SO, getting right into it, I really do love my 01 ram 2500 but its starting to become a pain in the ***......Its a rebuild salvage and rebuilt pretty well, other then the nightmare of the wiring! (headlights still don't work) Anyways, I have started to notice more and more that make me upset about the truck and I almost considered selling the other day. Instead I'd rather spend the time to make it mine and fun again. The u-joints in the front need replaced, the front hubs are going (the abs kicks in at 5mphs) New tires needed before winter, passenger side fender and bottom of doors and tail gate and spot on right rear wheel well all are starting to rust.....pass fender is really really bad, steering seems to be a bit tougher then it usta be! All this in my eyes looks to be $$$$$. Its sad because the truck has very very low miles and is in great shape for the most part. It looks bad *** and hauls great!

Main thing is power......It seams a little sluggish since I got it. I always do the regular maintenance......the gas mileage I'm getting is in the low 9._'s I think. What can I do to better that? I put a K&N ram air intake on it. I'm thinking about getting a Flashpaq and doing the 456 gear upgrade? Good things to do on my oddity of a truck? I read that most of the ones produced like mine were the turbo diesels.

I guess I'm just looking for some helpful words or any good pointers/tips/tricks to liven the truck up again and keep it as sound as it use to be.

Thanks!

 

Ever checked the plenum? http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2000/09-05-00.htm

If it's bad most likely the CC is not too far behind.

 

Also do a search on 'death flash'. You probably have it.

 

A tuner like the Flashpaq would cure the death flash problem.

+1 for the plenum check. Another way to do it besides that TSB: take off the air cleaner assembly, open the butterflies, and look down into your manifold (probably with a flashlight). Oil in there means broken plenum gasket.

The recommended treatment for that diagnosis is a Hughes plenum plate with Felpro gasket and new bolts (Hughes kit comes with the bolts, but a cheapy looking gasket, Felpro is much better).

On the bright side, that gives you an excuse to do the "kegger mod" (see the DIY thread at top of main 2nd Gen page) while its out, or if you want to go all out, you can replace the whole "kegger" style manifold with a Hughes Air Gap manifold. Twice or three times as expensive, but been proven to be more power than the stock or "modded kegger" setup.

 

If you are looking for gas mileage out of a tuner, a Hypertech would do you more good.

 

What's the CC? Anyone have a thread link on how to check for a death flash? Update on my average MPG, 10.8. That low for my particular truck? I just bough spicer u-joints for the front and there going in today, Also i need to replace the A/C compressor. I'll deff. check on the plenum and read up on the "kegger mod". Thanks for the tips and pointers guys...keep 'em coming!

Where can I get Hughes plenum plate and Felpro gasket? Summit have that? I live around the corner from there.

 

CC = Cat. Converter. Death Flash= a sticker on the PCM , underside of hood, rad. support that says Factory authorized update. And IIRC 2001 might have it anyway. Go to http://www.hughesengines.com/Index/index.php. And as far as MPG goes your not far off depending on how and where you drive.