We are now publishing the Turbo Diesel Register magazine digitally online as well as in print. Currently we have Issue 50 through Issue 65 available to TDR members in digital format. Coming soon, we'll have a digital or web-only subscription available.
Press Release posted on the Excite website announcing Chrysler's decision to split the Dodge brand into two groups. All right gang. What does this really mean? How much longer before the Ram brand is offered for sale much like the Viper brand was (is) for sale? Oct 5, 10:51 AM (ET) By TOM KRISHER
DETROIT (AP) - Chrysler's new Italian management has once again shaken up the automaker's executive team, announcing the departure of two recently appointed brand CEOs and splitting the Dodge brand into two groups, one focusing on trucks and the other on cars.
The moves, announced Monday, marked the second management shake-up since Fiat Group SpA CEO Sergio Marchionne took control of Chrysler on June 10 when it emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Peter Fong, president and CEO of the Chrysler brand and the company's top sales executive, and Michael Accavitti, president and CEO of the Dodge brand, abruptly left the company, Fong for personal reasons and Accavitti to pursue other interests, Chrysler said in a statement.
Sales of Chrysler Group LLC vehicles, which consist of the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands, are down 39 percent for the first nine months of the year. Chrysler also was caught unprepared for the government's Cash for Clunkers program and had too few small vehicles on dealer lots to benefit much from the rebates.
Chrysler sales spokesman Gualberto Ranieri would not comment when asked if the departures were related to Chrysler's sales performance.
Chrysler said that it would split the Dodge brand into truck and car groups. The truck group will be led by Fred Diaz Jr., who previously ran the company's Denver business center. The Ram brand consists of the company's new Ram pickup trucks, as well as its commercial vehicles. Diaz also will take over as lead sales executive in the U.S. for the Chrysler Group organization.
Vice President of Design Ralph Gilles will take over leadership of the Dodge car brand, which includes minivans, in addition to his current design responsibilities, the company said.
The two men replace Accavitti, who resigned to pursue other interests, Chrysler said. Accavitti was appointed to head Dodge by Marchionne in June when Chrysler emerged from Chapter 11.
"This reorganization will allow us to protect and develop the unique nature of the product offerings within the Dodge brand," Marchionne said in a statement.
The company also said Fong resigned for personal reasons, and he was replaced by an executive from Fiat, Oliver Francois, as Chrysler brand president and CEO. Francois served as head of the Lancia brand, Chrysler said in a statement.
Michael Manley remains as president and CEO of the Jeep division.
You'd probably be astounded by the number of emails we receive like the following:
I just wanted to thank you. Last weekend my wife and I took a long weekend trip to Gatlinburg,Tennessee. During the trip, we lost the lift pump, and it cost me $1,100 to have a local dealer replace it. Now that I'm a TDR subscriber, I am able to look up information on my 24-valve '98.5. I won't get caught unprepared again.
Or like this one:
Question 1: I own a '98.5 Dodge Turbo Diesel. At 79,000 miles, it began to idle erratically. I changed the fuel filter which solved the problem for a few days. And back it came. Is it time for a new lift pump? I do not have a fuel pressure gauge installed. Our response 1: It could be a new transfer pump is needed. Or a new VP44 (expensive). Either way, you will not know until you install a gauge. So that is your first priority. Install a gauge to see what fuel pressure you have.
Our email discussion continued with question 2: How much pressure do I need, and what's a VP44? If it is a transfer pump, is there a suitable alternative to the stocker?
Considering about 500,000 trucks were produced during model years '98.5 - '02, this Achilles heel will not go away soon. It is an unfortunate story as this deficiency can be corrected. If the TDR could only reach the balance of the 499,999 truck owners . . . . A TDR subscription prevents problems before they occur.
