2003 DODGE RAM 1500 Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

OIL PRESSURE DROPS ALL OF A SUDDEN TRUCK QUITS. THERE MANY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE WEB WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS NO OTHER PROBLEM UNTIL OIL PRESSURE DROPS FOR NO REASON. MECHANICS ALL SAY THE SAME THING NEED NEW ENGINE. OIL IS CHANGED WHEN IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE. THE ENGINES NEED TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 WITH 40000 MILES ON IT WITH A 7 YEAR/70000 MILE WARRANTY ON IT. THE ENGINE WAS MAKING NOISE (SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT) SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND THEY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, TOOK IN AGAIN, STILL NOT CORRECTED, TOOK IT IN A THIRD TIME NOW THEY CLAIM IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE TO THE TUNE OF 7,800.00 AND THEY ARE NOT HONORING THE WARRANTY DUE TO "LACK OF MAINTENANCE". I THEN BROUGHT IN RECEIPTS TO CONTRADICT THAT THEN THEY SAID I CHANGED THE OIL "TOO MUCH"?? UPON CONTACTING DODGE THEY ARE AGREEING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP ME EVEN THOUGH I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR OILS AND FILTERS. *TR

WE PURCHASED A 2003 RAM 1500 3.7, IN 11/07, THE TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN RUNNING RIGHT, WE TOOK IT IN AND 2 PLUGS MELTED, INTO THE COIL, THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEADS ON THAT SIDE. WE PICKED UP THE TRUCK. AND THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF AND FROZE THE WATER PUMP, BLOWING ANOTHER HEAD GASKET. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THE PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED. *TR

ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 17TH WHILE IDLING IN PARK MY 2003 DODGE RAM WITH 42,000 MILES BEGAN TO SHAKE, MAKE NOISE LIKE THERE WERE ROCKS IN THE ENGINE, AND THEN SHUT OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO CENTURY DODGE IN TAYLOR MICHIGAN ON TELEGRAPH ROAD AT ROUGHLY 9AM ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18TH AND WAS TOLD AT ROUGHLY 4:55PM THAT THEY HAD NOT HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT. AT 9:30AM ON WEDNESDAY I AGAIN SPOKE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE AN ANSWER FOR ME BY THE END OF THE DAY. AT 8:30AM ON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20TH MY WIFE CALLED AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY AGAIN HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT BUT THEY WOULD HAVE AN ANSWER TO HER BY LUNCH TIME. THEY DID CALL HER AT 11:30AM AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE VALVE SPRING IN THE NUMBER 7 CYLINDER HEAD...

LOUD KNOCK COMING FROM LOWER END OF THE 5.7L HEMI MOTOR. *JB

2003 SLT 1500 ENGINE PISTON AND SPARK PLUGS MELT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER ON 7/16/06. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE CONSUMER NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR 68 DAYS. VEHICLE WAS NOT RETURNED TO CONSUMER UNTIL 9/16/2006. AFTER REPAIRS THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND ENGINE RAN ROUGH, 30764 MILES. AFTER 6 WEEKS THE TRUCK STILL WASN'T FIXED. *NM

I HAVE A LOUD TICK COMING FROM THE MOTOR. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD NOT TO TRY AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE MOTORS BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT UNTIL THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR. THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THIS IS THE WARRANTY MAY BE UP AT THAT TIME FORCING ME TO HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT NOW AND ALSO THE RESALE OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT IS FIXED WITH THAT NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR. *NM

LOSS OIL PRESSURE ON I75, TOWED TRUCK TO DODGE DEALER, THEY SAID THE ENGINE WAS RUINED. DODGE WILL NOT FIX ENGINE. TRUCK HAS 26,000 MILES AND UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID THE OIL WAS BAD BUT THEY DIDN'T TAKE AN OIL SAMPLE OR HAVE IT TESTED. *NM

DRIVING DOWN I-94 ON 01/24/2006 FROM WORK GOING 70 MPH AND OIL GAUGE BOTTOMED OUT, AND I HAD A TICKING NOISE. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TRUCK TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS SHOT DUE TO SLUDGE. I MAINTAINED A EXCELLENT 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE. CURRENTLY, THE TRUCK SITS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND I OWE $27000 ON SOMETHING I COULD NOT DRIVE. HELP!! *AK

1. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE STARTED SWINGING BACK & FORTH. I TOOK ME ABOUT 100 YARDS TO PULL OVER SAFELY AND THE ENGINE QUIT. 2. ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BOB BOSE DODGE IN BRADENTON FLORIDA SAID THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND WILL NOT BE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS ENGINE RELIGIOUSLY AND HAVE CHANGES THE OIL MORE THAN RECOMMENDED. THERE IS NO REASON FOR AN ENGINE WITH 63,000 MILES TO FAIL LIKE THIS.*AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ELEVEN HOURS HE TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND HEARD A LOUD BACKFIRE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FILLED WITH SMOKE , AND HE EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE PARKING ATTENDANT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THERE WAS MINIMAL FIRE DAMAGE. ELEVEN DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S SALVAGE LOT. UPON INSPECTION THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP, AND ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN APART TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE IT, THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM

REF 2003 DODGE RAM 1500QC 4.7L 4X4 17000 MILES ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I HAD A NEAR STALLING ISSUE, AND 1 COMPLETE STALL. I WOULD START TRUCK IN MORNING LET IT SIT FOR 2 MINUTES THEN DRIVE TO WORK AS NORMAL, NO PROBLEMS. AFTER I LEAVE WORK AFTER AN 8 HOUR TOUR I WOULD START TRUCK AS NORMAL LET IT SIT FOR 2 MINUTES THEN DRIVE AWAY AS NORMAL AFTER APPROX 100 YARDS THROUGH PARKING LOT I WOULD STOP AT STOP SIGN WAITING TO TURN, TRUCK WOULD BOG DOWN AND CHUG AS IF IT WANTED TO STALL. I WOULD TAP THE GAS PEDAL WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE DOWN, THEN WHEN IT WAS CLEAR I WOULD DRIVE AS NORMAL NO MORE PROBLEMS. THE TRUCK HAS DONE IT NUMEROUS TIMES .THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT IN TO THE DEALER, SPENT A WEEK, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM WITH THE IDLE, SO THEY...

VEHICLE HAS 107,000 MILES ON IT 4.7 L. HEAD GASKET BLEW WATER NUMBER 2 CYLINDERMOTOR OVER HEATED. NOW DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE $2600 TO FIX. OUT OF 5 DODGES HAVE HAD 4 WITH BAD HEAD GASKETS. 2 CARAVANS WITH 2,4L AND A BREEZE(PLYMOUTH) WITH A 2L. WAS TOLD BY A NON DODGE MECHANIC SHOP THIS IS THE 3RD ONE THEY HAVE SEEN. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM. ALSO HAD RIGHT INNER TIE ROD GO OUT ONCE AND IS DOING SO AGAIN. CAUSES SEVERE TIRE WEAR AND VERY ERATTIC STEERING. PLEASE POST TO THIS SITE IF SIMILAR PROBLEMS MAY FORCE DODGE TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND SHOW THIS IS SOMETHING COMMON AND THEY ARE JUST BITING THEIR TOUNGE UNTIL OUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED.

VEHICLE STALLS DURING PARKING LOT MANUVERS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IT STUMBLES AND OR STALLS. VEHICLE BOUGHT IN JUNE OF 2003. 1RST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS IN AUGUST OF 2003. TOOK VEHICLE IN AND THEY "FLASHED" THE PCM. CONTINUED TO HAPPEN ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS UP TO THE PRESENT. HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER ON A COUPLE OF OTHER OCCASIONS SINCE. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIX. HAPPENED AGAIN IN FEBRUARY, A FEW DAYS AFTER IT WAS AT CERRITOS DODGE. CALLED THE SERVICE REP THERE, ALFONZO CUADRA, HE SAID THAT I WOULD BE WASTING MY TIME BRINGING IT BACK IN AGAIN. HE SAID THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO FIX AVAILABLE. HE SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE A NEW FLASH IN THE "NEAR FUTURE" AND HE WOULD CALL ME WHEN IT WAS IN. STILL NO CALL. THERE IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE. WAS...

