I am looking at a 97 ram 1500 club cab 4x4... the body is in decent shape just a few dents no rust and the interior is good besides the usual dash cracks and the drivers side seat

It has 117xxx miles 5.9 and an auto trans
It has good oil pressure but there is a constant ticking coming from the transmission area the guy said he tightened the torque converter bolts so I don't think its that...

Do u all have any ideas?

It also needs the plenum fixed and a windshield because it gas a crack lol and it needs tires as well..

The guy is asking $2k for the truck. I can post some pics in a few

 

 

Tick might be just an exhaust leak. Really not that bad of a price, provided nothing major is wrong with it.

 

Well the transmission isn't shifting right... doesn't want to go into overdrive and I think when u put it in drive instead of it pulling out in 1st is feels like second... but that may be the tv cable adjusted wrong or the shift solenoid

The ticking has me confused it isn't exhaust related and it increases with rpm but it doesn't doubt like a rod or a rocker

I wish I would have recorded the sound so I coulda show how it sounds

 

If the trans is starting in 2nd gear, and doesn't wanna shift..... there is more going on than just a tv cable adjustment...... Could be as easy as a governor pressure sensor/solenoid, or, as bad as 'time for a rebuild'.....

 

I would try to talk him down to 1000. You will need to spend about 1200 for a rebuild on that tranny. Look up the blue book TRADE IN price for that truck in poor condition. That is what he would get for it with a trade in, so you can get that truck for near that price. That is the trick to negotiating, you already know what the truck is worth if he wants to trade it in.

Personally, i would wait and keep saving for a better option. You can get a better truck for about 3500, so if you keep saving, you can get the truck. Don't know how old you are, but you can split the difference with a small loan.

Some financial advice: If you have 2000 for the truck, talk him as far down to 1000 as you can get. Then if you need a tranny rebuild, try to get a small loan for the repairs that would be the loan for the vehicle. Downside, you will have a lien on the truck and need to have comprehensive/collision coverage. i have that for my truck, but I stand to lose a lot if it gets wrecked because it is in very good shape with low miles.

This is good, keep posting options and really put your nose to the grindstone in search of the right one. I searched 2 years and found a 2001 with an off road package, 42K miles (in 2008) AND it had 2 years and 65K left on the factory extended warranty. Paid for a new p[ower steering pump AND TRANSFER CASE. Cost 50 dollars to switch in my name.

 

I say thats a fair price even with a tranny rebuild, in the picture, it sounds like it just needs the sensor and solenoid though.

 

The truck doesn't feel like the transmission is slipping just doesn't shift...

U can feel it take gear... he said he cleaned the shift solenoid ... ill look answer see what its worth

 

Checked KBB, and KBB does not give values of POOR rated trucks. That truck is not in FAIR condition.

Fair Condition:Some mechanical or cosmetic defects. Needs servicing, but is still in reasonable running condition. Has a clean title history.

The trade in value for FAIR condition is 2700. So that is more in line with a 3rd party price of poor condition, but still high.

If he is asking 2000, that is a good STARTING price. He is probably expecting 1500 but will settle for a bit less.
1200-1500 should be the goal there.

 

IMPORTANT:

WHere the paint is chipping on the hood suggests that there was a fire under the hood. I know because the same thing happened to my 1996. Really check the area of the engine compartment near the firewall. if it looks like the inside of a barbeque, then WALK AWAY.