So this is why my transmission failed. (Catastrophic Failure)
Grand Champion
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,011
Likes: 6
From: Meeker, CO
Cars that are often owned by or provided to teenagers and young adults because those cars are old enough to be cheap but not quite old enough to be expensive to maintain. If they aren't wrecked, then once the poor treatment they receive from the kids has made them expensive to keep they end up back on the market to continue on to the wrecking yard by way of the scenic route through poor neighborhoods.
Some of them will pass through the hands of younger folks who fancy themselves to be classic car buffs and teach them how to tell the difference between future classics and crusher bait. You can see that happening now with second gen Rams -- they're common as dirt, but it takes a long time or a great stroke of luck to find one that's worth having. When you see "Just bought this truck..." in the tech section of the forum, chances are that it's said by someone who doesn't yet know the difference.
Hey, I just lost reverse. Do you think flushing the transmission will fix it? How about a shift kit? I already poured in some magic liquid...
Tangentially: What I can't figure is how the truck that went to the wrecking yard in December came back to life. Maybe I missed the post where the guy got a different one? Anyway, that's one that was a kiddie kar. I don't mean that as a denigration, not at all. Kiddies gotta have kars too. It's how they (hopefully) learn that vehicle ownership is about more than turning the key and going.
Some of them will pass through the hands of younger folks who fancy themselves to be classic car buffs and teach them how to tell the difference between future classics and crusher bait. You can see that happening now with second gen Rams -- they're common as dirt, but it takes a long time or a great stroke of luck to find one that's worth having. When you see "Just bought this truck..." in the tech section of the forum, chances are that it's said by someone who doesn't yet know the difference.
Hey, I just lost reverse. Do you think flushing the transmission will fix it? How about a shift kit? I already poured in some magic liquid...
Tangentially: What I can't figure is how the truck that went to the wrecking yard in December came back to life. Maybe I missed the post where the guy got a different one? Anyway, that's one that was a kiddie kar. I don't mean that as a denigration, not at all. Kiddies gotta have kars too. It's how they (hopefully) learn that vehicle ownership is about more than turning the key and going.
Last edited by UnregisteredUser; May 10, 2015 at 03:47 PM.
Professional
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 226
Likes: 1
From:
Respectfully Disagree
Aboslutley. I'd love a Mega Viper!!!
Unfortunately I'm in the process of getting my own place and just simply cannot afford it. Hell, I had to ponder long and hard whether or not I wanted to even mess with this 16 year old piece of poop, if it was even worth fixing.. Almost everyone else has seemed to give up on these trucks. I remember 2 years ago the first 3 pages of threads on this section of the site all had responses daily.
Now, this place is lucky if the last response on the first page is less than a month old. It seems like people are just giving up on these trucks.
When I bought my truck in 09 I thought a 1st gen ram was too old to even consider. Now here I am, in 2015 throwing more money at my truck than I even bought it for, and it's older than some 1st gens were at the time I bought it.
It's not financially wise for me, or anyone else who still has these, to even fix this truck, with the amount that's wrong with it in the first place. The only reason why I'm doing it is pure sentimental value, and the dying desire to keep another 2nd gen on the road.
If anything else goes wrong after it's fixed though, no turning back, this truck is done. I would rather have a 7 year payment on a 4th gen with a HEMI and floorboard coolers than a 2nd gen with a straight axel needing major repairs.
Unfortunately I'm in the process of getting my own place and just simply cannot afford it. Hell, I had to ponder long and hard whether or not I wanted to even mess with this 16 year old piece of poop, if it was even worth fixing.. Almost everyone else has seemed to give up on these trucks. I remember 2 years ago the first 3 pages of threads on this section of the site all had responses daily.
Now, this place is lucky if the last response on the first page is less than a month old. It seems like people are just giving up on these trucks.
When I bought my truck in 09 I thought a 1st gen ram was too old to even consider. Now here I am, in 2015 throwing more money at my truck than I even bought it for, and it's older than some 1st gens were at the time I bought it.
