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Whats up guys my name is Jan, and I'm a skier from Oregon.
I had a 94 awd Astro for the last few years but it croaked last season. After a lot of craigslisting and researching here, yesterday I came up on my dream truck:
A 1999 RAM 1500 4x4 SLT Laramie 5.9L 46RE (wish it was standard) buut i got it for 2700 (!) and the guy i got it from only had it for a year, he got it at an estate sale from an elderly dude.
Its got a new alternator (still has the label on it) and has had work done on the transmission (pan is clean) and drivers side valve cover (its clean too).
In the craigslist ad he said he did the plugs and wires, transmission fluid and filter, oil change, coolant flush, 185 degree thermostat.
When my friend and I got there the truck looked awesome, front bumper damage just missed the frame and all the moving parts underneath the truck were dry. Not a spot of rust to be seen. I was brought up in Minnesota so that is pretty crazy to me. The radiator overflow reservoir was about an eighth full of green alien blood. The smaller radiator in front of the radiator (which I'm assuming is the transmission cooler) was bent but not cracked, and it was not touching the radiator behind it. The transmission fluid looked good. The oil was low but it was on the dipstick so i figured the plenum is bad and went with my gut.
The test drive went well, there was plenty of power and it shifted well. We got into a grassy field and put it into 4H, my friend felt it pulling from the backseat. So amazing!
We tried putting it into 4LO and paused in N and it made the unhappy noise, but the owner didnt freak out and I looked it up and it turned out he had never used 4LO.
It had a light on so I took it to orileys. Got evap sensor (i forget the code) and output speed sensor (P0720) codes. It drove fine and after some digging it turned out those sensors fail and I banked on that.
The tank was empty so I filled it, only took 23 gallons? I assumed these big bad rigs would carry something more like 30-35 gallons? I bought a quart of synthetic and put it in and drove it 300 miles from Salem through Mt Hood to Bend and it did great. Engine temp was at 185 the whole way and it was 95 and sunny outside. Oil pressure was a little high but within the notches on the gauge. It only used half a tank, which I was really excited about. The cruise control worked but it was slowing down, so I'm assuming it was the output speed sensor fault. The brakes felt squishy but not dangerous. The only other thing is that at mid throttle I would hear a noise like a toilet after you flush it and its filling back up with water. Any insight into what that could be would be greatly appreciated.
Today I'm gonna buy insurance and do an oil change, and later on I'm gonna do the output speed sensor, plenum and brakes.
So yeah im a proud first time Ram owner and im stoked!!
Oh and its black.
Last edited by yawnners; Jul 26, 2021 at 11:26 PM.
Reason: clarification
Welcome to the forum, Jan! Thanks for joining us. Congratulations on your new ride. Feel free to ask questions, knowledge is everywhere around these parts!
Get OEM sensors as after market annoys the computer. I'd swap a 195 thermostat into it as that is what the computer looks for. Your fuel mileage will go up a bit. Right now, it's in open loop mode trying to warm the engine up. Since you're a skier, invest in some good all terrain tires with a tread pattern that bites. Maybe go with a mud tread so it can go in the snow when you are sliding down hill. (Much easier than sliding uphill)
My new Ram!