Conclusion: Since 1993, the goal of the Turbo Diesel Register has been to give Turbo Diesel owners more satisfaction in the ownership of their Dodge pickups. To do so, we focus on solving problems that you may encounter; inform you on areas for improvement; advise you about aftermarket parts and their performance; keep you up to date on all aspects of truck development; and provide you with information on industry trends. At the same time that we're supplying the technical nuts-and-bolts, the TDR provides you with some EZ chair entertainment and gives members a sense of community.
Using the fuel transfer pump saga that applies to 500,000 or more '98.5 - '02 owners, I hope we have given you an example of how a TDR subscription will benefit you.
In previous TDR magazines, I have touted that the 6.7-liter Cummins engine that was introduced in January of 2007 is already 2010 emissions compliant. The proven Dodge/Cummins powertrain gives the truck an advantage over the competitive Ford and GM products.
Back in Issue 64, we wrote about the Ford and Navistar divorce that was reported in January of 2009. January, 2009 . . . only a year away from the 2010 truck introduction. What would Ford have to offer for 2010?
I laughed out loud at the title and wondered how it was that Ford was successful in selling the previous truck with the Navistar engine. Did the prospective owner not know about the 6.0-liter and 6.4-liter Navistar problems?
On the other hand, the loyal Ford owner could point to the GM's and Chrysler's bankruptcy fiascos and wonder why one would purchase a truck from a company that has an uncertain future. Yet again, how secure is Ford? I digress. I looked in the mirror and the laughter subsided.
Back to the Richard Truett report. Truett writes, "The first thing you notice about Ford Motor Co.'s new 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel truck engine is how quiet it is. Standing next to it, you wouldn't know it was a diesel unless someone said so.
"The engine debuts early next year in Ford's revamped line of Super Duty pickups. Ford won't talk about horsepower and torque until the Texas State Fair on Sept. 24. But auto writers recently got a preview.
"The engine is important. Ford lost customers because of quality problems with the current diesel, which is supplied by International Truck and Engine Corp. Ford produces the new diesel itself.
"Ford engineers designed the new Power Stroke with various innovations:
- Fast-acting piezo fuel injectors supplied by Bosch deliver as many as five shots of fuel per piston stroke. This nearly eliminates the familiar diesel clatter, improves performance and cuts emissions.
- Aluminum cylinder heads with inward-facing exhaust ports reduce noise.
- A single, sequential turbocharger with twin impellers delivers performance at low and high engine speeds, reducing turbo lag. The turbocharger, made by Honeywell, is mounted in the "V" between the cylinder heads.
- A block made of lightweight compact graphite iron helps cut 160 pounds of weight compared with the outgoing 6.4-liter International diesel block. Ford buys the block from Tupy SA, of Brazil.
- A urea injection system, also from Bosch, helps neutralize emissions of oxides of nitrogen. It's the first Detroit 3 engine to use urea. The chemical will be available at Ford dealerships, truck stops and auto parts stores. The urea tank must be refilled every 7,500 miles.
"The engine is designed to last 300,000 miles without major service, says Adam Gryglak, the Power Stroke's lead engineer.
"It has been in development for four years. It will be built in Chihuahua, Mexico.
"The diesel is one of Ford's most expensive options. The current base F-250 Super Duty starts at $26,275 including delivery. The diesel engine package adds $9,325, which includes a bigger engine cooling system, a stronger transmission and bigger brakes.
"Ford says 60 percent of Super Duty F-series pickups are sold with Power Stroke engines, or about 175,000 units last year."
On behalf of the TDR audience, over the past two years I have quizzed industry contacts about Ford's diesel engine for the future. I am amazed that they have been able to keep stories about the engine's development quiet. I look forward to the official unveiling of this engine at the Texas State Fair on September 24, 2009.
What's in your camera? Inspired by an annual calendar published in the pages of Grassroots Motorsports, we introduced the TDR calendar contest in 2007. Much to our surprise, the member response and photo quality were outstanding.
