Extended warranty questions

[Viejo]

Before I get started. I have already decided that for my purposes the extended warranty is worth the money.

My questions are about selecting the correct warranty and some of the items to watch out for. I have seen mention Zeigler but from what I understand is that they are associated with Mopar. I have also seen someone mention (i did not save the thread) that they had a fuel pump fail and the dealer claimed it was water contamination so this person had to pay, according to him, $7000 which seems excessive unless they replaced every component in the fuel system except the tank.

Getting an extended warranty that is affiliated with the manufacturer just doesn't bode well with me. there are many excellent honest dealers out there but there are a few bad ones. It just seems to me like they would try their best to push the blame on the owner so long as they wouldn't have to pay for it themselves. Yeah, I am cynical.

A few items I have seen on warranties

1. Transferable
2. Early cancellation option
3. Can take it to any shop I want or at least from a list of shops and not only to the dealer.

I know there are more but I can't think of them at this moment. If anyone can share their experiences perhaps I can learn from your mistakes, good decisions, or experience. Id like one that will take me to 100,000 but who knows if they offer it.

I have a 2500/2021 diesel option.

 

[Firebird]

My 3500 came with a third party (not Mopar) lifetime powertrain warranty. Only time will tell how good it is, but hopefully, I never need it.

 

[Viejo]

My 3500 came with a third party (not Mopar) lifetime powertrain warranty. Only time will tell how good it is, but hopefully, I never need it.

do you know ff the top of your head who the underwriter is

 

[Firebird]

do you know ff the top of your head who the underwriter is

I’ve only had the truck a month, so I went and pulled the paperwork. It looks to be a dealer backed lifetime warranty. So we will see how good it is.

 

[Viejo]

I’ve only had the truck a month, so I went and pulled the paperwork. It looks to be a dealer backed lifetime warranty. So we will see how good it is.

I wonder if it covers the fuel delivery system. However, for the transmission that lifetime warranty is gold. If you have the Cummins you more than likely won't ever need to use it for the engine but that begs the question, does it cover the injectors and fuel pump? Would those components be considered part of the powertrain?

 

[Firebird]

I wonder if it covers the fuel delivery system. However, for the transmission that lifetime warranty is gold. If you have the Cummins you more than likely won't ever need to use it for the engine but that begs the question, does it cover the injectors and fuel pump? Would those components be considered part of the powertrain?

I hope it does, as the powertrain doesn’t work without it

 

[aaronedmonton]

Had a Zeigler warranty for my 2018 Charger R/T. It was the Max Care. Took it in for a few small things.

I have seen that most warranties won't cover water in the fuel... and why should they really? That would be an insurance issue at that point.

 

[DammitDave]

Like Firebird I too received a dealer provided WarrantyForever.com which states that it covers the powertrain for as long as I own my truck. If you go to their website I believe you can search for what dealers in you area offer this program. Only downfall of FREE warranty is I have to pay a certified dealer to do my services.

 

[tnpete]

Like Firebird I too received a dealer provided WarrantyForever.com which states that it covers the powertrain for as long as I own my truck. If you go to their website I believe you can search for what dealers in you area offer this program. Only downfall of FREE warranty is I have to pay a certified dealer to do my services.

But you can't do your own oil changes and filter changes. It shows it must be a shop. Plus you have to call the warranty bunch in advance. Before haivng any service done other then the dealer.

 

[DammitDave]

Still beats a $6,000-$7,000 bill if my fuel pump fails.

 

[Viejo]

I hope it does, as the powertrain doesn’t work without it

I asked my dealer about the fuel system and the factory powertrain warranty, and he said the powertrain includes all the internally lubricated parts and not the fuel pump or injectors. He was specifically talking about the portion of the factory warranty that goes past the 36K/3years -- I think it's 5y/100K.

 

[DougB]

I asked my dealer about the fuel system and the factory powertrain warranty, and he said the powertrain includes all the internally lubricated parts and not the fuel pump or injectors. He was specifically talking about the portion of the factory warranty that goes past the 36K/3years -- I think it's 5y/100K.

Have your dealer read the warranty manual before mis-speaking about it

Fuel system is covered both by the 5/100k Cummins engine warranty and the 5/50k federal emissions warranty. The DEF system and particulate filter is also covered under the 5/50k emissions warranty. Learned something new.

2021 diesel warranty

 

[Viejo]

Have your dealer read the warranty manual before mis-speaking about it

Fuel system is covered both by the 5/100k Cummins engine warranty and the 5/50k federal emissions warranty. The DEF system and particulate filter is also covered under the 5/50k emissions warranty. Learned something new.

2021 diesel warranty

Ok, so the dealer doesn't know what he is talking about -- no surprise there.

Then what was the big deal with the CP4. I believe I read somewhere that a law firm got involved on behalf of several customers who were told the warranty wouldn't cover the exploded CP4s. Only then was RAM motivated to resolve the problem.

