What to look for?
#3
03-22-2010, 12:32 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Indiana
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#4
03-22-2010, 12:44 PM
If i wasn't mechanically inclined at all, i would do as follows for any vehicle purchase that is outside a dealer lot.
1) Go check it out and look over at what you do know. Like paint, wheels, tires, interior...etc
2) take it for a test drive and make sure it's driving like it should and nothing funky is going on.
3) Get an idea for what the owner would take for it as long as it checks out okay at a shop.
4) have the owner drop the truck off at a shop of your choosing, not his. Then have the shop check over all the fluids and see if the normal maintenance had been kept up with or not. Having the shop change the rear diff fluid on Your dollar is not a bad idea. Figure $100 to assure your safety that nothing is wrong. Besides, when I buy a used bvhicle the first thing i do is go through and flush ALL of the fluids out anyways, so you'll need to flush the rear diff out regardless.
I'd leave all the other mainenance issue's alone until you actually buy it. i don't see how the seller can not approve of you replacing the diff fluid on your dime.
If the seller says no you can't, then go to the next vehicle. if he says i already had it done, then get proof. i know there is a removable rubber cover on my differential fluid cover that can be easily moved to stick your finger in there and check the color of the fluid.
A damaged rear-end can cost $2k to fix and there are alot of 2005-prior Rams that have had those troubles. the retaining clips were beefened up right around '05, but that doesn't mean you still can't have trouble. This is not anything you can hear or feel when driving.
Tune-ups are due every 30kmi along with the front diff. Most truck owners neglect their trucks. Many guys say on the forums they are going on 80kmi on their original plugs or have never changed out their diff fluids which are due every 15-30kmi depending upon use.
Good Luck
1) Go check it out and look over at what you do know. Like paint, wheels, tires, interior...etc
2) take it for a test drive and make sure it's driving like it should and nothing funky is going on.
3) Get an idea for what the owner would take for it as long as it checks out okay at a shop.
4) have the owner drop the truck off at a shop of your choosing, not his. Then have the shop check over all the fluids and see if the normal maintenance had been kept up with or not. Having the shop change the rear diff fluid on Your dollar is not a bad idea. Figure $100 to assure your safety that nothing is wrong. Besides, when I buy a used bvhicle the first thing i do is go through and flush ALL of the fluids out anyways, so you'll need to flush the rear diff out regardless.
I'd leave all the other mainenance issue's alone until you actually buy it. i don't see how the seller can not approve of you replacing the diff fluid on your dime.
If the seller says no you can't, then go to the next vehicle. if he says i already had it done, then get proof. i know there is a removable rubber cover on my differential fluid cover that can be easily moved to stick your finger in there and check the color of the fluid.
A damaged rear-end can cost $2k to fix and there are alot of 2005-prior Rams that have had those troubles. the retaining clips were beefened up right around '05, but that doesn't mean you still can't have trouble. This is not anything you can hear or feel when driving.
Tune-ups are due every 30kmi along with the front diff. Most truck owners neglect their trucks. Many guys say on the forums they are going on 80kmi on their original plugs or have never changed out their diff fluids which are due every 15-30kmi depending upon use.
Good Luck
Last edited by dirtydog; 03-22-2010 at 12:47 PM.
#5
03-22-2010, 03:00 PM
If i wasn't mechanically inclined at all, i would do as follows for any vehicle purchase that is outside a dealer lot.
1) Go check it out and look over at what you do know. Like paint, wheels, tires, interior...etc
2) take it for a test drive and make sure it's driving like it should and nothing funky is going on.
3) Get an idea for what the owner would take for it as long as it checks out okay at a shop.
4) have the owner drop the truck off at a shop of your choosing, not his. Then have the shop check over all the fluids and see if the normal maintenance had been kept up with or not. Having the shop change the rear diff fluid on Your dollar is not a bad idea. Figure $100 to assure your safety that nothing is wrong. Besides, when I buy a used bvhicle the first thing i do is go through and flush ALL of the fluids out anyways, so you'll need to flush the rear diff out regardless.
I'd leave all the other mainenance issue's alone until you actually buy it. i don't see how the seller can not approve of you replacing the diff fluid on your dime.
If the seller says no you can't, then go to the next vehicle. if he says i already had it done, then get proof. i know there is a removable rubber cover on my differential fluid cover that can be easily moved to stick your finger in there and check the color of the fluid.
A damaged rear-end can cost $2k to fix and there are alot of 2005-prior Rams that have had those troubles. the retaining clips were beefened up right around '05, but that doesn't mean you still can't have trouble. This is not anything you can hear or feel when driving.
Tune-ups are due every 30kmi along with the front diff. Most truck owners neglect their trucks. Many guys say on the forums they are going on 80kmi on their original plugs or have never changed out their diff fluids which are due every 15-30kmi depending upon use.
Good Luck
1) Go check it out and look over at what you do know. Like paint, wheels, tires, interior...etc
2) take it for a test drive and make sure it's driving like it should and nothing funky is going on.
3) Get an idea for what the owner would take for it as long as it checks out okay at a shop.
4) have the owner drop the truck off at a shop of your choosing, not his. Then have the shop check over all the fluids and see if the normal maintenance had been kept up with or not. Having the shop change the rear diff fluid on Your dollar is not a bad idea. Figure $100 to assure your safety that nothing is wrong. Besides, when I buy a used bvhicle the first thing i do is go through and flush ALL of the fluids out anyways, so you'll need to flush the rear diff out regardless.
I'd leave all the other mainenance issue's alone until you actually buy it. i don't see how the seller can not approve of you replacing the diff fluid on your dime.
If the seller says no you can't, then go to the next vehicle. if he says i already had it done, then get proof. i know there is a removable rubber cover on my differential fluid cover that can be easily moved to stick your finger in there and check the color of the fluid.
A damaged rear-end can cost $2k to fix and there are alot of 2005-prior Rams that have had those troubles. the retaining clips were beefened up right around '05, but that doesn't mean you still can't have trouble. This is not anything you can hear or feel when driving.
Tune-ups are due every 30kmi along with the front diff. Most truck owners neglect their trucks. Many guys say on the forums they are going on 80kmi on their original plugs or have never changed out their diff fluids which are due every 15-30kmi depending upon use.
Good Luck
