Truck problems - Montana Owners Club

c214dick · 08-04-2019, 09:18 PM

Made it home just in time from the CPRR in Nebraska City. Backed into the driveway and experienced a lot of steering problems. Best guess is power steering rack blowing fluid all over. Also had AC problems going and coming.
Truck is currently parked in the front yard waiting for tow to shop. Will wait and see how much this will cost. Pretty sure we’re at the end of our rope with this one. It’s an 03 and we bought it new but every year it’s costing me about $2k.
We will start looking for a low mileage truck. Can’t afford new. Monte will sit until something comes along. Hope we find something in time for the rally.

Theunz · 08-04-2019, 10:08 PM

I can definitely relate. Bought my 05 F250 new and keep it in immaculate condition. Had to have truck and 5er towed at about 80,000 miles and then again at about 125,000 miles. A couple of thousand miles after the last tow the truck started exhibiting the same symptoms as the first break down, cracked egr cooler. Debated getting it " bullet proofed", but decided that we had lost confidence in the truck and would always be uneasy towing with it. Another factor was the desire for more power and an exhaust brake. Traded it in on the truck in sig line with only 5500 miles, that's right fifty five hundred, on it. Have towed with complete confidence since and thrilled with our decision, except the payments of course! Hope your experience is the same.

Mikendebbie · 08-05-2019, 04:43 AM

I was at similar point with my 03 Chevy 2500 in May 2016. Steering system had bad leak. I had it 11 yrs and it had 265k on it. Every time we went out something happened. DW said NO MORE IM DONE TRAVELING. My diesel mechanic at the time recommended trying to find 09 or 10 Chevy without DEF system. He said stay away from early DEF models. I could not find one with less than 100k miles but did find a low mileage 2014 C3500 SRW. Drove that one for 100k when DEF tank heater went out. DW suggested upgrading to dually based on reading this forum - and we did and glad we did.

c214dick · 08-05-2019, 05:40 AM

Can’t do a dually as my driveway will not allow me to park it side by side with our other vehicle or Monte. We’ve had this one since new and only have 180,000 miles. All the mechanics that have worked on it say it’s too good a truck to get rid of. Of course they would say that LOL

mazboy · 08-05-2019, 05:51 AM

we've all experience this...

I finally got rid of my '06 Chevy after too many expensives. Always thought if I just did one more thing and it would be good. No such luck.

c214dick · 08-05-2019, 06:05 AM

It’s like an old friend but also like an addict, just one more shot. Will see what they say today. Either way it’s not driveable until it gets fixed.

Dave W · 08-05-2019, 06:06 AM

How I would love a new(er) truck but it isn't in the budget since it would need a loan t their current prices and I wont (can't?) do 5-800 bucks a month

I just had the DEF heater replaced under warranty (special 120,000 mile warranty) at 119,790 miles - phew missed that $600 shot! It also needs an EGR cooler but I can clear that code and it stays fine for a couple months. Since it's a Ford job 1 early 2011, strange noises always give me a fright since a glow plug failure destroyed a few engines of that vintage along with a few valve head breakages.

Nice to dream of a shiny 2019 or 2020 1 ton in my driveway but those payments ...

jimcol · 08-05-2019, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c214dick

Made it home just in time from the CPRR in Nebraska City. Backed into the driveway and experienced a lot of steering problems. Best guess is power steering rack blowing fluid all over. Also had AC problems going and coming.
Truck is currently parked in the front yard waiting for tow to shop. Will wait and see how much this will cost. Pretty sure we’re at the end of our rope with this one. It’s an 03 and we bought it new but every year it’s costing me about $2k.
We will start looking for a low mileage truck. Can’t afford new. Monte will sit until something comes along. Hope we find something in time for the rally.

Sorry to hear this Dick and glad you made it home. I know you're conflicted on when to cut your loss. Get it looked at and see how big the issue is then you can make a rationale decision. 2K a year sounds like a lot but remember that is only 3 or 4 monthly payments for a new one.

c214dick · 08-05-2019, 01:27 PM

In the shop now. Should know by tomorrow. Every time I pay for a repair I tell myself the same thing. Considering I had it partially repainted last year I would be sorry to let it go. Depending on what is wrong I may have them go through everything and see if it’s worth keeping.

jimcol · 08-05-2019, 01:40 PM

The paint job did look good!

c214dick · 08-05-2019, 02:17 PM

You should have seen all the bugs/butterflies smooched on it.

bigred715 · 08-05-2019, 04:30 PM

Do you have extended warranty, or is this on your dime. We are on our second extended warranty and hope that we won't need it. 4yrs for about $1800.

Dave W · 08-05-2019, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigred715

Do you have extended warranty, or is this on your dime. We are on our second extended warranty and hope that we won't need it. 4yrs for about $1800.

If you have a Ford 6.7 and it's a very early version, JOB 1, and has been uprated in horsepower and torque via TSB then that extended warranty is inexpensive peace of mind. If you have a DEF heater (reductant heater) and it's a pre 2015, that part is warranted until 120,000 miles or 11 years. If you have a GM or Fiat product, nary a clue

c214dick · 08-05-2019, 04:58 PM

My dime or $570 is closer to it. Power steering rack. Still cheaper than a new truck. Still waiting to hear on the AC problem. That I can live without.

**DQDick** · 08-05-2019, 05:13 PM

Sorry to hear of your problems. Glad it held off till it was somewhat convenient. Your in a part of the country where AC isn't as much of a deal as it is for us in Kansas.

Mikendebbie · 08-05-2019, 05:38 PM

The DEF heater went out on my 2014 Chevy at 100,684 miles. I had a 100k warranty. They would not cover it...was quoted $1100 to replace the tank.

Dave W · 08-06-2019, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikendebbie

The DEF heater went out on my 2014 Chevy at 100,684 miles. I had a 100k warranty. They would not cover it...was quoted $1100 to replace the tank.

Ouch!
I think the new one on my truck has a 2 year warranty - makes me start considering a full delete since the rest of the emissions system is also 9 years old (only considering)

Again, every time I consider a new truck, visions of years of checks with wings clouds my mind. When you see a new F150 short bed King Ranch, not a Platinum or Limited with a sticker that reads $70,530 plus tax, etc., you can only envision what a similar new F350 would cost.

c214dick · 08-06-2019, 06:05 AM

All too rich for my blood. If we were full time or traveled great distances I would consider it. I always keep my eyes open for a good used one.

beeje · 08-06-2019, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikendebbie

The DEF heater went out on my 2014 Chevy at 100,684 miles. I had a 100k warranty. They would not cover it...was quoted $1100 to replace the tank.

My 14 gmc already has a dpf back exhaust on it. I have the dpf delete pipe and the programmer. If it fails out of the special warranty, its getting deleted.

rames14 · 08-06-2019, 06:07 PM

Glad to hear you made it home safely from CPRR. Sorry for your trouble, but you didn’t get stranded on the side of the road. We had two relatively minor issues this winter and both allowed us (barely) to make it to a campground and service. At -13, I was glad to not be stranded. Hope you have it fixed or a different truck by rally.

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