what do i have to do to top off the transmission fluid level and top off my oil level?the shop never seems to have someone to do this and i dont know how to get it across to them that i need this maint work done and not another excuse.
Dodgevanman
11-29-2005, 11:20 AM
I'm not real familiar with these vans....do you have an owners' manual that can show you where the dipsticks are?
EZ1
11-29-2005, 03:40 PM
I will assume we're speaking about the Dodge sprinter motor home. Are those built in Elkhart Indiana? I used to have a 1978, 28 footer, 400 Dodge truck chassis.
All the dipstick's are behind the hood door. The engine oil should be checked when cold on level ground engine off. The automatic transmission dipstick, should be near the driver's side. The dipstick tube is much larger, because this is where the fluid is added if needed. Check the transmission fluid, hot and idling in neutral (don't forget to set the brake) on level ground. DO NOT overfill the transmission. There is NO drain plug.
If you're sprinter does not have a transmission fluid temperature gauge, I would advise that you install one. My sprinter absolutely hated the " Denver Climb" and climbing out of the gorge in Oregon. My engine always seem to run cool, but those second-gear, 35mph, steep grades, would always increase the transmission fluid temperature to the maximum.
Also unique to the sprinter motor home is the mounting of the ignition module. The ignition module must have a good ground. The mounting plate on the back of the engine does get rusty. Of course mine failed at a dump station. I pulled my hair out, " it was just running, it's still warm!"???? I replaced the ignition module, and still nothing. I shined up the mounting plate and WaLa. I reinstalled the old ignition module and it was fine. To keep this from happening again, I added an extra 12 gauge ground wire from the module to the engine block.
To increase my fuel economy I installed a vacuum meter. It's a good visual of how much gas mileage you're not getting. My sprinter used to get 9 MPG. Then I installed the Edillbrock performer series for barrel carburetor. In my gas mileage went to about 14 mpg. I once got 24 mpg driving east on interstate 80 with a great tailwind. :D
Weezbo
11-30-2005, 02:15 AM
Thanks It is a 2005 2500...Thank you for the valiant effort:) it seems these guys are hard timing me for some reason ..you wouldnt think that would be the way the company would roll as i have some sort of gold prestige card , like maximum coverage ,extended warranty and all that good jazz. foolish moi :) there are special tools that they have for getting the cover off the tranny dip stick opening and while i catch on pretty quick they have some machine that is supposed to tell them what the level is supposed to be at 120 F and today when i tried to get someone with a straight answer they duck and cover and sneak around likethere is some sorta big secret...then when i checked on the type of oil that was available in the parts dept they said 15 40 well uh uh that isnt what i have in it i have 0 a synthetic. and what the heck is wrong with that picture? 60 70 below zero THATS what . HEAR Where i am comming from? there ought to be some sort of way to drop these clowns on the doorstep and give them a kick to the curb. and while Jiffy Lube might have just hired on a new lube guy how on earth would anyone know what the the guy would put in your vehicle? Mercedes ought to send a booklet out for the consumate machinest and there would be a lot happier customer, from my viewpoint.
Weezbo
11-30-2005, 02:25 AM
OOps Did i say thank You ... i get sorta P.Oed. at times...i am still freaking over what thick 15 40 is going to do instead of having the synthetic that has a lower pour point...it would be no Thing were we in Bermuda or florida buh here in th Central Interior of Alaska it get Really Frickin Cold. i have made cars go in 75 below that the service tec reps couldnt get to roll much less the dealerships wrench twisters.. even after explaining it three times in a row the guy wasnt "getting" it. Thank God i gave up fixing and repairing vehicles or id probably have taken a deep dive off a shallow pier.
Dodgevanman
11-30-2005, 06:15 AM
I hear ya man...are you talking about the dealer that's giving you a hard time?
EZ1
11-30-2005, 11:13 AM
Remember, it's the squeaky wheel that gets the greese! Throw a bitch all the way to the top. Call the corprate office. Sing you gripe long, loud, and hard to all those who don't want to hear it. You are the mighty consumer! Without our support, they'd all be unemployed. Let everyone know about your misfourtunes. No company likes bad PR. Tell them your getting a banner for your rig to tell/warn the whole town about their poor service.
We do stick together and look out for each other. I will NEVER buy an engine from ASAP Motors because they have screwed over members of this forum. Word travels fast, and with the www, we are a better informed consumer.
Please give us the name of the company that's screwing you over so we can avoid/hate them with you. Tell them they've been slamed on a forum with thousands of members.
First... get MAD! :VHOT: Then... get EVEN! ;)
Weezbo
12-02-2005, 06:02 AM
and i just deleted a reply because i am thinking that i should contact some of my friends and bring some of the We Built this place type by their business to inform them ,it isn't going to cut it . And that it might also be a good thing to bring it to the attention of the manufacturers.....from a word of mouth from someone with a shade of clout in that country. :)
and as you say, getting the oil analyzed would clearly indicate how this objection to this new style service just isn't going to be doing any favors to their product .much less urinating off people who like their product and cannot find someone to do a simple oilchange and transmission level check at one of their service center / dealerships. I live in North Pole, and thats just outside of Fairbanks Alaska. When i worked in the parts department 20+ years ago everyone went the extra mile for our customers.... my buddy sold it to Chrysler .
there is no way i would chirp up the sprinter again with such lousy service.
and delusional me ,i was considering buying a few more...
my thought is ,better one Happy customer than ten of them urinated off at me.
