Fixing previous owner's damage
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Registered User
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4
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From: Greenfield, WI
Fixing previous owner's damage
Well, I recently got myself a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500, 5.9 L.
I paid $2250 for her with 253,000 miles on the body, but 30,000 on the engine and 50,000 on the trans. It's an Indiana truck, and rust on the body is minimal. The previous owner, however, did an extremely poor job of maintaining it, as I soon found out.
The first thing that became evident to me is that she needed brakes..badly. After checking pads, rotors, and drums, I found the problem. The brake line had ruptured where it was tucked in between the gas tank and the frame, and he had attempted to repair it using a piece of rubber hose and two hose clamps. So, needless to say, it was peeing brake fluid every time I would hit the brakes.
The second thing that I noticed was that it had that lovely perfume of gas. Not only that, but it seemed to be leaking it.
The final, most obvious thing, was that it was loud, and had two oxygen sensor codes.
Hmm..so let's see: Essentially, I was driving a loud, ticking bomb that didn't like to stop. Okay, that's it, up on jack stands she goes.
First step was to pull the tank, which was held up by one gas tank harness and one ratchet strap. Came down without an issue, except that the little tip of the fuel tank vent valve snapped off. Okay, add that to the parts list. After running new brake lines and bleeding them, she should be stopping just fine. Second step was addressing the gas leak. This involved purchasing a new filler neck, fuel sending unit gasket, and new vent valve. Finally, I found that the section of pipe right after the cat where the rear O2 sensor goes was replaced with a piece of Autozone flexible pipe, and had no O2 sensor plugged into it at all.
So here's my questions for you guys:
1. Any idea where to find that fuel tank vent valve? I've called Autozone, NAPA, and 3 junkyards and none of them had one.
2. Any idea's about that piece of exhaust piping? Am I best off replacing just the pipe, or replacing the entire exhaust system cat-back? The exhaust is in pretty rough shape and rotting through in sections.
Sorry for the long post, and thanks for any help you can give!
I paid $2250 for her with 253,000 miles on the body, but 30,000 on the engine and 50,000 on the trans. It's an Indiana truck, and rust on the body is minimal. The previous owner, however, did an extremely poor job of maintaining it, as I soon found out.
The first thing that became evident to me is that she needed brakes..badly. After checking pads, rotors, and drums, I found the problem. The brake line had ruptured where it was tucked in between the gas tank and the frame, and he had attempted to repair it using a piece of rubber hose and two hose clamps. So, needless to say, it was peeing brake fluid every time I would hit the brakes.
The second thing that I noticed was that it had that lovely perfume of gas. Not only that, but it seemed to be leaking it.
The final, most obvious thing, was that it was loud, and had two oxygen sensor codes.
Hmm..so let's see: Essentially, I was driving a loud, ticking bomb that didn't like to stop. Okay, that's it, up on jack stands she goes.
First step was to pull the tank, which was held up by one gas tank harness and one ratchet strap. Came down without an issue, except that the little tip of the fuel tank vent valve snapped off. Okay, add that to the parts list. After running new brake lines and bleeding them, she should be stopping just fine. Second step was addressing the gas leak. This involved purchasing a new filler neck, fuel sending unit gasket, and new vent valve. Finally, I found that the section of pipe right after the cat where the rear O2 sensor goes was replaced with a piece of Autozone flexible pipe, and had no O2 sensor plugged into it at all.
So here's my questions for you guys:
1. Any idea where to find that fuel tank vent valve? I've called Autozone, NAPA, and 3 junkyards and none of them had one.
2. Any idea's about that piece of exhaust piping? Am I best off replacing just the pipe, or replacing the entire exhaust system cat-back? The exhaust is in pretty rough shape and rotting through in sections.
Sorry for the long post, and thanks for any help you can give!
All Star
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: bellingham wa
well you answer your question for the exhaust if its not in that good of shape yes replace it all and then you don't and won't have to mess with it again
i didnt find anything online about the fuel vent valve.... I'm sure other people on here will chime in soon with that info
i didnt find anything online about the fuel vent valve.... I'm sure other people on here will chime in soon with that info
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,480
Likes: 4,223
From: Clayton MI
Rockauto? Dealer? It's possible that you have to replace the entire sending unit, which would suck...... There are parts manuals in the FAQ section, grab the one for your year, and see if you can find the part number.
This is a noob question (I'm still learning myself), but is this different than the rollover valve thats on the sending unit?
