Hi, this looks like a great forum and I have already spent quite a bit of time checking out the previous posts. I have learned more about my Ram in 4 hours that I would have in 4 months! I just bought a 01 1500 SLT QC SB 4X4 5.9 with 100K and a lift on Wednesday. I do have a few simple questions that I wasn't able to find anywhere:

1) Should the light switch/panel have background lighting? If it does mine are out, I took it out to find the bulbs but didn't see any.

2) Tailgate is hard to open, I lubed the latches and it seem better but still not great. I read some about the cable breaking but that doesn't seem to be the issue since it does work. I am wondering if there is an adjustment on it or if it must be replaced if it has stretched or something like that.

3) Underbody surface rust! Comparing it to my 90 Mitsubishi Montero there is a lot more rust on the Ram. Like I said it is surface and not uncommon to see on older cars, but it seems like more than should be on an 01. Does anyone else have it this early? I can take some pictures if anyone would like to see what I am talking about.

4) I have read a lot about mods to improve performance, but I am more interested in improving fuel economy. What are the best mods focused on MPG and that can be done the cheepest? I don't want this to become a money pit, just a good reliable truck.

Thanks, Jeff

 

Well I found the answer to question one. Turns out there was tape over the hole for the bulb and I was looking at night. When I looked during daylight, there it was! I think I have fixed the tailgate also but would still like some help on the other two issues. Thanks

 

See how long it has been since the truck had a tune-up. That will help you mileage if it has been a while. Cold air intake will help with your MPG. Going to synthetic fluids will help out a little bit. Fastman throttle body will cost you some money but that will help too. Keeping your foot out of it will help too but that is really hard...LOL

EDIT: Also a 180 degree thermostat will also help.

 

Wow i also have an 01 and dont have any rust. did the prev owner take it offroad alot?

 

Silverram99, it already has the 180 thermostat. I think I will try the cold air intake, synthetics (was already planning on that), and the new light weight foot! I will save the TB for later though.

Hicktown, I am the third owner; the original owner lived in Idaho and I belive it snows there a lot (correct me if I'm wrong), so I was thinking road salt might have something to do with it. Other than that it has been in CA and there isn't a huge problem with rust here even if you do off-road a lot. Does yours have paint or some type of coating on it?

Thanks for the replies!

Also, I am looking at dash covers (go figure) and found Geno's Garage as recommended here. I selected the molded cover; during checkout it asks about the model and only shows 2500 & 3500 with a bunch of Fords. Are their covers only for those models and are they the same as the 1500. In other words if I by one for a 2500 will it fit my 1500 correctly?

 

I'll say this first, I would hold off buying until some more people can back me up or prove me wrong. I think they are the same, I can't imagine any difference in any of the Rams interiors.

 

I just got my 99 QC a week ago from the Sacramento area, and the bottom is coated in rust too. The truck supposedly had been in the Bay/Sacramento all it's registered life, and appears been offroaded some, as there is some mud still stuck to the bottom of the cab. I think I have a feeling of why you are some what concerned about it, as when compare to my 01 Mustang, or even my dad's 99 GMC, which have been out in the snow all their lives, the Ram has a lot more rust on the underside. The only thing that concerns me about it is the that my exhaust tubing looks like it is about ready to develop some holes.[:'(]

 

Thanks Japoro, it is always good to know your not the only one, misery loves company! Mine is really not that bad, just strange for this new of a vehicle. I don't have anything that is anywhere close to rusting through so I think I will just try to clean up what I can so it doesn't get any worse and not worry about it.
Looks like you have a good reason to upgrade your exhaust system!

 

As far as I know the interior on 1500, 2500, and 3500s are all the exact same, so I'd say go ahead and order the dash cover for the 2500

 

you will get surface rust on untreated metals, I wouldnt worry about it. My '05 has surface rust on the steering box and even on some of the components on the interior under the dash. seen it on just about every car i've ever worked on.

as far as mods go... for mileage i'd go with this list...
52mm fastman TB
180 deg t-stat
K&N CAI
flowmaster single 3" or duals knecked down to 2.25"

this setup should get you the best bang for the buck and improve mileage. if you lift it & get bigger tires then look to add:
1.7 roller rockers (or a cam)
headers (I had gibsons with great sucess)
and heavy duty heads or r/t heads (I had the r/t's before the HD's came out... otherwise I would have gone with the HD's).

happy wrenching