Just sold my Jeep Wrangler last Saturday, and bought a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT. It has about 78K miles on it and evidently from the previous owner...no problems. New Dodge owner, but been a big fan of Dodge for years...first pickup too, I'm pretty excited.

Not sure what to write, but I wanna introduce myself. Hopefully I'll feel at home here in a little bit.

Going to want to customize my Ram soon...probably with a lift first ...hopefully I'll get some good advice from everyone here while I learn the forum etiquite a little.

Anything I should check over on my truck that may be potentially a problem down the road?

 

You'll want to check your ball joints first
listen for spark knock on hard accl.
Look at your gas cap, The bottom should be white and clean.... If it looks like it's Discoloring
the spring inside is rusting and it can cause your SES light to come on!!! replace it!!!!
post the VIN number & I can tell you if you need to get some recalls done
RC-973-01 SAFETY RECALL NO. 973 - SECONDARY HOOD LATCH
RC-872-00 SAFETY RECALL #872 -- TRAILER HITCH REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS
RC-831-99 CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS RECALL #831 -- REPROGRAM POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE
RC-798-98 SAFETY RECALL #798 -- PASSENGER CAB AND RADIATOR CORE SUPPORT MOUNTING BOLTS
RC-778-98 SAFETY RECALL #778 -- FRONT BRAKE ROTORS
That is a full listing of 98 BR recalls

 

Welcome to the site!! I hope to see you often here!! Sounds like you picked yourself up a NICE truck!! What color is it? We are a picture loving bunch, post some pics of it when you can.

~Amanda

 

Welcome to DF! There is a pretty big truck population on here for you, so you should enjoy it.

 

Welcome to DF, enjoy your Truck and the Site.

 

Thanks for the warm welcome all...I'm loving my Ram...By the way...it's maroon...not my personal favorite, I would have preferred red or black myself...but I can survive with it. I do have a few pictures, I just have to find a place that will host them...

JC thanks for the info on the recalls. My VIN # is 1B7HC13Y3WJ232564

I got some weekend projects to do to it this weekend, and I just serviced the AC today...but so far I'm loving it!!

 

Standard Equipment

Code Description Code Description Code Description
APAS MONOTONE PAINT BAUS ALTERNATOR - 117 AMP BCES BATTERY - 600 AMP MAINTENANCE FREE
BGJS BRAKES - PWR DISC/DRUM, RR ANTI-LOCK BKAS BRAKES - 11X2 REAR DRUM CGDS SHOULDER BELTS - FRONT HEIGHT ADJUST
CGWS AIR BAGS - FRONT, NEXT GENERATION** CGZS AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH - PASSENGER CSPS ASSIST HANDLE - PASSENGER
DGTS TRANSMISSION - 4-SPD. AUTOMATIC,46RE EAAC ALL ENGINES EAGC ALL GAS ENGINE
GACS WINDOWS - TINTED GLASS GBBS WINDSHIELD GLASS - TINTED GCBS GLASS - FRONT DOOR TINTED
GVBC ALL VEHICLES W/POWER MIRRORS HGBS INSULATION - DASH LINER JCBS SPEEDOMETER - 120 MPH PRIMARY
JHAS WINDSHIELD WIPERS - VAR INTERMITTENT JJAS LIGHTER - CIGAR JJBS HORNS - ELECTRIC, DUAL NOTE
JJJS POWER OUTLET - AUXILIARY 12V LMAS HEADLAMPS - HALOGEN LPES LAMP - CARGO
MBFS BUMPER - REAR, BRIGHT W/STEP PADS MCTS BUMPER - FRONT, BRIGHT MFDS GRILLE - BRIGHT
MHAS WINDSHIELD MOLDINGS - BLACK MWDS TAILGATE- REMOVABLE, CALIPER LATCHES MXBS AIR DAM - FRONT
NFWS FUEL TANK - 26 GALLON POLYETHYLENE QRCS METALLIC RED CLEAR COAT RAAC ALL RADIO EQUIPPED VEHICLES
SBAS STEERING - VARIABLE ASSIST POWER SFBS SHOCK ABSORBERS - FRONT HEAVY DUTY SGBS SHOCK ABSORBERS - REAR HEAVY DUTY
SHAS STABILIZER BAR - FRONT TBBS SPARE TIRE - FULL SIZE/WINCH CARRIER XBSS PICKUP BOX
XCMS SUPPLIER - SWEPTLINE BOX - PEMSA YAAS BUILD TO U S MARKET SPECIFICATIONS Z1BS GVW RATING - 6400#
1AAS U.S. DEALER RETAIL 151S ZONE 51-CHICAGO 4KXS 4X2 TRACKING
614S ILLINOIS STATE CODE 914S ILLINOIS STATE CODE


