If you do decided to go the lawyer route, you may want to talk to one prior to having the fluid tested. I mean, you know that you did not add any other ATF fluid to the vehicle, and that they are only looking for a way to deny the repair. Having the lawyer pay for the testing may save you some funds because the price for testing should get added to the fees that the lawyer will bill Chrylser.

 

histrung;
Something is really fishy here... First, if service did not send a sample for testing then how can they deem it is not ATF4? Have they torn apart the tranny? If so then any sample used can be considered tainted! If they suggest it is royal purple then what specific product is it? It does not look or smell like it is supposed to is not a quantifying arguement.
The first think I would do is file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau on this dealership. Have them return the jeep to you (put back together!) and return the "fluid" that was in it.
It may come down to towing it to a different dealer ( just so those fktards do not get any money). If they stated that a seal failed then how did the fluid blow the seal?
Also for the he!! of it check out Royal Purple and see what their warranty info is. Most oils have an expressed written guarantee and also warranties can not be void because you use another brand. Good Luck!!!!

 

Another update with more run around...

The Service Manager called me back, stating that the Chrysler Zone Rep agreed (over the phone) with the Chrysler Tech Rep that looked into it, and continues to deny the claim. The Service Manager stated that he explained the situation with the Zone Rep (<clear>) and he then provided the 800-992-1997 number to make my case.

If you call that number, it's a round robin from Service Request to Warranty, and back through the cycle -- so you must zero out to get out of the loop.

Discussed it with the person (<clear>) who answered, and now it needs escalation to his supervisor -- which is not available, so they took my number to call me back. Another wait and see...

The thing that <clear> is wrong is that the ONLY assessment is they took off the bell housing inspection plate, and looked at the oil pooling up in the bell housing -- and DENIED a warranty claim with just the color and smell of the oil they see in this pool of oil.

I'm on my way down to the dealership for a surprise visit (<clear>) to get actual samples from the dipstick and get something in writing denying the claim.

 

Precisely... they made their determination with just what is pooled up outside the transmission -- no further inspection has been started.

I asked them specifically what they think it is, and he stated Royal Purple -- which is B.S.

After calling the 800 number, they said the file was marked so this cannot be taken to another dealer for this same issue -- which I expected. I will NOT take it to this dealer for anything else, <clear>.

I think they want me to state it's Royal Purple to go down a different battle that would be covered under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, but it is not Royal Purple or any other aftermarket oil unless they put it in at the factory.

Lots of fun...

 

Park it right out side the dealership with a sign on it. 'This Dealership sold me a $33k dollar vehicle, the transmission went and they won't repair under warranty" Ask me for details. A couple lost sales will get their attention.

 

If you decided to do this, check with your local PD first about your rights. Most places are OK with it, but some are not...better be safe than sorry!

 

That's part of the problem, I didn't buy it from them, and this is the first I've been to this dealer since I moved here in December. They round abouts stated that since this is the first they've seen it, they can't vouch for what I've told them.

 

I finally decided to register just to respond to your post. This is insanity, first of all they would have to prove that 1. you put RP in your tranny and 2. that RP doesn't meat the requirements for atf4 (if that's what it is). Send a sample of your fluid to blackstone labs, they specialize in lubricant analysis and it will only run you around 50 bucks IIRC. The dealer is on crack. I'm not very familiar with Chrysler vehicles (1st one), does anyone know what other platform this tranny was used in?

 

It's used on a ton of Chrysler vehicles (300, Aspen, etc.) and if you go to their respective internet forums you will find similar complaints (TC shudder, crappy shift points, early failure, etc.) to what you find here. Do a search on Chrysler 42RLE. This thing is a colossal POS that never should have been in a Jeep.

 

Made the surprise visit to get the samples and whatever I could get in writing -- which was nothing besides a quote to fix (replace front pump seal for $698). They stated they could not give me any written explanation of the issue (just that it was not ATF and thus not warrantied) unless I took the vehicle away -- which is now too low on tranny fluid.

So, interesting thing is the color is not a typical ATF -- so here's the pic of the samples -- from left to right - skidplate fluid (pointless once the leak started where I was able to get more), from the tranny dipstick, from the engine oil dipstick, and from the dripping tranny.


It's not that thick, and does not really smell much... I still think it is burned up, but friends who know the smell stated it doesn't smell like it's burned.

Still waiting for the call back from that 800 # supervisor...

Next step is to send for analysis... and looking for a good lawyer <clear>

BTW, when they had to drive it in the shop to get the samples, my 5 month old Yellow Top Optima was too dead to start it <clear>