It's not financially wise for me, or anyone else who still has these, to even fix this truck, with the amount that's wrong with it in the first place. The only reason why I'm doing it is pure sentimental value, and the dying desire to keep another 2nd gen on the road.
If anything else goes wrong after it's fixed though, no turning back, this truck is done. I would rather have a 7 year payment on a 4th gen with a HEMI and floorboard coolers than a 2nd gen with a straight axel needing major repairs.
Record Breaker
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,438
Likes: 73
From: S. Florida
I go through phases of posting, but my old truck still gets me to work every day. Don't take people not posting as a sign we are giving up on these trucks. If anything I stop posting when all I do is put gas in it. I take silence as 2nd Gens must be running smooth so people aren't looking for help. I know nothing drives me to the site like a little noise or vibration.
Rookie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
I've always owned Chevy cars/trucks but I would recommend a second generation Dodge truck to anyone. They are reliable as hell, even with their known issues and poor gas mileage. In my part of town I see a lot still on the road. Some/many are rough looking but still going strong.
Champion
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,811
Likes: 2
From: Ft Campbell, KY/TN
Like Unregistered said, "Maintenance and ownership is the key."
I owned a 1996 that I bought from a first owner. It had a lift and big tires. I was 23 years old and didn't know anything about the Dodges. I wanted a 1997 Silverado, but they were going for 12K in 2004. That was just a bit too much for me. THEN I saw a 1996 with a lift kit, 33 inch tires, rims and Rancho RS9000 shocks. I bought it (5.2 SLT Laramie small cab) for 9200. It had 80K miles on it and a new transmission installed $72K.
HERE are things that put my 1996 to rest:
1. Engine was good. BUT It overheated due to a blown waterpump. That ALWAYS causes issues with the engine. But my engine wasn't severely damaged. Just "not the same." YES, the first thing I did was put "Stop Leak" in it.
2. Tranny overheated when the second TC went to non-lockup. Before that happened, I put in lucas trans STOP SLIP. THAT screwed up my tranny. Then I took it to get a drain and fill at a lube shop and the nut jobs OVERTORQUED the tranny pan. Darn thing was leaking!
3. Transfer case had a leak and went bone dry. Got so bad that I just called up a junkyard to pick it up for free (Already bought my 2001 extended cab 5.9).
These things will kill a truck:
1. Additives: Never use engine restore, engine flush, tranny stop slip, stop leak, etc. Only use Lucas oil stabilizer or Risoline in the oil. Personally I think that running mobil 1 synthetic and changing 3 times in one year should clean your engine out enough.
2. Heat: for obvious reasons.
3. Dirt: obvious reasons.
4. Lack of maintenance. Never FLUSH your tranny. Always drain and fill.
I was not educated on these trucks when I got my 1996. Then when I got my 2001, I checked the history. It had only 42K miles on it and all he had replaced was the water pump and had the death flash! He had several receipts for mobil 1 oil changes, coolant changes and one tranny service. ALso had rear brake shoes done. All this at the DEALERSHIP.
I got a steal paying 10K for my truck. SInce 2008 I have put in, on average, about 800 bucks into maintenance. Tires and exhaust really brought that number up. However, if I didn't have the factory and now an extended wearranty, I would have paid over 15K to have everything fixed:
1. Transfer case
2. Rear-end posi unit
3. Right and left wheel hubs
4. Water Pump
5. Tie rod ends, trac bar, ball joints.
6. Power steering pump.
(Route 66 warranties really hate me. They probably can't wait until March 2016 when the term is over). All I need is for the tranny to go so I can get a viper. Obviously I will need to pay some cash out of pocket. But they will pay the labor and the cost of a reman!
I got LUCKY but I also knew what I was looking for. And THIS FORUM gave me all the info I needed.
I had been away for a while and I don't see all the "Old timers" like:
PAdodgeram- National Guard guy at FIG in PA
PartsService: The guy who worked in a Parts/Service section of a Dodge dealership
cmckenna- The guy who ran magnecor wires and was an electric wizard (Probably because he is an engineer). He had a really nice top end setup!
