Looking at buying a Durango, I found one about 3 hour drive away. Looks pretty nice, a little rust, but to be expected, and sounds like it needs a detail...but I am concerned of the mechanical issues they describe. Following is the pasted text from the ad.

It has 138,000 miles on the 5.7L Hemi, 4x4, 3rd row, Factory DVD TV, leather, power windows, locks, cruise control, heated seats ect. There's a top end "tick". Still runs and drives just like it is. It has been the same for over a year. In my oponion, the worst part is the carpets/Interior. The carpets are fu@#ed! Some plastic around the bottom of the front seats is also cracked. There's rust on the drivers rear quarter panel. Drive it away for $1,000 with a clean title... This is more of a "Mechanics Special" then an "Every Day Driver". Its most likely got a collapsed lifter. The tic is 100% coming from just under the drivers side valve cover. The miss goes away at higher RPM's and it goes like its supposed to. Lower in the RPM range it acts like a coil pack is bad and it may be? NO CALLS after 9pm.Thanks for looking $1,000 (Firm) and drive it home...

I know a tick is pretty common in these Hemi's. My truck has had it since like 30K and I haven't done a thing to it and she's at 209K now. What are the chances this is something more serious, as I don't really want to drive the distance unless I am quite sure I am going purchase it, so I wanted to gain some insight.

Thank You in Advance,

Eric

 

I'm also considering another one that describes possible issues that I'd like some insight on. It is only about 30 min away, has 175K and is $1900. Following is the pasted text from the ad.

I got a 2004 Durango v8 hemi limited edition all weel drive nice *** tires 2 are brand brand new like never used new, other 2 are new also heated seats tv in it but it dont work idk why little little little rust like none at all very amazing sound system and aux when I got it I was told it had a intake problem but instead it was my 6th cylender. it runs tho litte jumpy I just dont wanna fix it.

Thanks Again,

Eric

 

$1000 is fair enough, but both of those trucks are a complete crapshoot, they very likely have more rust and need more work than described. I'm not saying don't buy, but look them over carefully. There is no way to replace seeing them in person, impossible to guess what problems these trucks really have with the info provided.

2nd gen seem to be really neglected and cheap to buy if you ask me. Even here in Canada I can find them for $1K often. Of course the 1st gen's are usually all rotted out and scrapped so I am not defending them over the 2nd gen. It is damn hard to find a good 1st/2nd gen up here in the rust belt where we live. Michigan is the same rusthole as Ontario, lol.

 

That whole '6th cylinder' think would make me nervous...... Might be easy fix, might be a dropped valve seat......

 

Right, That's why I was asking, so I have some extra knowledge going in. Wouldn't dropped valve seat be rattling around in the cylinder though, and able to hear it pretty easily? How can I check for things, besides compression test, easily enough that can be done during a test drive. That one I'm not super concerned about before I go to look at it, cuz it's only 30 min away...the other one that is 3 hours away, I want to be pretty sure I am going to buy it before traveling...

 

Noise would depend on if the seat full separated, or just moved enough that it won't seal. Compression test, or bore scope would be the only sure way to tell.

 

Ok, so if it hasn't separated, it's not a huge deal as it is not a very hard job, time consuming, but not hard, and a good idea at that mileage anyway on these Hemis to replace the seats?? As soon as weather breaks I have it planned to replace them on my truck, and planned on doing the wife's GC as well, unless I get her one of these Durangos, then I might as well just do it on that.