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Dodge Maxcare is slow-rolling approving warranty work (Update, this was not a Maxcare issue. 100% dealer + service manager just being aweful)

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Discussion starter · #64 ·
Contacted Randy for a status update. (He never reaches out + proactively updates me with the status)

All parts are in + car should be done Tuesday afternoon.

2.5 months to do warranty work on my Durango is ridiculious.
 
Discussion starter · #66 ·
va-terps4 said:
Two words: Lemon Law
Click to expand...
Does Lemon Law apply to repair work?

I've only seen it applied when new cars blow up under 30 days from purchase.

In this case it's just Jack Powell + Randy the service manager being aweful. Dodge has stood behind a Maxcare warranty from 2014 on a car with 170k. To me it seems like Dodge has been very accommodating.
 
#68 ·
Vice-White said:
The Durango is 9 years old and 170k+ miles. Not sure what lemon law could give even if it was available (most states are 1 or 2 years max.)
Click to expand...
Yeah unfortunately, lemon law only applies to new cars for a certain period of time, depending on the state or local jurisdiction. I didn't realize we were talking about a Durango of that age. My bad... carry on.
 
Discussion starter · #69 ·
Tuesday came and went without an update from Jack Powel or Randy.

Texted Randy asking for a status update today (since we're now a day after the day Randy said our car would be fixed)

Randy texted back that it will likely be done Thursday or Friday this week.

Come on Dodge, Dealers + Service Centers like Jack Powel are making you look terrible.
 
Discussion starter · #70 ·
Picked up my car on Friday. Heres what took 2.5 months to fix.

- Front HVAC blower motor melted wires around the blower motor and TIPM (Fuse Box). This required replacing wires around the blower motor + TIPM. Also the Blower Motor and TIPM were replaced.

- Once the Blower Motor and TIPM were replaced they charged the AC system + found that it was leaking from both service port Schrader valves. Both Valves were replaced + the refrigerant was recharged + no more leaks were detected.

- Upper control arm bushings were worn. Removed and replaced upper control arms.

- Rack and Pinion was leaking. The entire rack and pinion was replaced.

Does this seem like 2.5 months of work to you?

The blower motor burning up the wires to me seems like a design flaw. This is probably what triggered all the HVAC issues. The blower motor burned up the wires behind it. The wires melting at the blower motor likely caused the wires at the TPIM to melt.

I'm not sure why the Schrader valves were leaking refrigerant.

The steering rack and control arm bushings were likely just worn out.
 
#71 ·
It's normal wear on the rack and bushings. You're lucky you only had leaking Schrader valves and nothing else. The melted blower wires are a semi-common thing and to take out the TIPM, not so common. If they used all Dodge parts it would certainly take awhile for them to get the parts knowing how slow the Dodge parts machine is now. The 2.5 months is them not wanting to do warranty work and it probably falls behind all of their full pay jobs. For you, you certainly got your money's worth with your warranty. Luckily I have a couple of other cars in case mine was in for an extended period of time, but I don't have Maxcare so I would be at my local trusted shop that would probably have had it back to me in a week.
 
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Discussion starter · #72 ·
Tin Foil Hat said:
It's normal wear on the rack and bushings... I would be at my local trusted shop that would probably have had it back to me in a week.
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About a week is what I expected as well.

When I was considering doing the work myself I was thinking 3-4 hours for the blower motor + likely melted wires.

I was fairly certain the bushings were going bad. I was going to get one of those Kits that replaces all the suspension / bushing type stuff and do it all at one time. Was thinking this would take me a weekend but I wasnt excited to do the work without a lift.

What pushed me into bringing it into the service center was that I've heard nightmare stories about replacing steering racks on AWD Durangos + I didnt want to get that far into the deep end. Especially if I had Maxcare.


The biggest lesson learned in all of this is to have work done in Orange Couny or LA at one of the bigger dealerships. San Diego dealerships have a monopoly + dont care about service quality.
 
