit they were trying to make me swallow, and guess what happened. I got what I wanted.
Do the same thing. Read that warranty you got, post it up on the forum just for shitz and giggles for all of us here, and use your rights.
Repeat yourself and don't give any ground. Otherwise, if you do, they will keep advancing until they push you out the door, off the lot, and into the street.
Get what I'm saying?
_____________________________
99 5.2 Mag, Auto
Custom Intake
Indexed 3924s
C4 Coil
Mopar P.Headers
Dual Thunderbolt Cats
Ultra Flow 3.5" In/Out Muffler
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RE: Old I know...but still. - 5/16/2008 6:44:44 AM
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01DodgeRam360
Posts: 2406
Joined: 4/18/2007
From: Maine
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Slomojo
Your f***ed... I say this with the utmost sincerity. This guy will still be a dick seeing as how he's the cocky mof***er who obviously knows jack about transmission if he thinks the stutter and lack of power whatsoever in OD is normal.
Whatever you do, stick to the basics. You payed for a heavy duty tranny that was supposed to be flawless from day one, which in fact has never been flawless. From day one it has been gutless, and not even on the same level as the old tranny that was bone stock and not heavy duty like they say their tranny is... That alone speaks poorly enough upon the tranny shop's quality of work and evidently shows that the shop gave you a product that had never been properly tested. After you first recieved it there were problems and there are still other issues that need to be resolved just like there was before... If they forgot to properly do something the first time, who knows what else hadn't been done properly...
Now would be a good time to, not ask but, demand the specifications and build sheet consisting of details of what exactly is inside that tranny you purchased.
Continue with more facts. State that the stock tranny that was replaced by the shop was supposed to be replaced with a higher quality unit that was supposed to handle anything your truck currently has on it, which is what they stated to you and is something which you can hold against them. It was also supposed to operate just as smooth as the original if not better. That was the reason for spending the $4000. This they can not argue. Point out how your original stock transmission, in the same exact truck, didn't ever stutter going into OD so this tranny shouldn't either.
Then, take them for a ride, show them the problems concerning the stutter and lack of power in OD, and then tell them to fix it because it's under warranty, was stated to be able to handle anything your truck currently has on it, and because it's yet to perform the way they, not you, said it would. Hold them to their word...
Don't give any ground, if you do, they will keep advancing until they push you out the door, off the lot, and into the street.
Same kind of shit happened to me the other day. I bought something in one autozone and tried returning it to another. They said we can't take it back, I said you sell it for the same price here as there, I have a reciept, it's the same store owned by the same corporation, and that there is no reason not to take it back seeing as how nothing was ever used or opened. They argued, I stood my ground, I repeated myself, I made myself clear, I didn't go away until I got what I wanted since I had every single right seeing as how their return policy stated nothing about the bullshit they were trying to make me swallow, and guess what happened. I got what I wanted.
Do the same thing. Read that warranty you got, post it up on the forum just for shitz and giggles for all of us here, and use your rights.
Repeat yourself and don't give any ground. Otherwise, if you do, they will keep advancing until they push you out the door, off the lot, and into the street.
Get what I'm saying?
I cannot tell you how pissed off I was getting at the transmission guy as I was reading this. After I finished reading this, I went right out to the truck and headed over there. As I planned, I asked him to come outside so I could have a word with him. When we got outside I told him I wanted to say what I wanted to say and that I would give him time to refute. I told him that I'm tired of being disrespected. I said I know you see me as a young guy coming in here, and so you take advantage of that and try to intimidate me out of getting the truck looked at. I told him I was really pissed off yesterday when he called me and bullied that phonecall with me. I said there is not an engine skip on this truck. I also said the tires should not be apart of this equation. I paid $1600 extra to make sure the tires would never be apart of the equation. I also mentioned that when I went to get the truck last night, it was parked in the grass and not even in their parking lot, complete disrepsect. I said the truck being in the grass like that made a message of "get this kid of our lot, he's clogging up real estate for our real customers". I told him I am a high paying customer, and that I paid A LOT of money for this transmission, and that I'm still paying for it, and that I have the right to have it assessed for face value. I told him that the stutter into overdrive is a legitmate cause to bring it in, and that it shouldn't have been brushed off, or blamed on the tires or an engine skip. I told him I could have went with Aamco transmission where they would have licked my nuts all night, but I said I didn't need that. I just want you to talk to me man to man and stop the bullshit and to stop brushing me off all the time. On the phone you brush me off, and when I come inside your always clicking on your computer while your talking to me and just not giving me the time a day. After all of this, he said, ok, lets go for a drive. We got on the highway, and it did the stutter. He said he didn't get that yesterday when he did it because he babied it and went full throttle. You would only get the stutter at a casual throttle pace. I also told him I was sizing the tires down to 33s, so that we should have it looked at AFTER the tires are put on. He said that it isn't going to be perfect everywhere though./ He said it is a performance transmission, designed to punch in at full throttle (which it does do great), so he said it's tough to make everything perfect across the spectrum while still retaining performance. But he said he does see the stutter and that they will fix it if it does it with the 33s. He then went onto say that he does get annoyed with me. He said he feels like I'm a customer who never seems to be satisfied and that I don't always interpret things the right way. I also told him I didnt like coming at him like that, but I said we need to be able to talk and be on the same page since we have a big warranty with this transmission. I have to be respected, and not ignored. So he apoligized, we shook hands, and we ended it at looking at the transmission, after it's lowered down and the truck has 33s. I think it went well, and I'm glad I finally addressed it. He was defiantly shocked when I spoke with him. I think he was expecting just a huffing and puffing little girl fight, but I rung him out, and demanded respect like an adult should, and he responded accordingly. Thank you slomojo for the motivational words.....it helped. I'm getting build sheet next time I come in by the way.
_____________________________
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport/Offroad 5.9L
K&N FIPK II
Pacesetter LTs + Y-Pipe
Flowmaster Super 44 w/ Gutted Cat
285 Pirelli Scorpion ATRs
Monroe Reflex Shocks
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RE: Old I know...but still. - 5/16/2008 7:19:46 AM
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ron333
Posts: 245
Joined: 3/12/2004
Status: online
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I'm glad he is starting to listen to you. That is exactly what you needed to do and now he will respect you more for it! When I mentioned going to the media about it, I was trying to ensure you that when you feel you have no voice, there is always another option. As HTM mentioned, I would have used it after trying to get it settled the way you just did!
You should feel proud of what you've accomplished today, and remember it for the future. There will always be people in life that will not give the proper respect when they think the problem will just go away if they keep brushing it off. Always be factual, and offer the same respect to them as you want from them. When all else fails, sometimes you will end up needing to take more drastic measures. With enough practice with settling things respectfully, and firmly, you'll find that more drastic measures usually aren't necessary very often at all. Sometimes just the knowledge of the more drastic means being available gives you the strength to stand your ground and get the situation settled without having to actually go to drastic means.
Congratulations and best wishes.
_____________________________
Build it like you drive it.
Drive it like you mean it.
Don't be cheap!
It'll only cost you more in the long run.
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