i want to buy a used dodge ram 1500. preferably a 2004 4x4 quad cab. any hints on what to look for?

 

Hey dblr, welcome to DF. I am unsure of the percs and probs for the 2004 Ram, but I tell ya what, Ill move you over to the 3rd Gen Ram Section. I am sure those guys could give ya some insight. They are all very helpful and a good group. Enjoy the site!

 

you really need to take a look at the steeing system, especially the racks and hoses. i wouldnt buy a 04 with high miles, its not worth the headaches in the future, and if you do get a warranty on it. take the thing for a drive and feel the trans and what not. but if you can try and go fo the slt w/ the hemi, might as well get it loaded if you can. honestly though if you have the dough get a newer model.

 

Good choice! I prefer the '04-'05 Torsion Bar front end 1500's myself, and I'm also not a big fan of MDS, if I buy an 8 cyl. truck, I want my 8 cylinders running, all the time. There also seems to be a very high report of front end problems (ie: Death Wobble) on the newer '06+ coil over trucks. Other than the fact that I am also not a huge fan of IFS in a 4x4, preferring the SFA design of the 2500s, I am very satisfied with my truck.

Unfortunately, no different than any other make, there are some common issues that you need to look for.

Rack and Pinion - yeah I gotta agree with V Scapes on this, I'm seeing it a little more than in other makes, except maybe Toyota. Only recently though. I guess the '04/'05s are starting to get up into the mileage where the racks are starting to go.

Door and window seals - make sure they are all solid and have no leaks.

LSD - The chysler LSD is the biggest POS in the industry. Not only is it a fairly poor functioning unit, but it is plagued by retention clip failures (often incorrectly referred to as "C-Clips" - Google it or do a search on here, 1000's of posts). These failures can often "granade" the entire rear end.
If the truck has the factory LSD in it, work the price of a solid aftermarket unit such as an Auburn Gear ($400) or Detroit TruTrac ($500) off the asking price and plan on putting one in.

Honestly, those are the only real common problems that you see plaguing the '04/'05s. The '03 is similar but is the first year of the Hemi and has a few "hybrid" or "cross-over bridges" from the older LA360 engine. The '04 is the first model year with it's PCM tune built from the ground up for it. For this reason, I'd stick with the '04/'05s. Not that people are having any problems with the '03's, but it makes for easier modifications and repairs in some cases down the road.

Besides that, the rest of the things you want to look for are things you'd look at when buying any car or truck. Over-all condition, care, etc. Pay close attention to all the govt. mandated emissions crap like evap system, EGR valve, etc. Those are common things that have to be repaired or replaced.

That's about it, good luck with your search, any questions as you are looking, just let us know. We hope you have the truck you are looking for soon and become a regular here...

 

I think hammer summed it up really well. bought my 04 about a year ago, and am very happy with it. To date only real issues were MAF sensor and one tie rod.

Also, you might want to get tires for it soon after purchase. The tires that come on ti are real soft and cushy, but not good for snow/rain.

 

Bought my 04 a little over a year ago also, but i didnt buy the HEMI. I got such a good deal on my truck, that i couldnt pass it up.

Only thing I regret is not knowing everything i needed to know. If i had to do it again, I would probably buy a HEMI, make sure it had at least the 3.92 gear ratio, and my pet peeve... tow mirrors. I swear, im going to buy one at a time if i have to... damn it

ask lots of questions before you buy...

 

the 04-05 has a flaw in the engine design, sometimes cyl #6 pre detonates and burns a hole in the piston. happened on mine, but covered under warranty. also, MDS came out in 06, which will get you better mileage, but some folks dont like using it and turn it off anyways. other than that, I love my 04, i got the slt loaded with the infinity sound, power everything. like hammer said, these have the torsion bar front ends also, i like that.

 

Send me a link where this is an issue, I'm curious. I've not heard of this issue before. Well, at least heard of a flaw causing it. I just did a quick search on the seven Dodge Truck /Hemi related forums I'm a member of and couldn't get a single hit!
I found pre-detonation issues, but not specific to just cyl #6, and not very widespread, at least no more than I would think would be the norm on any other engine.
Thanks...

 

+1, never heard of this before. where did you hear this from?

 

I just bought an 05, im gonna bet to say that these problems also carry over?