We expect the competition to be tough this year. Nonetheless, here is your chance to have your truck featured at the TDR web site and on the 2010 TDR Calendar. Participation is easy. Just send us your photograph! No sweat. Just clean up your rig, take it out and position against a scenic backdrop, wait for cloud cover or for the daybreak/twilight hour so that there are not any dreaded shadows, and capture your rig with a digital camera with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. Or you can send us an old-fashioned photograph made from any 35mm camera.
Some tips from the judges:
• Action shots are hard for us to pass up. • Be careful to make sure your photograph is clear and does not have any junk in the background. We've seen power poles appearing to come out of truck beds and a few McDonalds Kids Meal boxes in the windows. • Photographs with interesting backgrounds are preferred. • Extreme weather adds action to the photograph.
This year, there is a limit of two photographs per member. Submit the photo(s) by mail, e-mail or FTP to the TDR offices by September 18, 2009.
Or FTP photographs to: contact Robin Patton at rpatton@ix.netcom.com to arrange upload link.
The 2010 winners will be chosen and the calendar will be posted at the TDR web site for download to TDR members. A print copy of the calendar will also be mailed to each TDR member. We will announce the results on-line by December so that the Turbo Diesel calendar will be the first in your 2010 inbox.
Deadline for submitting photos: September 18, 2009.
Issue 65 of the Turbo Diesel Register is in the mail! All copies of Issue 65 were mailed week ending July 31, 2009. Current subscribers within the United States, please allow 10 – 14 days for delivery. International subscribers should allow 14 – 21 days for delivery.
In Issue 65 the writers are again challenged to save you money. They were directed to ask and answer the statement, “I’m going to show you how to . . . . “
Additionally, the media is now telling us that better times are ahead, and we are ready to jump on that bandwagon. The debut of the new Chrysler, good news from the automotive industry, and a new 2010 Turbo Diesel truck will give us plenty to discuss in the near term. But for now, let’s itemize what is inside Issue 65:
- For this Issue’s cover, we have the truck of TDR Member Brian Edwards who does search and rescue training for all types of different agencies. Brian lives in Ohio and you might be able to make out his air boat in the truck’s background. The technical drawing was done by Kelly Snyder (diesel.artist@gmail.com). - Another review of the 2016 fuel economy standards. - 2010 TDR Calendar Competition and rules announced. Get your entries ready. - Understanding automotive relays. - The “Ten Back” column shows just how far we’ve come in the last ten years. - We take a look back at Issue 43’s article reviewing the importance of brake fluid maintenance. Have you changed your brake fluid lately? - Problems are presented, discussed, and solutions offered in each of our “Generation” and “Engine” feature columns. - The “Cummins Column” talks about the 6.7-liter engine and new software calibrations. - Ford’s small diesel is cancelled; Dodge’s small diesel is cancelled. - The TDR Annual Index provides a wealth of information to help you research problems. - Writers Holmes and Anderson discuss installations and truck problems. - Donnelly revisits ten years of engine performance enhancements. - We entertain you with “Backfire” discussions on accessories and lube oil.
We are confident that you’ll enjoy Issue 65.
If you are not a current TDR subscriber, here is what you're missing:
Excellent (and Understandable) Technical Reference: A quarterly magazine filled with information on your Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel truck. a growing digital library of technical articles in our TDR Discussion Forums (http://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/tdr-magazine-archives/ and http://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/technical-reference-faq-s/) and an exceptional Discussion Forum.
Classified Ads: If you have something to sell or are looking to buy a hard-to-find part, check out the Turbo Diesel Register Classified Ads at http://www.turbodieselregister.com/cgi-bin/classifieds2/classifieds.cgi. We have one of the most extensive Classified Ads areas specific to Dodge diesel truck owners.
Travel Companion: Are you planning a trip? Log onto the TDR Travel Companion if you find yourself in need of assistance while traveling (http://www.turbodieselregister.com/cgi-bin/dbman/db.cgi).
