Since alot of people are tired of answearing questions about the dodge ram and problems I would like to start a thread and possibly a future sticky as to a couple of comon flaws in the dodge ram design. Anyone can add. That way new people dont have to ask all the time...


First common problems. Miss shifting,slipping,wierd noises,overheating,overhaul

Transmissions they at one point were a strong design used on a car and later revised for use in a truck.. some parts were replaced with cheaper made their for flimsyer made parts for sake of cost savings.... Usally a truck that has a shift kit or sure fix kit in it will last along time. The biggest problems i see with the trans are a premature failure in clutch steels as the trans shift slow their by causeing alot of wear on the plates wichcauses exsessive heat also wich can lead to clogged lines too. Also the reverse band is prone to cracking also as it is of a cheaper material. Theis are just some of the problems that can cause a transmission to fail. If proper matinence isn't taken or abuse of the transmision theis can cause improper where on the transmission and other driveline parts too

Some people will debate if a trans is well taken care of and matinenace done at the timed intervales it may last along time.. But as we usally buy them used we have no way of telling really untill its to late... Their are some solenoid and such that can go wrong that the weekender mechanic can do at home. Here is a link to the replacment of the DIY governor pressure sensor, solenoid & tranny pan drain plug install. done by xray99..https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...d-install.html some good info their with pics too

APS Presision has all sorts of transmission goodies. they will also build you a transmission to what you need or sell you parts. http://www.apsprecision.com/Accessories.html

Second

The plenium gasket, engine ping underload, oil in plenium, using oil,

The plenium is a common problem with the second gen ram.. the plenium is a plate made of steel bolted to the bottom of the kegger(or intake manifold for newbies) wich is made of aluminum. since aluminum expands differently from steel it blows out the gasket allowing oil to leak in to the mani were this leads to engine ping and decrease in mpg.. the common fix is to

1.) DIY plate kit
2.) Hughes engines fix kit or i think aps too


1.) The diy kit is pretty explanetory and other forums or here can be searched. One simple way is finding 1/4" aluminum plate 6061 is perfered us the stock steel plate as a pattern and scribe the aluminum with the outline and mark all hole. Using a sabre saw with metal blades cut it out following the lines. Drill all holes also while your at it to. Using a bastard file clean up the edges and all burs bolth sides. Using a felpro gasket set reasemble the pan onto the manifold using some gasket maker the grey stuff a thin bead on the mani then gasket another bead then the new plate. Use new pan bolts and torque to spec. Reinstall. this is one fix and their are DIY threads on here that go more into detail on this fix.

Also while people have the plenium off and apart they usally modify the kegger while its off the engine. By taking out the divider and cutting the runners down people are seeing some gains doing this. Below are a couple of links to the threads..

The whole diy to the kegger mod. https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...e-mod-diy.html
Epoxying the kegger. https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...he-kegger.html




2.) HUGHES KIT http://www.hughesengines.com/Index/p...5&partid=22220

Here is a how to article is older so their are no pics that i can see.
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/diy-do-it-yourself/29092-plenum-gasket-replacement-by-steve00ram360.html

Their are are other fixes such as a hughes fi airgapper or an m1 intake. Which if you do a search for them specifically you will turn up results...


3.) . Death Flash! Mixed feelings on this one and alot of opinions too. Chrystler issued a factory tsb for engines that had issues with ping or knock underload. This fix re flashed the ecu to de tune the ecu to get rid of this... Lots of debate as to if this is related to the plenium gasket or not... Death flash can be reconized by a sticker usally on the ecu or radiator support dated around 2001 or so. The only way to re flash the ecu is to go with a tuner or mp ecu

Programer's , whats the best, who makes a programer, what can i get.

Below is a quick explanation to what can be had out their.

SCT. Is right now the best option out their. Whether a couple of upgrades or a full on stroker project this device can be ordered with custom tunes from some one. Right now hemifever has them and will supply a tune for whatever you have. As far as i know this is the best bang for your buck. Sct will work on any year ram or magnum motor.

superchips from what i gather is the next best thing. From reading everything people post this is a general opinion. I'll add here that superchips is made only for 98 up trucks as 98 was really the first year for obdII and their for sensors used are different then the previous years. I have read that superchips can upgrade for use with a 97 but not sure how true that is.

hyperchips while still better then stock and the ability to change tire size. From what i can read is only good on the high octane tunes... Should work on any years.

jet.. Is garbage as it plugs into the ecu were the stock harness does. Then the harness plugs into that. But some have expierenced the plugs backing out. Also the ecu learns the chip and compensates for it and returns back to stock programming inspite of it. Jet should'nt even be a choice if ur gonna spend the money do it on a hand held tuner.