Optional Equipment

Code Description Code Description Code Description
*R1 SEAT - PREMIUM CLOTH 40/20/40 BENCH -AZ AGATE ADAP LIGHT GROUP
AJKP CONVENIENCE GROUP AJPP POWER CONVENIENCE GROUP ASPP SLT DECOR GROUP
AWK TRAVEL CONVENIENCE GROUP A05P 5.2L ENGINE(ELF)/4SP AUTO TRANS(DGT) CBEP SEAT - 40/20/40 SPLIT BENCH
CHEP HEADLINER - DELUXE CKEP FLOOR COVERING - CARPET CLAP FLOOR MATS - FRONT
CSRP ASSIST HANDLES - PASSENGER CUNP CONSOLE - OVERHEAD W/TEMP COMPASS DGB TRANSMISSION - ALL 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC
DHAP TORQUE CONVERTER - LOCK-UP DMDP AXLE RATIO - 3.55 DRBP AXLE - REAR, CORPORATE 9.25 LD
DSA AXLE - ANTI-SPIN DIFFERENTIAL ELF ENGINE - MAGNUM 5.2L SMPI V8 GFD WINDOW - REAR, SLIDING
GNCP SUN VISORS - ILLUM VANITY MIRRORS GNKP MIRROR - REAR VIEW, AUTO DIM GTSP MIRRORS - POWER HEATED, FOLD-AWAY
GXM KEYLESS ENTRY - REMOTE HAAP AIR CONDITIONING HGAP INSULATION - HOOD
JAYP INSTRUMENT CLUSTER W/TACH JPAP WINDOWS - POWER JPBP LOCKS - POWER
KTAP RADIANT SILVER - DECAL - DODGE ON TAI K1XP BLACK - MOLDING - BODYSIDE PROTECTIVE, K17P MOLDING - BODYSIDE
LAAP LAMP - IGNITION TIME DELAY LBAP LAMP - MAP/COURTESY LBCP LAMP - GLOVE BOX
LDAP LAMP - UNDERHOOD LNJ FOG LAMPS MDAP BRACKET - FRONT LICENSE PLATE
MPBP APPLIQUE - TAILGATE, BLACK MXCP SIGHT SHIELDS - FRONT BUMPER NAA EMISSIONS - FEDERAL
NBKP EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM NHMP SPEED CONTROL PRCA METALLIC RED CLEAR COAT
RAZ RADIO - AM/FM CASSETTE, COMPACT DISC RCEP SPEAKER SYSTEM - 6 INFINITY RDDP ANTENNA - FIXED
SCVP STEERING WHEEL - LEATHER WRAPPED SUAP STEERING COLUMN - TILT TBMP TIRE CARRIER - WINCH
TYV TIRES - P245/75R16 OWL ALL SEASON TZHP MICHELIN BRAND TIRES WLBP WHEEL - SPARE, STEEL
WNDP WHEELS - 16 X 7.0 CAST ALUMINUM YG7A 2 ADDITIONAL GALLONS OF GAS ZAGP SPRING - LEFT FRONT
ZASP SPRING - LEFT REAR ZNFP SPRING - RIGHT FRONT ZNSP SPRING - RIGHT REAR
0LQA FAM: BE TRACKING: 70731T10 0OAA FAM: BE TRACKING: 71010T06 0QWA FAM: BE TRACKING: 71217T17
2TGA CUSTOMER PREFERRED PACKAGE 2TG 24G CUSTOMER PREFERRED PACKAGE 24G 3VTA CUSTOMER PREFERRED DISCOUNT
5A6P WATERBASE PAINT 6F9 PAINT ORDER CODE

5.2 Magnum..... NICE!!!!!
the only outstanding recall is for the secondary latch on your hood ..... No big deal
service history at the dealer is NONE after the new car prep so no problems under warranty

 

Wow...thats great JC...how did you get all that info...

You state that no service history from the dealer after prep...so I guess thats a good thing. I'm nervous about the transmission...I have heard a lot of rumors that around 75k they give out...I'm right at 78K and as a new owner...hoping that does not happen to me. Do you know if there is anything that I can check for tranny wise other than fluid...which is fine?

Also the 5.2 Magnum...how does that compare to the 5.9 I passed up? I passed on a 97 Ram woth 92K miles with a 5.9

sorry...like I said I'm a new Ram owner...just trying to learn as much about it as I can...

 

I Just guessed!!!!
Just kidding....I have access to the DamlierChrysler database
The 5.2 and the 5.9 are both good engines
The drag racers I know like the quicker reving 5.2L and can get more dyno Hp than the 5.9's (both with mods)
the people i know that TOW love there 5.9's for the torque
as far as trans problems... the ATF4 in your truck is 100,000 mile fluid your going to have problems..... or your not!!!
changing fluid doesn't seem to make any Difference, the 46RE IS a good trans!!!!

My info states your truck is Metallic red..... you said it's maroon
APAS paint code.... can you post a picture ???

Body Style: BE1L33 Build Date: May 8, 1998 Hour: 16
Book: R Carline: T
Color 1: PRC - Metallic Red Clear Coat
Color 2: QRC - Metallic Red Clear Coat
Engine: ELF - Engine - Magnum 5.2L SMPI V8
Transmission: DGT - Transmission - 4-Spd. Automatic,46RE
Sale Type: L - BROKER Last Odometer: 0 Miles on May 12, 1998

 

I called it maroon, but I guess it is kinda metallic red... thanks for the history JC