Will be looking at a 02 4.7L Reg Cab 4x4 this weekend. Things I should look for?
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From:
Will be looking at a 02 4.7L Reg Cab 4x4 this weekend. Things I should look for?
Relatively low mileage (55k) 2002 Dakota Sport is for sale near localy at a pretty decent price. Bought a house recently and will be using this vehicle to haul around bulky items, landscaping materials (trees, bags of mulch, etc), possibly towing my car as well as just generaly take some of the daily driver duties away from the wife's vehicle.
Anything I should be looking for as possible issues with these trucks?
I can't tell from the listing I saw if the particular truck I was going to see has the towing package. what all was included in the towing package on the 2002s? Oil and trans cooler and a frame mounted hitch or what? If the truck im looking at does not have the tow package, any problems with just installing an oil cooler and a trans cooler myself and then having a local shop install a frame mounted hitch?
thanks in advance.
Anything I should be looking for as possible issues with these trucks?
I can't tell from the listing I saw if the particular truck I was going to see has the towing package. what all was included in the towing package on the 2002s? Oil and trans cooler and a frame mounted hitch or what? If the truck im looking at does not have the tow package, any problems with just installing an oil cooler and a trans cooler myself and then having a local shop install a frame mounted hitch?
thanks in advance.
Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 1
From: poconos, pa
RE: Will be looking at a 02 4.7L Reg Cab 4x4 this weekend. Things I should look for?
these dakotas are built solid.. treat them good and they wwill treat you good... most likely it didnt come with a frame mounted hitch... a hidden hitch will do just fine.... oil and trans coolers are easy to do if you definately know what your doing... remember... buying extra hose is a good thing.. nothing sucks more then end up short with a line and cant do squat about it, let alone thats your only car and you gotta wait until someone can get you a ride to get more hose [:@]... not fun
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Will be looking at a 02 4.7L Reg Cab 4x4 this weekend. Things I should look for?
I hear ya on the hose, if I had a dollar for everytime I had to run out to get more vacuum hose and other assorted things when I was doing installs on my car, I'd have enough dollars to buy something really nice!
so nothing in particular I should check into? From reading this site and some other things it looks like the ball joints can be problematic?
What all was actually included in the tow package on these trucks anyways?
so nothing in particular I should check into? From reading this site and some other things it looks like the ball joints can be problematic?
What all was actually included in the tow package on these trucks anyways?
Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 1
From: poconos, pa
RE: Will be looking at a 02 4.7L Reg Cab 4x4 this weekend. Things I should look for?
ball joint wise... call up chrysler and give them your vin and have them check out the recall information on the upper ball joints... my truck had the recall done to it 16,000 miles over the recall date... im poretty sure jsut for the towin package may have been a transmission cooler and rear lockers.... its possible the dakotas didnt even have towing package... check it out... when you look at the truck... open the glove box and tehre should be a white write up sticker with the truck's information on it
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Will be looking at a 02 4.7L Reg Cab 4x4 this weekend. Things I should look for?
The very best thing you can do is take it to the nearest dealership and have them do an inspection on it. Next is pay attention when you test drive it. Don't let the guy turn the radio up because he says it has nice speaker, while covering up any odd sounds. Crawl under the truck and check out stuff, is there rust? Are the bushings done for? any leaks of any kind? Check tire wear for any indications of suspension/steering issues. For sure check to see if the ball joints have been replaced or not. Look in the engine compartment, is it clean? Is it too clean like the guy just cleaned it off to cover up leaks? Check hoses, cables for wear.
I am not sure about the diff between 02 and 04, but my 04' ext cab V8 had the tow kit which included heavy duty trans cooler, 3.92 gears, and frame mounted hitch. With an intake and exhaust the 4.7L tows pretty good.
I am not sure about the diff between 02 and 04, but my 04' ext cab V8 had the tow kit which included heavy duty trans cooler, 3.92 gears, and frame mounted hitch. With an intake and exhaust the 4.7L tows pretty good.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Will be looking at a 02 4.7L Reg Cab 4x4 this weekend. Things I should look for?
ORIGINAL: Twiztid
The very best thing you can do is take it to the nearest dealership and have them do an inspection on it. Next is pay attention when you test drive it. Don't let the guy turn the radio up because he says it has nice speaker, while covering up any odd sounds. Crawl under the truck and check out stuff, is there rust? Are the bushings done for? any leaks of any kind? Check tire wear for any indications of suspension/steering issues. For sure check to see if the ball joints have been replaced or not. Look in the engine compartment, is it clean? Is it too clean like the guy just cleaned it off to cover up leaks? Check hoses, cables for wear.
I am not sure about the diff between 02 and 04, but my 04' ext cab V8 had the tow kit which included heavy duty trans cooler, 3.92 gears, and frame mounted hitch. With an intake and exhaust the 4.7L tows pretty good.
The very best thing you can do is take it to the nearest dealership and have them do an inspection on it. Next is pay attention when you test drive it. Don't let the guy turn the radio up because he says it has nice speaker, while covering up any odd sounds. Crawl under the truck and check out stuff, is there rust? Are the bushings done for? any leaks of any kind? Check tire wear for any indications of suspension/steering issues. For sure check to see if the ball joints have been replaced or not. Look in the engine compartment, is it clean? Is it too clean like the guy just cleaned it off to cover up leaks? Check hoses, cables for wear.
I am not sure about the diff between 02 and 04, but my 04' ext cab V8 had the tow kit which included heavy duty trans cooler, 3.92 gears, and frame mounted hitch. With an intake and exhaust the 4.7L tows pretty good.
thanks for the info on the tow package, they most likely kept those changes similiar year to year. I'll have to investigate swapping gears at a later date if necessary. I would most likely be doing a trans and oil cooler anyways as they are just good things to have in general on any vehicle you intend to use for something other then commuting.