'96 B2500 5.2L Reputation?
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
'96 B2500 5.2L Reputation?
Hello all,
Iam thinking about buying the subject vehicle that has 108K miles on it. It is a conversion van. Sellersays the fuel gauges is little off (reads higher than actual)but nothing else is wrong. He'sasking $4000 and it's been on the market for about a monthnow. ??? Is there any specific symptoms/problemsthat I should look for when I check out this van? I just want to know if thisspecific model has any well knownproblem(s) or not. Also, is there anymajor differece between '96 and '97 5.2L in the fuel injection system or other part of engine setup? The reason I amasking this is because I noticedthatSuperchip makesone for '97+ but not for '96 year model. Any advice/inputhelpful on checking out this van would be much appreciated. Thank you gents.
Iam thinking about buying the subject vehicle that has 108K miles on it. It is a conversion van. Sellersays the fuel gauges is little off (reads higher than actual)but nothing else is wrong. He'sasking $4000 and it's been on the market for about a monthnow. ??? Is there any specific symptoms/problemsthat I should look for when I check out this van? I just want to know if thisspecific model has any well knownproblem(s) or not. Also, is there anymajor differece between '96 and '97 5.2L in the fuel injection system or other part of engine setup? The reason I amasking this is because I noticedthatSuperchip makesone for '97+ but not for '96 year model. Any advice/inputhelpful on checking out this van would be much appreciated. Thank you gents.
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
RE: '96 B2500 5.2L Reputation?
I have a 94 318/5.2 B-150 all window,I love it I lifted it, installed a complete front end kit with poly urethane bushings, front and rear sway bars. It gets 18 mpg and sometimes 20. I have tall tires that helped get alot better mpgs. I doubt there is much of a difference in the years. On thr gage thing for 4k have him get the fuel pump replaced cause thats where the sending unit is, and its mounted in the tank, not a cheap part to replace.
Record Breaker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 2
From: Nashville
RE: '96 B2500 5.2L Reputation?
If the van isn't a high-top conversion, then the price is a little high for it. Besides, the price is high for the mileage too.
I've owned a 2000 B1500 PrimeTime conversion with only 64K miles on it. It was purhcased for only $5400.
Starting in 1998, the Dodge Ram Van/Wagons got plenty of upgrades overall.
Having the fuel gauges reading a little higher isn't too bad unless that's a cover up for the dreaded problem that happens to some of the vans with the fuel tank gauge and sensor readings coming from the tank. That can be somewhat of a cost to dig into.
With fuel prices being what they are, I would talk the price down some. Offer $3200 for starters.
My B2500 only gets a mere 16mpg highway on a good day. But, it does have the 3.92 rear for the 3/4-ton van/wagon 12-passenger.
I've owned a 2000 B1500 PrimeTime conversion with only 64K miles on it. It was purhcased for only $5400.
Starting in 1998, the Dodge Ram Van/Wagons got plenty of upgrades overall.
Having the fuel gauges reading a little higher isn't too bad unless that's a cover up for the dreaded problem that happens to some of the vans with the fuel tank gauge and sensor readings coming from the tank. That can be somewhat of a cost to dig into.
With fuel prices being what they are, I would talk the price down some. Offer $3200 for starters.
My B2500 only gets a mere 16mpg highway on a good day. But, it does have the 3.92 rear for the 3/4-ton van/wagon 12-passenger.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
RE: '96 B2500 5.2L Reputation?
Good Day Gents,
Last Saturday I drove 360-mile round trip to check out the 96 B2500 hi-top conversion van... I drove my 250 cc bike so I didn't spend too much $$ for fuel - but spent too much time on the road. The van was almost exactlyas the seller described.The interior was cleaner than I expected. As for the repair history, seller said, the water pump was replaced last year due to massive leak - he said "made a big mess". The lower half of the engine was all discolored to like rusty color -by the coolantsplashing? Wonder if the engine got damaged by the water pump failure, like warped head or head gasket?When I test drove,it ran really good, zoomed up to 70~80 mphreally quickly for its weight. No leak, no smoke, no smell, nonoise, etc... Even the tail pipe inside was clean, carbon-free. The dash was too 80'sh, all analog,for my taste. I agree that his asking price is little too high and around $3000 is more reasonable.
[IMG]local://upfiles/86507/A7EB14B1948E4BEAA8711763967BD2DA.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/86507/CBEF63072BA149C2A40A70A0EFC7D040.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/86507/50E7609D142549959FC891EB23AAD05E.jpg[/IMG]
Last Saturday I drove 360-mile round trip to check out the 96 B2500 hi-top conversion van... I drove my 250 cc bike so I didn't spend too much $$ for fuel - but spent too much time on the road. The van was almost exactlyas the seller described.The interior was cleaner than I expected. As for the repair history, seller said, the water pump was replaced last year due to massive leak - he said "made a big mess". The lower half of the engine was all discolored to like rusty color -by the coolantsplashing? Wonder if the engine got damaged by the water pump failure, like warped head or head gasket?When I test drove,it ran really good, zoomed up to 70~80 mphreally quickly for its weight. No leak, no smoke, no smell, nonoise, etc... Even the tail pipe inside was clean, carbon-free. The dash was too 80'sh, all analog,for my taste. I agree that his asking price is little too high and around $3000 is more reasonable.
[IMG]local://upfiles/86507/A7EB14B1948E4BEAA8711763967BD2DA.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/86507/CBEF63072BA149C2A40A70A0EFC7D040.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/86507/50E7609D142549959FC891EB23AAD05E.jpg[/IMG]