I am getting all my stuff collected to do a plenum job, and timing chain, and water pump, and tune up and trying to read as much as I can. The more I read the more I begin to realize is wrong with the truck.

I am thinking I have a fuel pump/check valve issue since I have to crank a while until it fires up then it runs great. That's gonna mean I have to pull the bed to fix that one, that seems easier than dropping the tank anyway.

Its started getting cold lately and I kicked on the heater and what do you think happened? Yep, windows fogged like crazy and that sweat smell filled the cab. Heater core must be on its way out too. No wet carpet yet so it must not be really bad, I am hoping this and the pump can wait until spring when it is warmer.

Before I got on the forum here my truck was 100% problem free. Now, my weekends are filled with activities and my wallet is empty. What am I gonna find next? I'm not really done with the forum, gonna need a lot of help over the next while.

 

Unfortunately vehicles are not like a fine wine, they dont get better with age. As time progresses more & more chit will need replacing

 

If you get a couple more warm days here shortly, I would highly recommend doing the heater core at the very least. Otherwise, you can bet your are going to get to do it when it is well below freezing out........

 

ya but its kind nice to know that your truck will get better mpgs and power back after the plenum is done

i had i guy with a 95 same green dodge truck ext cab the hole bit ex his was long bed parked by me when i was walking out of lowes the guy says hey nice truck and i go hey thanks,,, we started talking, he bought the truck new and the only thing repalce was the trans @ 120,000 and a few sets of tires, i look this truck over and it looked about the way i got my 95 hood and hood paint was gone and just years of lack of clear

but to were i was going the guy thought he knew alot about his truck but had no like what the hell was a plenum gasket was,,,, i ask whats your mpg's and he goes well it a truck,,, and i was think with a blown plenum and a clogged cat


i just laugh inside when i see guys with a dodges on 20's and sum lound exhaust and think his poo dont smell and his truck is the fastest and the best, but it doenst run like it should but he dont know nothing about it

 

Unfortunately, for a fair percentage of folks, their vehicle is a 'transportation appliance', or, compensation for some lack....... Very very very few people actually have some idea of what it actually takes to make a vehicle go down the road reliably. Work as a service writer at any dealership for a while. The magnitude of the average customers ignorance is absolutely astounding.....

For example....... Bear in mind, ALL these people came in, in the same WEEK...

A lady with an S-10, that used "special" additives in here oil. The oil in the pan was so think, we had to cut the oil pan off in sections, and beat the rest off with a sledge, JUST to find out that yes indeed, the entire motor was toast.

Another lady with a Lumina....... Came in on a hook. No Start. "The battery is dead, when I turn the key, it just clicks."..... Yeah, that's because a starter motor can't turn over a motor that has welded itself together. That funny little light in the dash, you know, the RED one??? That means no oil pressure, and you should stop driving about five minutes ago...... Oooops.

A college student with a REALLY nice Cavaler Z-24...... that also won't start. 26000 miles, still had the factory original oil filter installed... very little oil. His excuse? "Well, it SAYS "maintenacne Free" RIGHT THERE.."......... On the battery. No warranty replacement motor for you. Thankyouverymuch.

Then there was a man that insisted his "anti-rollback" valve in his transmission was not working properly. (and keep in mind, this was a guy from hydramatic, that worked on the line putting transmissions together.......) It took both the service manager, AND the General manager to finally convince this dimwit that the guys at work were pulling the wool over his eyes, and just because you screw five bolts into a trans as it works it's way past you on an assembly line, does NOT make you an expert.......

 

The biggest problem is I really like the truck and would rather spend money (within reason) to fix it than buy a newer one. I always wished I was a better mechanic and now I am getting my wish, one problem at a time.

 

That's how I learned too, way back when.......

In all reality, if I had known what I was getting myself into with this truck purchase, it would have went one of two ways. I would have offered him a LOT less than what I paid..... or, I simply would not have bought it. As it stands now though, I 'think' I have most of the major issues dealt with, and the truck is running and driving GREAT.

Overall, I am not disappointed. I love the truck. It does what I need it to, and I enjoy driving it. Probably too much......

 

Every Ram owner has that moment where you just think to yourself, "Damn, I what to sell this bastard!!!" For me, it was when I blew my tranny. I didn't have the money to have it rebuilt so I learned about it and 3 months later, I did it. I'll tell you though, there were some sleepless night when it happened...no bull!!! Just buckle down and get it done as soon as you can and accept the fact that no matter how good your truck feels TODAY, it will inevitably have something for you to fix TOMORROW!!! By the way, as much as I hate my truck sometimes, I still love it to death!!! You gotta respect your Mother Mopar!!!

 

haha. looking at your signature - i'm reminded of a song by The Carpenters - You've Only Just Begun.

 

lmao....

All vehicles will break and need work...sometimes you get the ones where everything goes at once....

Ive had my Ram since August 2009, and ive put in about 7K into it, and my transfer case is blown at the moment...If you are like me, and have love for your RAM, you'll just fix it.

I could have bought a nice newer truck with the money ive put into this. But i love 2nd gen style rams, and i just love my truck. To me since ive already put so much into it, im just going to keep fixing it. Theres only so much more that can go wrong. But i dont care.

Also working on these trucks is VERY easy. so it doesnt bother me when having to repair...and thats also why i have the Maxima as a spare vehicle for times like now. My truck has been down for almost a month with the T-Case being blown......which by the way only took my about an hour to take out the t-case, so like i said very easy to work on......

All in all, All vehicles will have problems, theres no way around that. nothing is built to last forever.