Vendors: Need parts for your truck? Check out the list of reputable Turbo Diesel Register website advertisers (http://www.turbodieselregister.com/sponsors.htm).
General Discussion: Just tool around the TDR Discussion Forums (http://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/) for interesting reading and research on your truck. The TDR Discussion Forums are some of the most technically helpful on the internet.
If you have any trouble accessing your account or if you need to set up your username/password, feel free to contact us at (888) 440-8371 or rpatton@ix.netcom.com.
Spread the word about the Turbo Diesel Register. And thank you for your support.
But first, a note about its contents. I am sure you know the guy or gal who cannot complete the task because a small detail is missing. That has been the case with this Buyer's Guide. It was originally produced in 2002. We then updated it each year thereafter. Along the way, some of the photography was lost. Along the way Chrysler became DaimlerChrysler and now Chrysler LLC. Along the way, there have been technical service updates. Along the way we made corrections and waited. And waited. And waited.
Then we realized that it is 99.9% complete, and we decided to wait no longer. Here it is!
This 146-page .pdf TDR Buyer's Guide represents years of research. It contains a wealth of helpful information for new truck or new-to-diesel owners.
There was a debate among the staff and writers and members about who should have access to this file. In the end, we have opted to make the information available to everyone. We know that web-only viewers have come to realize that the internet is really not free. With this in mind, the TDR staff, writers and members would ask you to consider joining the Turbo Diesel Register. We have no doubt the information we can provide will prove valuable to you. To learn more about the Turbo Diesel Register or to subscribe, click here.
The Turbo Diesel Register is a community of Dodge diesel truck enthusiasts who work to support each other while having a lot of fun with our trucks. We received the following letter from a TDR Member requesting help for his local dealership, a dealership that has supported the community for over fifty years. So if you are in need of a new truck or service, consider contacting the folks at Quaden Dodge in Okauchee, Wisconsin.
* * *
Mr. Patton,
Often and regularly at TDR we, the members, are asked or offer to help someone in need. We love to do it, volunteer our time, efforts, and resources. We know people who need it, and wish that we can do so for everyone. I wouldn’t ordinarily ask for something like this, to be applied to a business. But in this case, I would at least like to share the information.
Our local dealership, Quaden Dodge, in Southeast Wisconsin’s Waukesha County, has been designated by the Dodge to be closed. This comes over the manufacturer’s decision in light of the economic developments. They contacted John, and gave them a strict time line in which to cover the inventory expenses, and basically offered no help in moving any parts, vehicles or otherwise support. Either they are stuck with a lot full of product, or do whatever to try and break even, or go bankrupt. I really don’t know, but the options are few. Quaden is a family business, and what you’d call a “mom and pop” operation. They have offered great service for about 50 years, and catered to our military veterans and public safety professionals. I, as one of their Diesel junkies, have always been happy and treated well. Despite the changes, Quaden will stay open to offer the same great service, without the “Dodge.”
Maybe we can spread the word around, and have members visit the dealership. They have inventory on good pricing in the lot, and parts department. We can even make a regional even and get together. It is a beautiful drive this time of year from any point in Midwest, or wherever your piece of heaven may be. Any thoughts you have, please let me know.
Thank you for your help and great work as always. If you think this should be printed or posted in forums, please do as you wish.
Sincerely,
Steve R,
TDR Member, rabsyeeha
* * *
We appreciate Steve's letter and encourage you to contact the folks at Quaken Dodge if you're in the area and in need of a truck or parts. Thank you, Steve, for exemplifying what the TDR is all about!
DEALER INFORMATION: John Quaden Dodge 127 E Wisconsin Ave Okauchee, WI 53069 Phone: (262) 367-2626
Issue 64 of the Turbo Diesel Register is being mailed out week beginning April 27, 2009. Current subscribers within the United States, please allow 10 - 14 days for delivery. International subscribers should allow 14 - 21 days for delivery.
In Issue 64, the TDR Membership is challenged to "Turn off the television, and go outside to play!"