Here is a link to a thread listing pros and cons to tuners and people who have them and what they think.
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen-ram-faqs/221422-tuners.html


Megasquirt is also a alternitive. Megasquirt is a standalone fuel computer or it can be used to control everything.. But do it its indepth need to understand fuel injection systems or even computers this isnt very common and have only seen one truck on this forums that has done it. And thats to use it to control propane in a supercharged truck......

Replacment ecu's

B&G also the makers of megasquirt can reflash your stock ecu for pretty much pretty much any mod.

Mopar has a replacment ecu that can be bought from them which is calibrated for intakes and free'er flowing exhaust.



SUPERCHARGERS AND TURBOS


If i had it my way and the money i would own a Kenne Bell supercharger. Theis be found on ebay for about 1500-2000 and they include everything to run on your truck on a stock engine saftly.

API Vorteck and Procharger at one time or another had sc's for the dodge trucks.

Theis kits usally come with all things needed to bolt on a kit to your truck including fuel mods and such... Kenne bell has what they call a fuel optimizer wich plugs into the stock harness and the ecu and modifies the signal for the fuel. Kenne also uses a extra set of injectors to add fuel to the motor and generaly their kits comes with all this. But always make sure before you boost that you have all you need. Usally they will include a install manual and a number to a tech line for any more info if needed.

Turbos.

Krcperformance makes a kit for dodges. Both in single and twin turbo designs. Outside of them i am not aware of another company who does anything. http://krcperformance.com/

The kit aboves advertise as complete kits and come with a sct tuner and or dyno time and tuning included in the price of the turbo kits


HEADERS

Long tubes, Shorties,Mid

Pacesetter as far as i know is the only mfg that offers a long tube design at this time. They can be had in ceramic or chrome and possibly stainless..

Shorties can be had for cheap to the same price as a set of longtubes. Ebay has them Jegs and Summit too. Pacesetter offers a set as do doug thorley and ebay. Your exhaust is your choice outside of going full custom true duals with a x or h pipe crossover and such your not gonna gain alot Youtube is a great site to listen to different exhaust systems. Just rememver a straight pipe exhaust on a dodge ram with stock cat in place is still pretty quite. So consider a high flow or magnaflow cat or a cat delete or catless y pipe.


SUSPENSION

A common asked question.. "Will the suspension from a 2500 series fit my 1500?"

The simple answear is yes. More indepth the front springs will swap in but the rear leafs are wider then the stock 1500 ones. Solution is getting the shakles from the 2500 and getting the old ones off from the 1500. The new ones should bolt right on or be welded on.

As far as going into more detail as to lifts every one will have their own views on whats good or better then the next guy. I am not into lifts so i won't even pretend to know the info on it. But a search for lifting rams will turn up info you need.

The other lift type is a leveling kit. Which is a 2" spacer which lifts the front of the truck 2inches level with the rear.

As some one pointed out the track bar is a point that wears out as is the piman arm and the steering box. Theis fixes can be seen in the faq section.

Thuren makes adjustable track bars leveling kits and other suspension goodies. As well as offering custom fab services too.
http://thurenfabrication.com/products.html

Their are multiple other question people always ask. But the ones outlined at the top are the most common. If anyone else dosn't see somthing or somthing I missed pm me and i'll ad it in. All of this can be found by performing a search or by looking in the
Faqs section provided is a link to that section were other question can be answeared and more indepth Diys are provided. https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen-ram-faqs/41020-dodge-ram-faq.html

 

Too bad we already have that:
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen-ram-faqs-143/

 

+5 on the thread!

Also dont forget how touchy our computers are, IE the software patch dodge put in our computers for the plemum issue. Apprently superchip's will fix that issue but since my truck's too old for it i have to go other ways of finding a fix.

Also Trackbar's tend to ware out alot quicker than our competitors

 

this thread sums it all up making it more convenient.

 

ah yes i will add the whole eco and superchips and the years.. purpl ur right we do but they are diys and still dont deture peopl from asking the question.. what i was trying to do was list and explane and provide the links to the info wich yes is in the diy section but as you know as do i they are still gonna ask and wonder why or what they are.. this way the explanation is their and thats all. and being as if they do search this shouls pop up...

 

Read "Dodge Ram FAQs" It is the same as what is in this thread.

 

and again this isnt ment to be a faq this was ment to be in the sticky part with head lines common problems.. how many times a day,week,month do people ask i have a dodge and such and such somthing is going on when its in drive,reverse,stopped... or it pings underload.... then they cap it off with i did a search but found nothing.... well this way they will do a search and find this thread and be able to read it....

this is convinent as its right out their in the open... and i have a ling in the op to the faqs

 

i personally think it's a great idea.

 

thanks you

 

Rick or Reid will never make this a sticky with this gibberish...

Do you not know what FAQ means? Frequentley Asked Questions. What you just said just contradicts itself.