In a totally unrelated case to the CP4 I read that based on the word of a tech that claimed that there was water in the system and so the damage wasn't covered. Shouldn't they have to provide proof -- a sample? If not how easy is it to say it's not covered due to a long list of reasons which could or couldn't be proved. I ask because I simply don't understand how the system works. There are a lot of solid dealers out there but the same can be said of the dishonest ones who I've had the bad luck to deal with (Not RAM). Also, it seems like manufacturers -- I include all of them altho some are better than others -- seem to want to take the easy way out. The - No, it's not our fault! strategy. I say it out of the experience, I've successfully used the Lemmon Law twice.

 

[DougB]

Ok, so the dealer doesn't know what he is talking about -- no surprise there.

Then what was the big deal with the CP4. I believe I read somewhere that a law firm got involved on behalf of several customers who were told the warranty wouldn't cover the exploded CP4s. Only then was RAM motivated to resolve the problem.

In a totally unrelated case to the CP4 I read that based on the word of a tech that claimed that there was water in the system and so the damage wasn't covered. Shouldn't they have to provide proof -- a sample? If not how easy is it to say it's not covered due to a long list of reasons which could or couldn't be proved. I ask because I simply don't understand how the system works. There are a lot of solid dealers out there but the same can be said of the dishonest ones who I've had the bad luck to deal with (Not RAM). Also, it seems like manufacturers -- I include all of them altho some are better than others -- seem to want to take the easy way out. The - No, it's not our fault! strategy. I say it out of the experience, I've successfully used the Lemmon Law twice.

You nailed it.



Actually, the entire Section 3 explains how they can deny coverage.

 

[Viejo]

You nailed it.

View attachment 23647

How do they prove it? Do they provide you with a sample or results of a lab test of the contaminated fuel? If it is contaminated and they can prove it then if you have a receipt you can go after the gas station? Are there automobile insurance policies that cover it?

 

[DougB]

How do they prove it? Do they provide you with a sample or results of a lab test of the contaminated fuel? If it is contaminated and they can prove it then if you have a receipt you can go after the gas station? Are there automobile insurance policies that cover it?

I have only read a little on this topic. I am not sure how much recourse you have in getting the warranty denial reversed or requiring additional proof other than their techs. Maybe if they still have your fuel and you could get it tested elsewhere? I have heard of trying to get vehicle insurance to pay for it. Not sure how successful that is. You would need comprehensive coverage I would expect. Success of this would highly depend on your policy so suggest reading it for such coverage, and contacting your agent if there's nothing clear on it and if they do not know for sure, they should be able get an answer from the company/underwriter. Also, don't know if you would have to know where the contaminated fuel came from to get coverage, again, ask. If you do know then perhaps the insurance can subrogate against them to recover some of the costs to repair your vehicle.

 

[Brutal_HO]

How do they prove it? Do they provide you with a sample or results of a lab test of the contaminated fuel? If it is contaminated and they can prove it then if you have a receipt you can go after the gas station? Are there automobile insurance policies that cover it?

This is where you need to be a savvy consumer (owner).

If you have a failure, you should clearly state to the servicing dealer before the truck is delivered to them by the tow company that any fuel samples taken must only be done so in your presence or a suitable proxy and that they will also provide you a suitable sample drawn at the same time you can submit to an independent lab. Get their agreement in writing via email.

If there is contaminated fuel, get your insurance carrier involved. They should pay for repairs and will subrogate to the fuel station if possible.

I document all fuel receipts using A-car. Photo of receipt, pump, etc.

Additionally I would add that the fuel system has two filters, one of which is a water separator and any water in the fuel will illuminate the WIF indicator. Ignore it at your own (trucks) peril.

 

[Lary0071]

I can not see any warranty covering water in fuel. Warranty is to cover defective components, not outside forces that damage items. That just seems unrealistic to expect a warranty to even consider covering. But I would hope that they test fuel to determine water content, or take photos of the water bubble at the bottom of the tank to submit as proof. I am a believer in the OEM Mopar Max Care service contracts, I have not had issues with coverage of failures that were actually early part failures.

 

[John Jensen]

My Service Manager showed me the fuel sample capsule provide by FCA. He has been instructed that any truck that arrives with a blown pump cannot be touched until that fuel capsule is filled with a sample from the truck in question, returned to FCA and analyzed. Unless one has a negligent dealer, they do have a prescribed and certified process.

 

[Viejo]

Additionally I would add that the fuel system has two filters, one of which is a water separator and any water in the fuel will illuminate the WIF indicator. Ignore it at your own (trucks) peril.

100% agree -- I just need to train myself to pay attention. 30 years ago water in fuel wasn't an issue for the truck I ran. I guess that's the trade-off when using a high-performance fuel pump and injectors