Our focus is on what makes the world of the Turbo Diesel Truck go round, thus helping you maintain your truck. We've not wasted any ink on the "blues of the day." You can get that in abundance on the radio, television and other internet outlets.
Although the page count is 124 pages (versus the 132 pages in Issue 63), there is more information available to TDR Members in this issue. Some of the articles you will find in Issue 64 include:
- Automatic transmission fluid change. - Steering improvements using an aftermarket steering dampener. - TDR Member maintenance tips. - Fuel filter leaks discussed in First Generation and 24-Valve Columns. - Injector advice in the 5.9 HPCR Column. - A lengthy discussion on diagnostic trouble codes for the 6.7-liter engine. - New TSBs for the 6.7-liter engine. - New fuel filter assembly for the 6.7-liter engine. - Media gibberish and irresponsible reporting. - Try a bottle of "Noo-Life" for your fuel system and our discussion of fuel additives - again! - A look at the 2010 Dodge Ram Turbo Diesel. - Long-time writers Holmes, Donnelly, Leno and Redmond discuss new product installations on their trucks.
We are confident that you will enjoy Issue 64.
Spread the word about the TDR! And as always, thank you for your continued support.
Beginning March 1, TDR Members had the opportunity to post their credentials in order to do a product evaluation of a Wilson "Thrasher" Intake Manifold.
The Wilson folks generously agreed to supply an intake manifold for the contest and the would-be TDR field test correspondents submitted their entries during the next sixty days.
It is now time to announce the winners. That's right, winners (plural)!
The folks at Wilson shared your enthusiasm for this contest (TDR members responded with many excellent entries), and they decided to ship out two of their Thrasher manifolds for our contest winners to evaluate. Let us extend a big "thank you" to the folks at Wilson for their sponsorship of this contest.
And the winners of the Wilson Thrasher Intake Manifolds for their '03 - '07 5.9 engines:
SSwords - Scott's entry represents the "average Joe" kind of owner. He has a '06 2500, Quad Cab, 4x4 that already has several engine modifications. We look forward to his evaluation to see how the Thrasher works with his existing PSM air box, drop in air filter, and Bully Dog performance module. The judges felt your evaluation would be very analytical and contain an excellent technical evaluation!
HHuntitall - Casey's entry represents the owner that likes to talk and type. His colorful entry caught the judges' attention. The key to his winning entry, "I know the County Sheriff and most of his deputies very well." Casey's truck is a '03 3500, 4x4 that already has a TST PowerMax, new injector nozzles, a Holley fuel transfer pump, a SouthBend Clutch and perhaps a new turbocharger. The judges felt your evaluation would be very insightful and, shall we say, colorful!
Congratulations, SSwords and HHuntitall! A member of the TDR staff will contact you to make shipping arrangements. Your assignment will be to provide a 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day report on the Wilson Thrasher manifold. The project should be completed and your final evaluation submitted 90 days after you receive the product.
Again, our thanks go out to all of the TDR Membership for your participation. And thank you, Wilson Manufacturing, for your sponsorship of this project!
This one has been so much fun that we'll be working with other vendors to offer their products for future "be a TDR writer" contests.
Scott and Casey, get ready to send us your stories!
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The Turbo Diesel Register is a community of Dodge diesel truck enthusiasts who work to support each other while having a lot of fun with our trucks. We received the following letter from a TDR Member requesting help for his local dealership, a dealership that has supported the community for over fifty years. So if you are in need of a new truck or service, consider contacting the folks at Quaden Dodge in Okauchee, Wisconsin.
Issue 64 of the Turbo Diesel Register is being mailed out week beginning April 27, 2009. Current subscribers within the United States, please allow 10 - 14 days for delivery. International subscribers should allow 14 - 21 days for delivery. 
Beginning March 1, TDR Members had the opportunity to post their credentials in order to do a product evaluation of a Wilson "Thrasher" Intake Manifold. 