Air conditioning Hack

[yellowboy]

I would like to know how long this REALLY takes to do this fix as I live alone, and only have my truck. Ram cares said I get a loaner anytime the truck is in the shop overnight, but I'm not waiting until 10 minutes of 5:00 PM and the dealer says "we aren't done with it, need to finish it tomorrow and don't have a loaner" !

 

[Paultg]

I would like to know how long this REALLY takes to do this fix as I live alone, and only have my truck. Ram cares said I get a loaner anytime the truck is in the shop overnight, but I'm not waiting until 10 minutes of 5:00 PM and the dealer says "we aren't done with it, need to finish it tomorrow and don't have a loaner" !

I think loaners are usually at the descretion of the dealership. My s suggestion is you work directly with Ram Cars to arrange the service with the dealer so they deal with and know what Ram Cares said.

 

[Paultg]

My build date is 7/22.... but at the moment (and back in Aug when I took delivery) my AC performs to our satisfaction.

 

[brian42]

I would like to know how long this REALLY takes to do this fix as I live alone, and only have my truck. Ram cares said I get a loaner anytime the truck is in the shop overnight, but I'm not waiting until 10 minutes of 5:00 PM and the dealer says "we aren't done with it, need to finish it tomorrow and don't have a loaner" !

You should get a loaner for a day while the dealership goes over the issues. After that they will either determine there is stuff to fix (and you get to stay in the loaner) or there is nothing to fix (and you have to take the loaner back and get your truck).

I always get a loaner when I take my truck in for warranty work. I either get one of their loaner fleet (usually a Classic Express that they charge FCA $40/day) or they send me to Enterprise if their out of rentals.

I'm not sure if each state's rules but I have read of dealerships denying loaners/rentals when people drop off their trucks for warranty work. Personally, that's a place I'd never go back to.

 

[grooves12]

I'd love to wait until next summer but I've got 35,450 miles on the odometer so I've got one last chance for "free" repairs under my basic warranty.

I've got an appointment next week and I guesstimate that I'll be dropping it off with not much more than 100 miles left on the B2B.

Hopefully I can convince them to do the repair.

Might be worth it to extend your warranty if you are planning on keeping the truck and want to make sure this is fixed.

Can go to 5 years/60,000 for about $1k.

 

[cj7]

Called my local dealer, and they said they can’t order the parts for the AC TSB until the 14th...

 

[brian42]

Might be worth it to extend your warranty if you are planning on keeping the truck and want to make sure this is fixed.

Can go to 5 years/60,000 for about $1k.

I've already got a 7 year/unlimited mileage extended warranty with $100 deductible.

Looking for one last "free" visit to the dealership and hopefully get the TSB approved on FCA's dime. I would consider the underwhelming A/C a production defect for FCA to take care of.

I dropped it off this morning with 35,705 miles on the odometer. Hopefully I can get the TSB approved regardless of when they can get parts.

After this it will only be broken/failed parts to have fixed under the extended warranty rather than the wish list of wants and hopes over the past year and a half.

All in all my dealership has done a good job of addressing my concerns and issues so I can't complain.

 

[Nibis]

I would like to know how long this REALLY takes to do this fix as I live alone, and only have my truck. Ram cares said I get a loaner anytime the truck is in the shop overnight, but I'm not waiting until 10 minutes of 5:00 PM and the dealer says "we aren't done with it, need to finish it tomorrow and don't have a loaner" !

Only take 15 minutes to do the hack

 

[yellowboy]

On the loaner issue - I did not buy the truck from my local dealer - I think that's why I don't get one. Then the Covid stopped their shuttle service so I have to hawk a friend or take a cab to get home.

 

[brian42]

On the loaner issue - I did not buy the truck from my local dealer - I think that's why I don't get one. Then the Covid stopped their shuttle service so I have to hawk a friend or take a cab to get home.

I bought mine 120 miles from me but have it serviced at a local dealership 20 miles away. They give me a loaner every time. After the first day, though, I have to bring it back if they don't validate any work that needs to be done.

It shouldn't matter where you bought the truck from. Service is the big moneymaker for the dealership so they should want to keep the bays full of vehicles to fix, regardless if the customer or FCA is paying them.

Most dealerships treat each department as it's own business so there's not a lot of communication and camaraderie. Ever tried to negotiate OEM parts add-ons and it went nowhere? That's why.

