Looking to buy 97' Ram Should I stay away?
#11
03-31-2005 | 08:50 PM
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From: Jax Fl.
#13
04-04-2005 | 04:33 AM
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RE: Looking to buy 97' Ram Should I stay away?
ORIGINAL: greenmachine
The tranny filter and fluid change is a great start. One thing that you can do is not drive it in overdrive while puttin around town, dealership mechanic says so. Also if you have a in line check valve up by the radiator get rid of it. While your at it change speed sensor on tranny ( $ 23 at Advance) mine had a ton of shavings on it , it helped.
The tranny filter and fluid change is a great start. One thing that you can do is not drive it in overdrive while puttin around town, dealership mechanic says so. Also if you have a in line check valve up by the radiator get rid of it. While your at it change speed sensor on tranny ( $ 23 at Advance) mine had a ton of shavings on it , it helped.
#14
04-04-2005 | 01:07 PM
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From: LeRoy, Mi
RE: Looking to buy 97' Ram Should I stay away?
ORIGINAL: Flynbryan19
Hello everyone. I'm looking into buying a 97 Ram with 55k on it. But I've been reading in the search archives and am scared by the rumors of previlant tranny failure. Should I stay away from it or is it a safe deal? Need some quick responses if at all possible. Need to say yes or no by the end of today.
Hello everyone. I'm looking into buying a 97 Ram with 55k on it. But I've been reading in the search archives and am scared by the rumors of previlant tranny failure. Should I stay away from it or is it a safe deal? Need some quick responses if at all possible. Need to say yes or no by the end of today.
I bought mine 2 years ago, a '97 2500 4x4 360 auto with 56,000 miles. Was a retired guy that bought it new, and only used it as a secondary vehicle. Had the reciepts that the trans fluid had been flushed and changed at 20k and 40k miles, and the engine oil was changed every 3 months regardless of mileage. I did a Carfax lookup on it and it had NO reports at all for that VIN. I flushed and changed the trans fluid at 62,000 miles, and only use the truck as a secondary vehicle to haul things and pull my car trailer I've got 85,000 miles on it now.
Here's my horror list-
68k- Ball joints shot
78k- Transmission EXPLODED
80k- Track Bar & Tie Rods
82k- Rear axle carrier bearings
85k- Intake manifold plenum gasket
I'm pretty sure there was something at 72k but I can't remember right now. I like the truck as a whole, but it's been a POS as far as maintanence and reliability. Right now the plenum is still shot, and my steering is loose even after replacing the track bar and tie rods. I think my steering box is going to crap, which is another common problem with these things.
My advice- be careful. Use good parts, good oil, and always stay on top of the preventative maintanence.
#15
04-05-2005 | 09:15 PM
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From: Jax Fl.
RE: Looking to buy 97' Ram Should I stay away?
The in line check valve is on of the main causes of tranny failure. Tends to stick shut overheating the tranny. I changed my speed sensor because it was not shifting properly. The truck seemed to have trouble telling how fast it was going. The sensor was covered in metal sludge. It has really helped with shift performance and all around get up and go.
#18
04-07-2005 | 02:32 AM
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From: Jax Fl.
#19
04-07-2005 | 10:56 AM
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From: LeRoy, Mi
RE: Looking to buy 97' Ram Should I stay away?
ORIGINAL: Badkarma
so your saying just replace not remove it right?
so your saying just replace not remove it right?
Since the check valve is lower than the entire cooling loop, if you remove it your cooling system can drain down over time, and you'll not only have 'dry starts' (you'll have to rev the motor to prime the transmission, very much bad), but you stand the chance of air-locking the system due to the ****-poor flow design of the Ram automatics.
#20
04-07-2005 | 12:09 PM
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RE: Looking to buy 97' Ram Should I stay away?
ORIGINAL: Snafu
Did you get the truck?
I bought mine 2 years ago, a '97 2500 4x4 360 auto with 56,000 miles. Was a retired guy that bought it new, and only used it as a secondary vehicle. Had the reciepts that the trans fluid had been flushed and changed at 20k and 40k miles, and the engine oil was changed every 3 months regardless of mileage. I did a Carfax lookup on it and it had NO reports at all for that VIN. I flushed and changed the trans fluid at 62,000 miles, and only use the truck as a secondary vehicle to haul things and pull my car trailer I've got 85,000 miles on it now.
Here's my horror list-
68k- Ball joints shot
78k- Transmission EXPLODED
80k- Track Bar & Tie Rods
82k- Rear axle carrier bearings
85k- Intake manifold plenum gasket
I'm pretty sure there was something at 72k but I can't remember right now. I like the truck as a whole, but it's been a POS as far as maintanence and reliability. Right now the plenum is still shot, and my steering is loose even after replacing the track bar and tie rods. I think my steering box is going to crap, which is another common problem with these things.
My advice- be careful. Use good parts, good oil, and always stay on top of the preventative maintanence.
ORIGINAL: Flynbryan19
Hello everyone. I'm looking into buying a 97 Ram with 55k on it. But I've been reading in the search archives and am scared by the rumors of previlant tranny failure. Should I stay away from it or is it a safe deal? Need some quick responses if at all possible. Need to say yes or no by the end of today.
Hello everyone. I'm looking into buying a 97 Ram with 55k on it. But I've been reading in the search archives and am scared by the rumors of previlant tranny failure. Should I stay away from it or is it a safe deal? Need some quick responses if at all possible. Need to say yes or no by the end of today.
I bought mine 2 years ago, a '97 2500 4x4 360 auto with 56,000 miles. Was a retired guy that bought it new, and only used it as a secondary vehicle. Had the reciepts that the trans fluid had been flushed and changed at 20k and 40k miles, and the engine oil was changed every 3 months regardless of mileage. I did a Carfax lookup on it and it had NO reports at all for that VIN. I flushed and changed the trans fluid at 62,000 miles, and only use the truck as a secondary vehicle to haul things and pull my car trailer I've got 85,000 miles on it now.
Here's my horror list-
68k- Ball joints shot
78k- Transmission EXPLODED
80k- Track Bar & Tie Rods
82k- Rear axle carrier bearings
85k- Intake manifold plenum gasket
I'm pretty sure there was something at 72k but I can't remember right now. I like the truck as a whole, but it's been a POS as far as maintanence and reliability. Right now the plenum is still shot, and my steering is loose even after replacing the track bar and tie rods. I think my steering box is going to crap, which is another common problem with these things.
My advice- be careful. Use good parts, good oil, and always stay on top of the preventative maintanence.
I'll keep my eye on the steering components. And where is this Plenum gasket ya'll are talking about? I checked the throttle body like was listed in another thread, and saw no oil residue. For the price I got it for, I could replace/rebuild the tranny and still come out less than what this vehicle sells for in my area.