michael

I purchased a 2004 Dakota 4x4 about a year ago. Put about 11,000 km on it
since then. Currently has about 48,000 km.

Noticed today that the plug/stopper from my rear axle differential was
missing.

Don't know where it went or how long it's been missing. The truck is always
road driven.

I cannot touch any fluid when I put my finger into it, but a piece of wire
comes back with some oil on it. I haven't noticed any excessive noise, but
then again, I haven't really been listening for it.

The truck still has power train warranty for a couple of years. I made a
couple of anonymous calls to dealers today explaining the situation and
asking if warranty would cover it if anything was wrong. Both service
departments said I would have to talk to the manager. Both also said they
have never heard of a plug falling out.

I'm freaking out and terrified that this may somehow void my warranty. I
purposely bought this truck because it had warranty.

What the hell do I do now?

ed

Put oil in the diff, buy a plug, put it in. drive....

nosey

I don't think it's likely that it fell out without some help. Do you ever
get your oil changed at one of those Jiffy-Lube type places or had any work
done at a Midas shop? Some of them do a free "courtesy inspection" on all
your fluids hoping to sell you more than what you originally came in for.
They might have checked the fluid level and never re-installed the plug. For
piece of mind I think I'd change the gear lube when replacing the plug.
--
Ken

honeybs

I would pull the cover and take a look see for any damage. If the metal
shavings etc are minimal I would clean it out and replace the plug and fluid.
If they are more than minimal and everything looks and sounds ok then I would do
the same and change the fluid again in about a month.

beekeep

snoman

Nobody got this right. I would check for a damaged or plugged vent for
rear axle as it may have plugged up and over pressured when it warmed
up and popped the plug out.


-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

nosey

I think it would pop the vent hose off before it blew out a threaded solid
steel pipe plug. I could be wrong but I just don't see it happening.
--
Ken

rick505

over pressures and poped the plug out(your nuts snowman) how can a
threaded plug pop out the only way it can come out is if the threads were
gone or was not tight and it would unscrew and fall off not pop out under
pressure also if it built up too much pressure it would blow the axle
seals or pinion seal first not blow the plug.

--
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azwiley1

Come on, the answer came from Snoman, it MUST be right!
Snoman, is this answer based off your vast technical abilities? The
same abilities that you told Roy he lacked? The same abilities that
led you to tell a poster to trade in a truck due to a bad $30 sensor?

mac davis

Logic seems to tell me that if there was pressure on the plug, it wouldn't
vibrate loose because there was pressure against the threads?


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

roy

Bro, are you out of your mind?? You attempt to introduce logic here??
<VBG>

Oh, here's a bit of info I came across. Seems that there have been more
suicids of Viet Nam vet's since that deal ended than were killed during it.
I read 59K. Of course GB cut's the VA's budget and closes hospitals. Roy