Merc225HP- Canadian guy who tried to talk me into putting a camshaft in. Almost got me to do it!
Drewactual- Cali guy who was hell bent on gas mileage. He had a 2002 but we didn't hold that against him.
z-man- I think he may have died (I have been away from the forum for a long time), so RIP brother!
Then there was the guy who was from "Okla-mobile-homa." Forgot his screenname.
It takes work after your car gets older than 10 years to get every last mile out of it. After 10 years mileage seems to not matter. Things sag, things get worn. And I am not even talking about the engine and tranny. I actually believe that ANY engine will last forever with frequent oil changes. That's why Valvoline has that warranty/challenge!
I owned a 1996 that I bought from a first owner. It had a lift and big tires. I was 23 years old and didn't know anything about the Dodges. I wanted a 1997 Silverado, but they were going for 12K in 2004. That was just a bit too much for me. THEN I saw a 1996 with a lift kit, 33 inch tires, rims and Rancho RS9000 shocks. I bought it (5.2 SLT Laramie small cab) for 9200. It had 80K miles on it and a new transmission installed $72K.
HERE are things that put my 1996 to rest:
1. Engine was good. BUT It overheated due to a blown waterpump. That ALWAYS causes issues with the engine. But my engine wasn't severely damaged. Just "not the same." YES, the first thing I did was put "Stop Leak" in it.
2. Tranny overheated when the second TC went to non-lockup. Before that happened, I put in lucas trans STOP SLIP. THAT screwed up my tranny. Then I took it to get a drain and fill at a lube shop and the nut jobs OVERTORQUED the tranny pan. Darn thing was leaking!
3. Transfer case had a leak and went bone dry. Got so bad that I just called up a junkyard to pick it up for free (Already bought my 2001 extended cab 5.9).
These things will kill a truck:
1. Additives: Never use engine restore, engine flush, tranny stop slip, stop leak, etc. Only use Lucas oil stabilizer or Risoline in the oil. Personally I think that running mobil 1 synthetic and changing 3 times in one year should clean your engine out enough.
2. Heat: for obvious reasons.
3. Dirt: obvious reasons.
4. Lack of maintenance. Never FLUSH your tranny. Always drain and fill.
I was not educated on these trucks when I got my 1996. Then when I got my 2001, I checked the history. It had only 42K miles on it and all he had replaced was the water pump and had the death flash! He had several receipts for mobil 1 oil changes, coolant changes and one tranny service. ALso had rear brake shoes done. All this at the DEALERSHIP.
I got a steal paying 10K for my truck. SInce 2008 I have put in, on average, about 800 bucks into maintenance. Tires and exhaust really brought that number up. However, if I didn't have the factory and now an extended wearranty, I would have paid over 15K to have everything fixed:
1. Transfer case
2. Rear-end posi unit
3. Right and left wheel hubs
4. Water Pump
5. Tie rod ends, trac bar, ball joints.
6. Power steering pump.
(Route 66 warranties really hate me. They probably can't wait until March 2016 when the term is over). All I need is for the tranny to go so I can get a viper. Obviously I will need to pay some cash out of pocket. But they will pay the labor and the cost of a reman!
I got LUCKY but I also knew what I was looking for. And THIS FORUM gave me all the info I needed.
I had been away for a while and I don't see all the "Old timers" like:
PAdodgeram- National Guard guy at FIG in PA
PartsService: The guy who worked in a Parts/Service section of a Dodge dealership
cmckenna- The guy who ran magnecor wires and was an electric wizard (Probably because he is an engineer). He had a really nice top end setup!
Merc225HP- Canadian guy who tried to talk me into putting a camshaft in. Almost got me to do it!
Drewactual- Cali guy who was hell bent on gas mileage. He had a 2002 but we didn't hold that against him.
z-man- I think he may have died (I have been away from the forum for a long time), so RIP brother!
Then there was the guy who was from "Okla-mobile-homa." Forgot his screenname.
