New to Dodge Trucks...

[89buckeye]

Please help.

After several days of searching for a good used truck among Ford, Chevy, and Dodge, I'm getting ready to join you guys with the purchase a used Dodge 2000 model with 72,000 miles. Its a 4WD 2500 extended cab (short bed) with 5.9 litre.

Looks to be in great shape, they are asking $13,000, but I'm wondering if you gurus have any advice on what to look for that might be suspect with this year/model. I feel like I have a decent plan on giving it a good last minute inspection making sure every thing in good order but anything I need to keep an eye out for before I close the deal? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Randall

[LEXLT1-Z28]

Just check the transmission. I'm on my 3rd Dodge and that's the only weakpoint I've ever found.

[mudseeker]

the price sounds a little steep for being 8 years old, you must be buying it from a dealership.

[MBDUX]

2000s had AC evaporator core and fuel tank float problems besides tranny issues. Mine needed all 3 replaced 4 times in 270k miles.

[GarrenNatas]

Make : DODGE
Model : RAM 2500
Year : 2000
Manufacturer : K&N ENGINEERING, INC.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 06E024000
Recall Date : MAR 10, 2006
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 44386

Summary:
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.

Consequence:
A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.

Remedy:
K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006. Notes:
THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON DODGE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

[72'CaminoKid]

i've always heard about bad tranny's on dodges

[cookcs]

I had heard of tranny problems on the trucks, my only experience with a Mopar tranny was a Chrysler Town & Country. What years are the worst, and are they better now. I am looking to buy a 2500 w/diesel, how do they hold up?

[truckgear]

I Was just about to put up a similar post. THe truck i am looking at is a 2003 with a 5.7 l HEMI 3/4 ton, crew cab. Anyone heard of pros or cons to this vehicle? What about the fuel economy ? i heard the hemi was a pig when it first came out?

[Tom Downey]

I have driven my 2002 Diesel quad cab 91k and have had no problems with the trany. I pull a 8k pound trailer with no problems. 3 trips from WA to NY, 3 trips to texas, 2 to Cal. never touched the trany, 10k oil changes on the diesel. 2 sets of tires, 1 set of front brake calipers and brake pads. It has been the lowest maintenance truck I've owned. and gets about 19 miles per gal. towing if I keep it below 60 miles per hour.

[cookcs]

My experience with the Hemi was o.k., mine was an '03 1500. The thing I did not like was the clatter of the valvetrain, sounded like it did not have any oil. The fuel mileage averaged about 12 mpg. My truck was a 4 x 4, 1500 with 20" wheels and 3.91 gears.