Still surprising that some dealerships don't do loaners for basic warranty issues. My dealership bills FCA for the "rental" while they have my truck so they're definitely not losing money by putting me in their loaner/rental. They get a repeat customer and some extra money from FCA. Win/win for them.

 

[ldoh]

It's safe to say dealerships don't make as much on warranty work in general. It makes sense given the manufacturer determines the repair rate and they don't want to incentivize work that adds cost to their bottom line.

On the other hand, recalls, TSBs, and warranty work give a chance for the stealership to encourage unnecessary preventative maintenance with contrived or accelerated in-house maintenance schedules etc.

Aside from recalls, TSBs, and warranty work, I always throw work to capable and trustworthy independent shops.

 

[cj7]

Called my local dealer, and they said they can’t order the parts for the AC TSB until the 14th...

Every time I talk to my local dealer’s service department, the story is different. Now my dealer is telling me they have to confirm the problem, and have to leave the truck with them. The TSB procedure doesnt have any such requirement. When I made the apptmt, they said they would order the parts so the truck didn’t have to sit and wait everything to come in. So sick of Dealer BS...

 

[wallyuwl]

I have a build date of August 10, 2020. That falls outside of the time frame of this TSB. I haven't had it in warm weather to test the AC, and won't until probably April.

@RamCares does this TSB mean that every vehicle built on August 1, 2020 and after has the new revised AC system/components?

 

[RamCares]

Called my local dealer, and they said they can’t order the parts for the AC TSB until the 14th...

Hi there @cj7, we understand how this delay could be concerning. Feel free to send us a private message if you would like us to step in with additional assistance from a specialist. We would be happy to work alongside your dealer on your behalf!

On the loaner issue - I did not buy the truck from my local dealer - I think that's why I don't get one. Then the Covid stopped their shuttle service so I have to hawk a friend or take a cab to get home.

Hello @yellowboy, please know that our team would be happy to do what we can in order to assist with this inconvenience. Feel free to send us a private message for further support during your service.

I have a build date of August 10, 2020. That falls outside of the time frame of this TSB. I haven't had it in warm weather to test the AC, and won't until probably April.

@RamCares does this TSB mean that every vehicle built on August 1, 2020 and after has the new revised AC system/components?

@wallyuwl, we would be happy to escalate a case on your behalf in the future if you find that you are experiencing this concern with your vehicle. If your vehicle falls outside of the TSB specifications, then it may not apply. However we would be happy to work alongside your dealer if necessary during a future diagnosis appointment. Do not hesitate to send us a private message with any questions you may have!

Kathryn
RamCares

 

[landa409]

@RamCares I too need help with this. I been to my dealership twice trying to fix the issue with the AC and haven’t been successful.

 

[brian42]

On the loaner issue - I did not buy the truck from my local dealer - I think that's why I don't get one.

I got a loaner from my dealership for every visit during my basic warranty and I didn't buy the truck from them.

 

[NorthStar]

I have a build date of August 10, 2020. That falls outside of the time frame of this TSB. I haven't had it in warm weather to test the AC, and won't until probably April.

@RamCares does this TSB mean that every vehicle built on August 1, 2020 and after has the new revised AC system/components?

My build date is August 30, 2020 and I can tell you the AC freezes the old lady out of the cab of the truck - menopause doesn't stand a chance with her when she's riding in my Ram. That AC blows cold as heck!

 

[securityguy]

I got a loaner from my dealership for every visit during my basic warranty and I didn't buy the truck from them.

And that's how it should be

 

[brian42]

I have a build date of August 10, 2020. That falls outside of the time frame of this TSB. I haven't had it in warm weather to test the AC, and won't until probably April.

@RamCares does this TSB mean that every vehicle built on August 1, 2020 and after has the new revised AC system/components?

Yes, it was incorporated into production for 2021 trucks moving forward.

It's an available resolution for those of us with "older" 5th gens that are having issues. It's guaranteed money for the dealership as it only requires a customer complaint (and it's billed as such) but the rub is getting a dealership to do the repair. It's a fairly new TSB so most dealerships are unfamiliar with it (mine performs a 'cooldown test' that is not required so will not authorize the repair). It is also very invasive and lends itself to creating potential issues and some dealerships don't feel it's worth the income to risk having to fix something on their dime if something goes wrong or they damage something during the process.

 

[PostPremium]

Yes, it was incorporated into production for 2021 trucks moving forward.

How do you know this?