It takes work after your car gets older than 10 years to get every last mile out of it. After 10 years mileage seems to not matter. Things sag, things get worn. And I am not even talking about the engine and tranny. I actually believe that ANY engine will last forever with frequent oil changes. That's why Valvoline has that warranty/challenge!
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,480
Likes: 4,223
From: Clayton MI
Like Unregistered said, "Maintenance and ownership is the key."
I owned a 1996 that I bought from a first owner. It had a lift and big tires. I was 23 years old and didn't know anything about the Dodges. I wanted a 1997 Silverado, but they were going for 12K in 2004. That was just a bit too much for me. THEN I saw a 1996 with a lift kit, 33 inch tires, rims and Rancho RS9000 shocks. I bought it (5.2 SLT Laramie small cab) for 9200. It had 80K miles on it and a new transmission installed $72K.
HERE are things that put my 1996 to rest:
1. Engine was good. BUT It overheated due to a blown waterpump. That ALWAYS causes issues with the engine. But my engine wasn't severely damaged. Just "not the same." YES, the first thing I did was put "Stop Leak" in it.
2. Tranny overheated when the second TC went to non-lockup. Before that happened, I put in lucas trans STOP SLIP. THAT screwed up my tranny. Then I took it to get a drain and fill at a lube shop and the nut jobs OVERTORQUED the tranny pan. Darn thing was leaking!
3. Transfer case had a leak and went bone dry. Got so bad that I just called up a junkyard to pick it up for free (Already bought my 2001 extended cab 5.9).
These things will kill a truck:
1. Additives: Never use engine restore, engine flush, tranny stop slip, stop leak, etc. Only use Lucas oil stabilizer or Risoline in the oil. Personally I think that running mobil 1 synthetic and changing 3 times in one year should clean your engine out enough.
2. Heat: for obvious reasons.
3. Dirt: obvious reasons.
4. Lack of maintenance. Never FLUSH your tranny. Always drain and fill.
I was not educated on these trucks when I got my 1996. Then when I got my 2001, I checked the history. It had only 42K miles on it and all he had replaced was the water pump and had the death flash! He had several receipts for mobil 1 oil changes, coolant changes and one tranny service. ALso had rear brake shoes done. All this at the DEALERSHIP.
I got a steal paying 10K for my truck. SInce 2008 I have put in, on average, about 800 bucks into maintenance. Tires and exhaust really brought that number up. However, if I didn't have the factory and now an extended wearranty, I would have paid over 15K to have everything fixed:
1. Transfer case
2. Rear-end posi unit
3. Right and left wheel hubs
4. Water Pump
5. Tie rod ends, trac bar, ball joints.
6. Power steering pump.
(Route 66 warranties really hate me. They probably can't wait until March 2016 when the term is over). All I need is for the tranny to go so I can get a viper. Obviously I will need to pay some cash out of pocket. But they will pay the labor and the cost of a reman!
I got LUCKY but I also knew what I was looking for. And THIS FORUM gave me all the info I needed.
I had been away for a while and I don't see all the "Old timers" like:
PAdodgeram- National Guard guy at FIG in PA
PartsService: The guy who worked in a Parts/Service section of a Dodge dealership
cmckenna- The guy who ran magnecor wires and was an electric wizard (Probably because he is an engineer). He had a really nice top end setup!
Merc225HP- Canadian guy who tried to talk me into putting a camshaft in. He is still around once in while.
Almost got me to do it!
Drewactual- Cali guy who was hell bent on gas mileage. He had a 2002 but we didn't hold that against him.
z-man- I think he may have died (I have been away from the forum for a long time), so RIP brother! Yep, truly unfortunate. Cancer got him.
Then there was the guy who was from "Okla-mobile-homa." Forgot his screenname. That would be VWandDodge, now know as Gary.
It takes work after your car gets older than 10 years to get every last mile out of it. After 10 years mileage seems to not matter. Things sag, things get worn. And I am not even talking about the engine and tranny. I actually believe that ANY engine will last forever with frequent oil changes. That's why Valvoline has that warranty/challenge!
