Alright guys heres my scoop. I am about to purchase a 2001 1500 Ram with a 5.9l engine. Its apparently the offroad package truck, its high and shes black and sexy. I really like this truck, so much so that i am willing to sell my neon that i have dumped thousands and thousands of dollars into in regards to performance and style. BUT, theres one thing...the tranny. I assume all dodges have this problem, because it sure as hell is notorious on the neon forums. We test drove the beast, and it would not shift gears, it'd just keep wining and wining, THEN right when you were about to think ud destroy the engine, itd shift. This truck has 98,000 miles on it, and was obviously not babied, i understand this, although the frame and exterior is in excellent condition. THhe truck also has oversized tires on it. The salesmen says when they put the state inspection on it today, that they will look at the tranny, hes convinced its never had a tranny fliush be4 and thinks that will solve the issue. DO you guys think the trannyt has to do with an unkept tranny, and oversized tires, otherwise if it doesnt get fixed after the state inspection, i will not buy this truck, because the shifting issue was unacceptable. I really like this truck though, they want 7,000 for it. It's been in a car accident, and was obviously an offroad truck, but it looks great from thje outside, and the structure is mint, its just the brakes and tranny that need to be fixed before i make this committment, what do you guys think,a nd have any of you experienced this wining out transmission ordeal? Would a tranny flush and appropriate sized tires with a less meaty tread fix this shifting issue?? This is a little scary though, id idnt have to look very far down the forum list to see tranny problems after tranny problems, are they THAT bad?? Lol definately makes the neon's trannies look a lot better haha. I never had an issue with my auto tranny in my neon and its a 2000 with 72000 miles on it. I really hope the tranny gets fixed with the state inspection, otherwise i cant buy this truck like this...theres just no way.

 

Well first off justa flush probably wont do much. They should take the pan off change the filter and adjust the bands. Then change out all the fluid. Even if that does the trick ( i dont think it will) it sound like the truck has had a rough life. Take a look at the front suspension real close. Check the ball joints track bar, tie rods etc. I had to do all 4 ball joints at 82kmi, tie rod blew at 85kmi and my truck has stock tires, and does not go off road. The trannies dont seem to be the strongest even when taken care of, so if you have one thats abused.... i dunno. Let us know what happens.

 

alright definately, as soon as i get the truck for a test drive, im bringing it back to my mechanic and seeing what he thinks. I just dont see how ppl can beat on their trucks so much, maintnance first right? But yeah ill def. keep you guys all updated. All of your input will be mighty helpful!

 

Personally, I could not see buying a truck which you are already having problems with. There are a lot of nice trucks out there, I would hold out for one that doesn't have tranny issues and a history of accidents.

 

i know it sounds crazy, and i agree with ya. Its just the truck is pretty cheap, 7,000, and everytihng appears to be in nice shape. If the tranny wasnt doing the wining out thing, i wouldnt see anything else wrong with the truck. If the tranny doesn't suit my approval when i test drive it later today, i dont think ill buy it, thatd just be retarded. Ill let ya know how the test drive goes, keep up the input though, really helps, thanks guys.

 

When i bought my truck, although no tranny problems, it did have a history of an accident. It was hit in the rear (I can tell because there is a new tailgate and i can see a crease in the bed that gets covered by the gate) The crease is only about an inch but if you look for it, like i did when buying the truck, then you can see it. So what you need to do, like JoeC said, inspect the truck yourself, and bring it to the machanic to have him look at it. The dealer, as you probably know, will hide as much from you as possable. So get that second opinion. Just my 2 cents.

 

7000 for a truck with a problem is not cheep. do you have any pics of it? the tranny's on these trucks are fine if they are maintained properly. unfortunatley the tranny is often neglected.

I would pass on this truck... too much going wrong with it... tranny issue, been wrecked and who knows what else...

 

Isn't it strange that a vehicle that looks prestine has major issues and one that's beat to hell will run forever? Definitely get a tranny specialist to check it out (even if you have to pay for it) so you know. Maybe it needs a new one, so negotiate that off the price. Offer 5k cash then put in a rockin tranny and enjoy! Even if it was in good working order, I'd say 7k is a good deal.

 

If that truck has not had the tranny fluid changed its entire life and it gets changed now, that tranny will go out! I have seen it several times.

 

I agree with all of ya guys. I am going over to the place that the dealer is having the truck inspected today, and I amgoing to see what he thinks about the truck, as far as im concerned, either the dealer puts it on their tab and takes care of all its booboos, or they drop the price to waht you guys said, 5,000, and then we'll go out and have it perfected. Either way, this dealer will need to pay someway, somehow otherwsie its no deal. Originally, i was going to trade them my neon for the truck, and i was just goin to pay 4,000. but i decided to just take the brunt of the full price now,and sell my car personally because i know i can get atleast 4500-5000 for it, as opposed to their measily 3200 (ive already put in two times that just alone in parts into the car..duhh)...anwyays, the truck does loook mint, and carfax says it was hit in the rear on the road, and it has obviously has had some offroading replacements as well (new hood, condenser,side panels). I will see what the dealers mechanic says (exxon), and then after they slap the state inspection on the truck, ill re-test drive it for the third time and bring it down to my mechanic seperately and see what he thinks. As it stands now though fellas, if the tranny is still wining out, what should i offer this guy. He's bent on his price, cause he says he paid alot for the truck and doesnt want to be jipped, but he also isnt telling me it got into a car accident (i looked up on my own and found it had been in a car accidsent, he just said it was prob. off-roading ****)..Its tough though, my mechanic pointed out about 1200 worth of crap that needs to be done for inspection, but he also said the frame and body looks excellent, and so does everytihng else.. This truck looks great guys, but i dont have any pics, its all black, and its jacked as hell, but i dont want to buy this truck if its gonna be a hellhole for me. What should i offer this guy since it has been in a car accident, less than his projected 7,000...keep in mind this is a 2001 as well. Thanks afgain so far for all your help, its really helping