Transfer case question, plus a few other ones as well...
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Transfer case question, plus a few other ones as well...
I am looking at a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.2L V8 that I am getting for a great deal.
The truck details:
131,xxx miles
black in color
4x4
Manual locks and windows
Some type of "tuner" exhaust that makes it sound real mean
I took the car for a test drive and tested the basics like the lights, heater/air conditioning, radio, horn, and of course the 4wd.
First of all the radio had power, but would not make sound, possible bad head unit, right? The horn also didn't work which didn't seem like that big of a deal to me. Lastly, I tried to put the truck in 4wd and it was EXTREMELY hard to get into 4wd. I put the truck in neutral and pressed in the clutch when I attempted to put it in 4wd and pulled back on the lever but it just didn't want to move. I finally stopped pulling and put it in 1st gear and the "4wd" light came on. I then put it back in neutral and put it back into "2H" and it didn't go off... Is this something that I should worry about if I decided to purchase the truck? The owner informed me that the truck has been sitting for 3 1/2 months and it probably need to be "greased." Being the DSM (Eclipse/Laser/Talon) enthusiast that I am, I decided that I better ask the "experts" to find out if this is something common with these trucks.
Monday I am going back to look at it again and take the shifter/4wd boot off to see what the condition of the linkage is and see if it is something that indeed does just need to be "greased." I honestly have never touched a Dodge, so this is an entire new experience for me.
Hypothetically if I had to replace the transfer case, what would a good-used one cost me? Is there anything else about the 1996 Ram that might be useful to know? Any potential problems? I know there is/was a problem with the auto trannies, but this is a 5-speed, so I think that I will be alright on that aspect.
I appreciate the help and apologize if these questions have been answered before; I tried to do a search, but I didn't come up with any useful information the pertained to my question.
TIA,
Mark Holland
The truck details:
131,xxx miles
black in color
4x4
Manual locks and windows
Some type of "tuner" exhaust that makes it sound real mean
I took the car for a test drive and tested the basics like the lights, heater/air conditioning, radio, horn, and of course the 4wd.
First of all the radio had power, but would not make sound, possible bad head unit, right? The horn also didn't work which didn't seem like that big of a deal to me. Lastly, I tried to put the truck in 4wd and it was EXTREMELY hard to get into 4wd. I put the truck in neutral and pressed in the clutch when I attempted to put it in 4wd and pulled back on the lever but it just didn't want to move. I finally stopped pulling and put it in 1st gear and the "4wd" light came on. I then put it back in neutral and put it back into "2H" and it didn't go off... Is this something that I should worry about if I decided to purchase the truck? The owner informed me that the truck has been sitting for 3 1/2 months and it probably need to be "greased." Being the DSM (Eclipse/Laser/Talon) enthusiast that I am, I decided that I better ask the "experts" to find out if this is something common with these trucks.
Monday I am going back to look at it again and take the shifter/4wd boot off to see what the condition of the linkage is and see if it is something that indeed does just need to be "greased." I honestly have never touched a Dodge, so this is an entire new experience for me.
Hypothetically if I had to replace the transfer case, what would a good-used one cost me? Is there anything else about the 1996 Ram that might be useful to know? Any potential problems? I know there is/was a problem with the auto trannies, but this is a 5-speed, so I think that I will be alright on that aspect.
I appreciate the help and apologize if these questions have been answered before; I tried to do a search, but I didn't come up with any useful information the pertained to my question.
TIA,
Mark Holland