Problem with dealer and warranty

[1ramrunner]

I have a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 with about 36K miles and the factory lifetime warranty.
I took it to a local dealer in July because it was leaking transmission fluid. They gave me a hard time about what was covered and wanted to charge me a diagnostic fee to have it looked at. I explained the warranty, they took it in. They called back and gave me an amount to cover the work. I again explained the warranty and they agreed to call Dodge, and they covered the warranty.
The other day, I realized the leak was back, or never went away, and I just recently noticed it.
I called to make an appointment and they brought up the diagnostic fee again. I explained it was from a previous service and that I had the lifetime warranty.
Today I took it in and they came back to me after a couple hours and said they needed more time to locate the leak and that there will be additional time added to the diagnostic fee. I again told them it would be covered under warranty.
They came back to me 2 hours later and said they had cleaned up the area where there was fluid underneath, but could not find the leak. Tole me to drive about 100 to 200 miles and bring it back in.
They also said I needed to pay over $400 for diagnostic for their time to try and locate the leak. I told them it should be covered under warranty, and they told me it wasn't a warranty issue because they couldn't find the leak.
I asked to speak with someone higher up at the dealership, they said I would receive a call within 24 hours.
I asked for my keys and they said I had to pay the bill first.
They basically held my truck hostage.
Is this what should have happened for warranty work?
Even when you forget about lifetime warranty, what about the warranty of their work in July?
Sorry so long, very frustrating day off.

 

[SD Rebel]

Most extended warranties are really similar to powersports warranties, like jet skis and can be really frustrating.

Essentially if they can't find anything wrong the manufacturer won't cover any work diag time (opposite of what they do under original warranty), so if they just inspect it but don't replace anything, they may charge you for the diagnostic time, depending on how they pay the techs.

Once you're out of the original warranty, you are now in a different system when it comes to diagnostic reimbursement.

 

[1ramrunner]

I am still under warranty. I have the lifetime factory power train warranty as long as I own the vehicle.

 

[SD Rebel]

I am still under warranty. I have the lifetime factory power train warranty as long as I own the vehicle.

I totally understand, but depending on the dealer you go to, once you're out of the original 3yr / 36k Bumper to Bumper and 5 yr / 60k powertain warranty, they may have a different system when it comes to approving diagnostic time.

The Lifetime Powertrain warranty only covers if there is a warranty repair that is approved, it does not cover diagnostic time if there is no warranty issue identified.

If the dealer can't identify the issue of your leak, then they can't submit a warranty repair to Mopar, which means somebody is going to pay that diagnostic fee and it's not going to be them.

However if they find it in the future, hopefully you can recoup the diagnostic fees.