My brother just purchased a 1986 Ramcharger with the following:

318 / Auto / 2wd
Tilt Steering, Cruise Control, A/C, and Bucket Seats

The PO told him:
Engine has a miss at an idle.
Valve covers are leaking.
Transmission acts like converter is not working correct.
Has A/C, but it needs to be charged again to work.


Now, is there anything else that he needs to check for? Any known problems on this year? I am going to search for FAQs and write-ups for the 1st generation Ram Charger.
Anyone know any good links?

Is anyone located in the Irving / DFW area of Texas? Maybe around ZIP 75062, that would not mind helping by giving the Ramcharger a look over for obvious problems, before he starts using it for a daily driver?

Please let me know.

Boyd



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I'd do the usual, check ALL fluids, consider replacing all of them. Then start grabbing things and shaking to see if anything's loose - there really shouldn't be any side to side slop in the driveshaft, make sure the steering gear is bolted tight and there are no cracks on the frame where it attaches, check the drag link for worn ends, ball joints, brake pads/shoes, etc.

 

You'll find some hard core Texans on www.ramchargercentral.com
Sign in there and check out the Texas Chapter.

1. Needs a complete tuneup.
2. New gaskets for valve covers
3. First try a fluid and filter change on the tranny.
4. A/C..I would leave that to a pro since the system is 20 years old.

 

This pictures is located between the oil pan and the drive axle. The wires hanging are not connect to anything, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas what they belong to. The ends of the wires has shiners, like they were in a plug and pulled loose or were stripped to go around a bolt of something.

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If the wire colors are as follows than they attach to the neutral safety switch.
Do your backup lights work?

White
Brown/Yellow stripe
Violet/Black stripe

FYI-Previous may have changed the wire color?



Neutral Safety Switch

 

Is that plug suppose to go into the transmission and another plug on the end of the wires? cause I did notice when I felt around that it had three prongs sticking out in the general area of the arrow. Just want to make sure I hook them back up correct, I no I havent checked my reverse lights.

Thank you all for you help so far. Havent said that yet.. sorry.

 

The switch with the 3 pins has to be in the tranny or you would have a heck of a leak! There is supposed to be a special female 3 terminal connector that is wired onto the harness and it snaps on the switch pins on the tranny. The Mopar replacement part# for this connector is 2926502 but they get a freaking fortune for this, about $30, you can call them to check. About the cheapest place online is www.rtspecialties.net/miscell.htm for $9 plus shipping. Givin the nature of this connector to get heat stressed and crack I would not recommend getting one from a junkyard. You may also need a new switch? If so, get one only from NAPA or the dealer as the cheap aftermarket switches have turned out to be junk, they leak and they have poor electrical contacts.


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Possibly the truck has the lockup torque converter; if so the wires could have something to do with that as well... could be why it's not working properly(??)

 

No lockup TC on that old gal.
Let me know what you find?

 

Well I live in McKinney but would be happy to help. I just aquired an 86 D150 and am going thru it from top to bottom.
Hit me up if your gonna be in the area.