Discussion starter · #73 ·
Here's the condition Jack Powell returned my car to me...
Image


Here's what it looks like now...
Image


Also Jack Powell didn't recenter the steering wheel after repairing the steering rack. I'm going to get new tires next week I'll have the alignment done after. They should be able to align the steering wheel so its straight again.
Image
 
#74 ·
shadash said:
Here's the condition Jack Powell returned my car to me... View attachment 127506

Here's what it looks like now...
View attachment 127507

Also Jack Powell didn't recenter the steering wheel after repairing the steering rack. I'm going to get new tires next week I'll have the alignment done after. They should be able to align the steering wheel so its straight again.
View attachment 127508
Click to expand...
shadash said:
Here's the condition Jack Powell returned my car to me... View attachment 127506

Here's what it looks like now...
View attachment 127507

Also Jack Powell didn't recenter the steering wheel after repairing the steering rack. I'm going to get new tires next week I'll have the alignment done after. They should be able to align the steering wheel so its straight again.
View attachment 127508
Click to expand...
Wow, we always get a car wash on pickup, and most of the time than not, the wash has been done.
 
#75 ·
shadash said:
Picked up my car on Friday. Heres what took 2.5 months to fix.

- Front HVAC blower motor melted wires around the blower motor and TIPM (Fuse Box). This required replacing wires around the blower motor + TIPM. Also the Blower Motor and TIPM were replaced.

- Once the Blower Motor and TIPM were replaced they charged the AC system + found that it was leaking from both service port Schrader valves. Both Valves were replaced + the refrigerant was recharged + no more leaks were detected.

- Upper control arm bushings were worn. Removed and replaced upper control arms.

- Rack and Pinion was leaking. The entire rack and pinion was replaced.

Does this seem like 2.5 months of work to you?

The blower motor burning up the wires to me seems like a design flaw. This is probably what triggered all the HVAC issues. The blower motor burned up the wires behind it. The wires melting at the blower motor likely caused the wires at the TPIM to melt.

I'm not sure why the Schrader valves were leaking refrigerant.

The steering rack and control arm bushings were likely just worn out.
Click to expand...
I am not much familiar with this new ac refrigerant, but I have seen refrigerant leak from the Schrader valves, right after ac work performed. Back in the day of R12, and still some R134a left, we always wiped the Schrader valve with a tiny bit of mineral oil, screw them in until it hit bottom, do not tighten, and unscrew the valve, wipe the valve clean, and reinstall before the charge. This helps with the seal instead of installing the Schrader valve dry.
 
#76 ·
Recentering the wheel if needed, is part of a rack R and R. They should have noted it, and done it as part of the repair.
Kind like installing new tires, then saying that balancing them or adding air is "extra."

Don
 
Discussion starter · #77 ·
Methodites said:
Wow, we always get a car wash on pickup, and most of the time than not, the wash has been done.
Click to expand...
You thought I was kidding around when I said that Jack Powell has a monopoly in Dealer Dodge repair on San Diego?

It was very obvious that they know that they're the only game in town + treat customers accordingly.

What sucks is the other Dodge dealers in SD are even worse.
 
#78 ·
Melted wires for HVAC blower? Hmmm...sounds familiar.

Ford recall 22S56 which applies to my 2015 Expedition:

Summary
ON YOUR VEHICLE, THE CLIMATE CONTROL FRONT BLOWER MOTOR MAY OVERHEAT, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN AN INTERIOR FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ON.

Safety Risk
AN INTERIOR VEHICLE FIRE CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY AND VEHICLE DAMAGE.

Remedy
FORD IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH ITS SUPPLIERS TO PRODUCE REDESIGNED PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED ONCE REMEDY PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, WHICH IS EXPECTED IN EARLY FIRST QUARTER 2023. THIS REPAIR WILL BE FREE OF CHARGE PARTS AND LABOR.

This recall was issued August 26, 2022. It's June 25, 2023 and Ford still doesn't have "redesigned parts for the repair".

Don't think that Dodge or FCA or Stellantis is the only car manufacturer who can't seem to produce quality parts and make them available to dealers and customers. Don't think that you are the only car owner dealing with an inability to get your vehicle repaired in a timely fashion when parts aren't available. The work you described probably could have been completed in a day. But, it probably took the dealer 2 months to get the parts and other 0.4 months to get a technician freed up to do the work. The lot at my local Ford dealer is full of vehicles waiting for parts and an available technician so service can be completed. I think they have more cars on the lot waiting for service than they have new cars to sell. It's a said situation, but everybody is living with it.
 
