I appreciate all of the help I have gotten on this site in the short time I have owned my truck. BUT - my most recent post (before this one) about my timing keep getting pushed further and further back unless I keep adding to it. It has only gotten 9 replies (actually 5 replies because 4 of the 9were mine). As I look over the most recent posts, it seems like any tech question gets very fewer looks andreplies than a post aboutoff topic subjects.Don't get me wrong - in the past I have gotten some good advice and I do appreciate that. This seems like a recent occurrence. Don't mean to offend anyone.

 

Well, (and please understand I mean no offense whatsoever here)

I try my best not to comment on things when I am sure I don't know what the heck I'm talking about, and Iwould imagine most of the other guys around here do as well. It's easy to weigh in on "fluff", as it's just an opinion.

In reference to your other post, I don't personnally own a scanner and can't help you there. And usually when guys like steve05ram360, HankL, and others weigh in and tell you their opinions, we kind of take their word for it, as they've been here for a while and generally their assessments are spot on (whether that's right or wrong; it's just a gerenal observation of mine). If you aren't having problems and someone's told you it's not uncommon to fluctuate that much, then why worry? While running the truck with a scanner and reporting back on the data might notbe overly difficult,we do have lives away from this site (some of us anyway) and you're asking someone to check up on something thatseems like a non issue.
Check the sensors if you feel so inclined, or go to a dealership andwhip them about engine timingto see if that's abnormal. Otherwise, why worry so much? If you don't trust OlsenG_360's assessment, then why wouldn't you go to a supposed expert to be sure? Taking a poll off a website to diagnose a problem can berisky at best.

 

When you come up with a really meaty tech question, these kids all crap out. Most of them are only interested in how much noise their truck can make or how to gut their cat or what size tires they should run. Then there's the ones that just want to talk about track times or why their truck dies or goes "clunk" after they've abused the living crap out of it in some maner.
Regarding getting pushed back. I must admit there is a helluva lot of activity on this site...mainly by the above...lol but compared to another site I frequent that when you post, it stays there in 1st place all week, DF is a busy place.
Now, regarding your timing thing, I somewhat agree with AIM on web posts being ify, but you never know when someone else had the same problem and..."here's what worked for me".
I own an AutoTap scanner and checked my timing and got similar results as olsen-- my timing was all over the map. I guess the old addage about "if it aint broke, don't fix it" applies here.
And just for the record...while I don't usually go out looking for trouble, I don't care who I offend...here or anywhere else[sm=idontcare.gif]
Quick, Aim...A COOKIE!
WC

 

LOL, I ate 3 of them today.

 

You also have to remember that most people who come to sites like this aren't professional mechanics. The problem with many tough tech questions, such as what you cite (especially concerning computerized vehicles), is that it requires some sort of scanner to accurately diagnose. Now if someone has gone through the same problem, the site becomes especially useful. If no one has had your exact issue, then its a pure guessing game made by shade-tree mechanics.

I'm not knocking the technical expertise of the board (or any board) as a whole, its just that some things are better left to those with the equipment to fix the problem. IE: if you don't have experience with engine internals or transmissions and need something fixed fast, you don't go to the board for help, you contact a mechanic. For much simpler tech issues such as exhaust, lifts, and power modifications the internet boards are a great source of relevant info.

I guess what I'm getting at is that if you don't know how to fix something, you can't really get mad when people of similar technical backgrounds don't know how to either.

PS:
Speaking of off-topic type posts inside the tech section.. well this is a good example.

 

I think you also need to remember this is a message board, we arent in a garage here. Its a lot easier to fix/diagnose a technical problem in person where you can actually see whats going on. This board is great, but it is no substitution for hands on experience sitting right in front of an engine bay - no matter what. I've had problems before, but I can't describe a sound or a symptom as well as one can see it in person.

Also, the stuff others were talking about - the real meaty problems are out of most people's league, and its probably good that we bow out instead of offering poor advice.

As for the proliferation of shallow topics (tires, exhaust sound (I really don't care too much about that), lifts, rims - well they got to be talked about somewhere. But its a bit like the ghetto boyz who drive the 1981 buicks with 5,000 dollar wheels and soundsystems and have blown gaskets that spew blue smoke- the most important thing is getting your truck to run well and be safe, that other stuff is for when you run out of real problems (like I'm starting to do).

 

I just joined this forum a few days ago. I found it while searching for front suspension lowering kits for my 3500 4x4 dodge. "not an easy thing to find"[X(]
Anyway since i found it I have spent every evening and morning browsing through the hundreds of thousands of posts on this forum.
The amount of valuableinformation here is mind boggling.
The problem is the amount of BS here is even more mind boggling
What I notice is that there will be a long indepth string on a certain subject that will expain something from start to finish. Then you will find hundreds of posts all asking the same question.
What I started doing and my advice to you would be to do a detailed search on the subject you are interested in and you will get a ton of hits not only from 2nd Gen string but there is some really cool stuff on other strings.
If you don't find what you want then post a new string, if no one replies chances are the answer isn't going to be found here.
Just my 2 cents.
Good luck to ya !!

 

I second the notion that using the 'Search' button
can bring up a lot of information..and it will be quicker than waiting for replies.

Use can also use Google to do the search,
if you click the 'Advanced' tab
and restrict the website domain to
dodgeforum.com
or some 'other' forum....

You can also use the search
to find out the reliability and personality of someone
who gives you advice or opinion.
This can be more important than the actual reply.

 

Just to thank every one for their comments.