HAVE HAD THE TRUCK LESS THAN TWO YEARS AND HAVE HAD SERVICE BECAUSE OF FAULTY MOTOR IN WINDSHIELD WIPERS, BAD COIL IN ENGINE, MIS-FIRING, CAUSING THE CYLINDERS AND VALVES TO BE REPLACED, FUEL CAP REPLACED, FUEL LINE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WATER IN THE LINES, HEATER HAD BAD PIECE, CAUSING HEAT TO NOT COME OUT OF DEFROST OR FLOORS, SHIFTER FOR 4-WHEEL DRIVE WILL NOT SHIFT. HAS BEEN IN SHOP 13 DAYS(3 VISITS) IN LAST 4 WEEKS. NEEDS TO GO BACK THIS WEEK FOR SHIFTER. *AK

I OWN A 2003 DODGE RAM TRUCK WITH THE 5.7L HEMI ENGINE THAT IS ONE YEAR OLD AND HAS 9100 MILES ON IT. SEVEN MONTHS AGO, AT ABOUT 4,000 MILES, THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD TAPPING NOISE. IT SOUNDS LIKE A VALVE TAPPING AND IS VERY NOTICEABLE.*AK IF YOU LISTEN TO THE ENGINE FROM BELOW BY THE OIL PAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO MY DODGE DEALER THREE TIMES; THEY SAY IT IS NORMAL FOR THE HEMI ENGINE. THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED EVERY 2500 MILES OR LESS ON THIS ENGINE. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR ANY GASOLINE ENGINE, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE VALVE TRAIN IS OIL STARVED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I AM A MEMBER OF THE LARGEST DODGE FORUM ON THE INTERNET. ABOUT 15% TO 20% OF OUR HEMI TRUCK OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THEIR...

ENGINE "HANGS" AT IDLE AFTER BACKING UP AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. WILL NOT ACCELERATE. CAN BE OVERCOME BY SHUTTING DOWN AND RESTARTING. HAS OCCURRED IN ABOUT A DOZEN INSTANCES SINCE JAN 03. DEALER CAN'T FIX. CHRYSLER BLOWS IT OFF.

HAVE AN 03 RAM HEMI, 6020 MILES ON IT, BROKE DOWN LAST WEEK. DEALERSHIP THOUGHT IT WAS A FAULTYFUEL INJECTOR CAUSING THE MISSFIRE. IT WAS A BROKEN VALVE SPRING. NOW THEY ONLY WANT TO REPLACE 1 SPRING AND LEAVE 15 POSSIBLY BAD ONES IN IT. HAVE OWNED TRUCK SINCE JULY 2ND 2003. *AK

SECOND COMPLAINT, TRUCK STILL IN THE SHOP, I HAVE BEEN WAITING 16 DAYS FOR PARTS, DEALER IS UNABLE TO GET ALL THE NEW REPLACEMENT PARTS TO FIX MY OIL LEAK. THIS OIL LEAK IS BECAUSE THE DEALER THAT REPLACED MY ENGINE DIDN'T INSTALL IT CORRECTLY. THEY PUT ONE OF THE SUSPECTED BAD PARTS BACK IN WITH TWO NEW SEALS AROUND IT, I DON'T THINK THAT IS RIGHT. I BOUGHT A NEW TRUCK, I SHOULD GET NEW REPLACEMENT PARTS WHEN IT BREAKS DOWN. DEALERS NAME IS LARRY MILLER DODGE 623-815-2250. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 2400 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ONLY OWNED IT FOR TWO AND A HALF MONTHS, NO ONE WILL RETURN MY CALLS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TRUCK. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 30 DAYS. *JB

RAM 1500 HEMI, WITH 1900 MILES ON IT, IT BROKE A VALVE SPRING, CRACKED THE BLOCK, LOST THE MOTOR. IT TOOK 14 DAYS TO GET THE MOTOR REPLACED, NOW IT HAS A REAR MAIN SEAL LEAK. WAITING ON PARTS, 12 DAYS. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN IT SHOP FOR 26 DAYS, I'VE ONLY OWNED IT FOR TWO AND HALF MONTHS. AFTER 30 DAYS IT FALLS UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *NLM

DODGE RAM 1500 HEMI. BOUGHT ON 5-26-03. ON 6-2-03 THE TRUCK BROKE DOWN. BROKEN VALVE SPRING. FIRST IT WAS THOUGHT THE COMPUTER. NOW DODGE WANTS MOTOR BACK. TRUCK IS STILL IN THE SHOP WITH THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR NOT IN SIGHT. IS THIS A PROBLEM WITH THE NEW HEMI STYLE MOTOR? MAY NEED TO LOOK INTO THIS. *NLM

MY NEW TRUCK TURNS OFF ALL THE TIME WHEN SITTING AT IDLE FOR 2 MINUTES OR MORE. *NLM

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND WAS UNABLE TO BE FIXED. *JB SCC