Hi. I am planning on buying a 2000 sport 4x4 dodge 1500 5.9 liter sport auto trans with 150000 miles. after test driving and doing a lot of research... here are my questions.


1. from what i know the idle is bad. initially it is fine but the rpms gradually die down and then there is a wooshing sound and it jumps to a higher rpm, it does not stall. it has an aftermarket exhaust. i dont know if that makes a difference because the O2 sensor.my buddy has a 5.2 and it does the exact same thing without the aftermarket exhaust. i have seen this posted but no one is very specific so i am trying to be.


2. also while driving there was a sort of buzzing or swirling noice i assume from the drive train. a small transmission leak but i thought it was the gasket around the pan. the truck failed inspection because of a transmission sensor. i dont know what codes it is throwing. i know trans fluid sometimes leaks from the sensors but i thought they were located inside the pan area so that doesnt make sense to me. i dont know what the other sensors are but the spedometer does work. after reading some posts i though it might just be low in trans fluid but i didnt check that.
even with the bad sensor the trans is very smooth shifting. but i am used to a manual and bad auto transmission's so it may not be great. what else could be making noise? i didnt drive it at over 50 mph.


the truck will cost me $2500
can u tell me what these various problems are and what needs to be fixed?
is there anything i should check before buying it. are these big problems?
any help is greatly apreciated. i really cant afford to replace the trans.

 

!. Clean your sensors on your TB. Sounds like your getting air fluctuations. Right amount of air, idle is fine. Then tb closes for a sec or closes more and rpms drop, TB opens to prevent stall...Idle normal. Or replace sensors, theyre cheap.

2.Not too sure. More description on the sound?

Try checking the u joints, ball joints, bearings. Make sure theres no play. Maybe take off the air hat and look down the TB to see if theres a plenum leak. Always look for rust lol. See if your U-joints and ball joints are well greased. Check for cracks in stock headers. Those are prone to cracking.

Others will add. Good luck.

 

I don't like the fact that the trans has a code and is leaking. Plus you didn't fully test it at highway speeds to see if it works 100% right. That truck may end up being $4500 if you have to replace the tranny.

 

I'm with Zman...... these trannys don't already have the greatest reputation when taken care of..... I'd be weary of one that's throwing codes and leaking unless you're ready and willing to replace it.

 

Thanks guys. The plan now is to go get the truck and drive to my mechanic, about 30 miles away. Ill be driving on the highway so i will have a good chance to really see how the truck feels and if it does anything weird. I guess after he checks it out ill know if im gonna buy the truck or not. I love the truck so i hope its all good.

 

Have him also pull the plugs and run a compression test. You need to know the condition of the engine before you sign your life away.

 

ya im planning on doing that to. the current owner bought the truck for $11,000 about 3 years ago with over 100,000 miles on it from a dealer. that sounded high but i guess it would have only been about 6 years old. he used the truck to pull a trailer, he owns a fencing business.

is there anything specific that i should have my mechanic check out that might go wrong or cause big problems in these trucks?

 

I say you really stay away from it now. It's been pulling hard for the last 3 years which is starting to explain the tranmission issues. There can't be much life left in that tranny unless it's been rebuilt recently (and it doesn't sound like it since it's leaking, etc)

 

Save your money and find something else. Dont even waste time taking it to your mechanic.

 

this is exactlly what i didnt want to hear. i fell in love with the truck when i drove it but really dont want to have to worry about the tranny screwing up. im gonna take it to my mechanic tomorow at 11:00. ill make my decision after that. any more input is greatly apreciated even though its pretty much a general decision from u guys to not get the truck. were there any years with the second gen ram that had a reliable transmission, or was it all the same?