I owned a 1996 that I bought from a first owner. It had a lift and big tires. I was 23 years old and didn't know anything about the Dodges. I wanted a 1997 Silverado, but they were going for 12K in 2004. That was just a bit too much for me. THEN I saw a 1996 with a lift kit, 33 inch tires, rims and Rancho RS9000 shocks. I bought it (5.2 SLT Laramie small cab) for 9200. It had 80K miles on it and a new transmission installed $72K.
HERE are things that put my 1996 to rest:
1. Engine was good. BUT It overheated due to a blown waterpump. That ALWAYS causes issues with the engine. But my engine wasn't severely damaged. Just "not the same." YES, the first thing I did was put "Stop Leak" in it.
2. Tranny overheated when the second TC went to non-lockup. Before that happened, I put in lucas trans STOP SLIP. THAT screwed up my tranny. Then I took it to get a drain and fill at a lube shop and the nut jobs OVERTORQUED the tranny pan. Darn thing was leaking!
3. Transfer case had a leak and went bone dry. Got so bad that I just called up a junkyard to pick it up for free (Already bought my 2001 extended cab 5.9).
These things will kill a truck:
1. Additives: Never use engine restore, engine flush, tranny stop slip, stop leak, etc. Only use Lucas oil stabilizer or Risoline in the oil. Personally I think that running mobil 1 synthetic and changing 3 times in one year should clean your engine out enough.
2. Heat: for obvious reasons.
3. Dirt: obvious reasons.
4. Lack of maintenance. Never FLUSH your tranny. Always drain and fill.
I was not educated on these trucks when I got my 1996. Then when I got my 2001, I checked the history. It had only 42K miles on it and all he had replaced was the water pump and had the death flash! He had several receipts for mobil 1 oil changes, coolant changes and one tranny service. ALso had rear brake shoes done. All this at the DEALERSHIP.
I got a steal paying 10K for my truck. SInce 2008 I have put in, on average, about 800 bucks into maintenance. Tires and exhaust really brought that number up. However, if I didn't have the factory and now an extended wearranty, I would have paid over 15K to have everything fixed:
1. Transfer case
2. Rear-end posi unit
3. Right and left wheel hubs
4. Water Pump
5. Tie rod ends, trac bar, ball joints.
6. Power steering pump.
(Route 66 warranties really hate me. They probably can't wait until March 2016 when the term is over). All I need is for the tranny to go so I can get a viper. Obviously I will need to pay some cash out of pocket. But they will pay the labor and the cost of a reman!
I got LUCKY but I also knew what I was looking for. And THIS FORUM gave me all the info I needed.
I had been away for a while and I don't see all the "Old timers" like:
PAdodgeram- National Guard guy at FIG in PA
PartsService: The guy who worked in a Parts/Service section of a Dodge dealership
cmckenna- The guy who ran magnecor wires and was an electric wizard (Probably because he is an engineer). He had a really nice top end setup!
Merc225HP- Canadian guy who tried to talk me into putting a camshaft in. He is still around once in while.
Almost got me to do it!
Drewactual- Cali guy who was hell bent on gas mileage. He had a 2002 but we didn't hold that against him.
z-man- I think he may have died (I have been away from the forum for a long time), so RIP brother! Yep, truly unfortunate. Cancer got him.
Then there was the guy who was from "Okla-mobile-homa." Forgot his screenname. That would be VWandDodge, now know as Gary.
It takes work after your car gets older than 10 years to get every last mile out of it. After 10 years mileage seems to not matter. Things sag, things get worn. And I am not even talking about the engine and tranny. I actually believe that ANY engine will last forever with frequent oil changes. That's why Valvoline has that warranty/challenge!
Champion
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,811
Likes: 2
From: Ft Campbell, KY/TN
Thanks Hey-you. Looking at how "old" I am in this forum (but hardly any posts) am I the longest secondgen owning person here?
You can say I cheated because I bought my first in 2004 then another in 2008.
This could be another thread. "Who has owned their truck the longest?"
You can say I cheated because I bought my first in 2004 then another in 2008.
This could be another thread. "Who has owned their truck the longest?"