Discussion starter · #79 ·
bb37 said:
Melted wires for HVAC blower? Hmmm...sounds familiar.

Ford recall 22S56 which applies to my 2015 Expedition:

Summary
ON YOUR VEHICLE, THE CLIMATE CONTROL FRONT BLOWER MOTOR MAY OVERHEAT, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN AN INTERIOR FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ON.

Safety Risk
AN INTERIOR VEHICLE FIRE CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY AND VEHICLE DAMAGE.

Remedy
FORD IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH ITS SUPPLIERS TO PRODUCE REDESIGNED PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED ONCE REMEDY PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, WHICH IS EXPECTED IN EARLY FIRST QUARTER 2023. THIS REPAIR WILL BE FREE OF CHARGE PARTS AND LABOR.

This recall was issued August 26, 2022. It's June 25, 2023 and Ford still doesn't have "redesigned parts for the repair".

Don't think that Dodge or FCA or Stellantis is the only car manufacturer who can't seem to produce quality parts and make them available to dealers and customers. Don't think that you are the only car owner dealing with an inability to get your vehicle repaired in a timely fashion when parts aren't available. The work you described probably could have been completed in a day. But, it probably took the dealer 2 months to get the parts and other 0.4 months to get a technician freed up to do the work. The lot at my local Ford dealer is full of vehicles waiting for parts and an available technician so service can be completed. I think they have more cars on the lot waiting for service than they have new cars to sell. It's a said situation, but everybody is living with it.
Click to expand...
My 2005 Toyota Tacoma has 204k + has been to the Service Center 2 times.

Both times it was to repair a recall item + the Toyota Sevice Center told me how long it would take to fix + it was fixed in exactly that amount of time.

There has to be a level of service somewhere between Toyota and 2.5 months + don't care about customers.
 
Discussion starter · #80 ·
bb37 said:
Melted wires for HVAC blower? Hmmm...sounds familiar.

Ford recall 22S56 which applies to my 2015 Expedition:

Summary
ON YOUR VEHICLE, THE CLIMATE CONTROL FRONT BLOWER MOTOR MAY OVERHEAT, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN AN INTERIOR FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ON.

Safety Risk
AN INTERIOR VEHICLE FIRE CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY AND VEHICLE DAMAGE.

Remedy
FORD IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH ITS SUPPLIERS TO PRODUCE REDESIGNED PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED ONCE REMEDY PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, WHICH IS EXPECTED IN EARLY FIRST QUARTER 2023. THIS REPAIR WILL BE FREE OF CHARGE PARTS AND LABOR.

This recall was issued August 26, 2022. It's June 25, 2023 and Ford still doesn't have "redesigned parts for the repair".

Don't think that Dodge or FCA or Stellantis is the only car manufacturer who can't seem to produce quality parts and make them available to dealers and customers. Don't think that you are the only car owner dealing with an inability to get your vehicle repaired in a timely fashion when parts aren't available. The work you described probably could have been completed in a day. But, it probably took the dealer 2 months to get the parts and other 0.4 months to get a technician freed up to do the work. The lot at my local Ford dealer is full of vehicles waiting for parts and an available technician so service can be completed. I think they have more cars on the lot waiting for service than they have new cars to sell. It's a said situation, but everybody is living with it.
Click to expand...
Just to be clear Jack Powell told me they were working on my car the day after I turned it in to the service center. What I found out later is that they didn't even look at it for over 10 days. Then it took 2 days to get the Maxcare recommended repairs submitted to Dodge. Then when the mechanic went do do the recommended repairs they discovered the TIPM was on back order + would take 10+ days to ship.

If Jack Powell had done the initial assessment + submitted the Maxcare paperwork in the first 1-3 days (like they said they were doing but lied to me about) it probably would have taken a month to repair which still sucks but at least isn't 2.5 months.

Dodge needs to shake up their dealer / service center network. What's currently available isn't working.
 
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