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paulz
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# Posted: 11 May 2022 12:36am
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A neighbor's kid wants to buy a '99 Dodge pickup with a Cummins diesel, and wants me to look at it. I don't know squat about them. Anyone got/had one? Good trucks? How many miles do they last? Any weak points?
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Brettny
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# Posted: 11 May 2022 09:27am
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I had a 98.5. 24v with a automatic. Common issues is the lift pump goes and takes out the very very expensive injection pump. Nearly all cummins in dodge trucks that are automatic also are known for transmission issues. Mine was starting to show signs of this and I sold it fast. In short the trans are complete junk, trucks in general are complete junk but the engine can pull a house around town.
It was replaced by a 2002 yukon 2500 with a 6.0l gas engine. Way more comfortable, only 1mpg difference, no diesel problems and I didnt have to worry about the transmission. It was also a top of the line yukon.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 11 May 2022 09:52am
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Imo, buying a 'truck' in todays economy (and within future affordable fuel prospects) is not a good idea unless one makes money with the truck; ie, its part of the job.
Yeah, I know, he 'wants a truck'. Ive got two 20 something grandsons. I vowed to never be involved in helping someone get something I dont think is at least a good idea, much less a bad idea.
Reality check says what a guy thinks he wants and what he really wants aint necessarily the same thing.
I have btdt myself so I get it.
Good luck getting out of this, it isnt your responsibility.
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travellerw
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# Posted: 11 May 2022 10:25am
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Brettny's post pretty much sums up everything I know about them. The cummins was pretty much the only reason people bought them.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 11 May 2022 11:08am
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Thanks guys. Good info Brett. At this point I know nothing about it, auto or manual, miles.. She did ask me if she should take it to a mechanic, if it's an auto I will recommend taking to a tranny shop.
I can fix anything pre computer, FI, even rebuilt and automatic or two, but this thing would be beyond my capability, or desire.
It apparently belongs to a fellow she knows or works with, honestly would go a long way towards problems, repairs and maintenance it's had.
What about that CarFax or whatever online history deal, are those worthwhile?
I get the impression these are a kind of 'stud' truck for young guys?
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 11 May 2022 12:30pm
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Image Ride iffn it aint for work
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Brettny
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# Posted: 11 May 2022 02:38pm
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O yea they also have prety major front end issues. I replaced nearly all of the steering and track bar to try to get mine to drive streight, roughly $800 in parts in 2015 prices and it still wondered all over the road.
Unless it was oddly low miles and I questioned them I wouldnt bother with a carfax. The only worth while info it's going to tell you is if the cluster got changed (mileage went down oddly) or it was in an accident. Accidents really arnt going to lower the value on a 1999 vehicle.
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Bruces
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# Posted: 11 May 2022 04:34pm
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The engines are great for a pickup truck ,the Dodge parts around it not so much .The engine is very heavy putting too much stress on the rest of the truck ,front end issues ,brake issues (even replacing the brackets the brake calipers bolt to because the brackets are worn out ,yearly on the older models ) ,tranny issues ,but you can really mile them up ,they hold their value pretty good ,and they are still one of the better diesel pickup trucks .If he doesn’t “need†the diesel ,he shouldn’t buy one with all the added expenses of owning one .
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paulz
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# Posted: 11 May 2022 08:51pm
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Well the mom and son went to pick me up to go look at it, unfortunately they thought I was at my city house, near where the truck is, and I'm at the cabin. I did talk to the kid and got some info on the truck. It's a manual trans, has 198K miles, and has had the fuel system 'upgraded'. Seller is a friend of their neighbor, someone they feel they can trust. Told them I'd be back in the city in a day or two if they still want me to check it out.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 11 May 2022 09:16pm - Edited by: gcrank1
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If you are lucky someone else will show up with the money and it'll be gone 
If it isnt, and it is supposed to be a 'good truck/good deal' the question will be why aint it gone?
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Brettny
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# Posted: 12 May 2022 10:14am
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Quoting: paulz It's a manual trans, has 198K miles, and has had the fuel system 'upgraded
The only one I would consider ever buying would be just this one. A manual (prety rare) and one that's had the fuel system gone through. I'm also never going to buy one again because I dont need a pickup bed, landscape trailers work just fine.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 12 May 2022 10:29am
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Quoting: gcrank1 If you are lucky someone else will show up with the money and it'll be gone
It's not advertised, private sale. I'm itching to know if they got it, but otoh want to keep my nose out of it. I'll find out eventually one way or another. He's a great kid, real interest in mechanics, I'll help him out any way I can.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 12 May 2022 01:04pm
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Yer a saint, Paul 
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Cowracer
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# Posted: 12 May 2022 02:34pm
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Quoting: gcrank1 Imo, buying a 'truck' in todays economy (and within future affordable fuel prospects) is not a good idea unless one makes money with the truck; ie, its part of the job.
Respectfully disagree. I have 2 diesel trucks (an excursion and a 2500 ram) and I find there is really nothing a car can do that a truck cannot. There are lots of things a truck can do that a car cannot.
Now with that said, I don't use either as my daily driver as my commute is 70 miles one way. I simply don't want to grind my trucks into powder just going back and forth to work. But if I was forced to consolidate down to 1 vehicle, I'd keep the Ram and sell everything else.
Sure, you give up economy for versatility, but for my money, a $35000 truck is MUCH more valuable to me than a $35000 sedan.
Tim
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 12 May 2022 03:15pm
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We dont have anywhere close to a $35000 vehicle, and I cant see it happening.
I dont know if I should smile or cry 
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paulz
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# Posted: 12 May 2022 10:38pm
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Well they made a deal. It has to pass a smog test, seller's responsibility. I'll get a photo when I see it. It's a 4x4.
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PatrickH
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# Posted: 13 May 2022 09:35pm
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The biggest issue with the old 12 valves was the Killer dowel pin issue, you can google it. Its best to do the repair before it comes out,very common. Also the 5 speed had an issue with nut backing off the tail shaft and you would lose 5th gear,you can repair this in the vehicle.Other than that its an old truck, all mechanical things break i dont care who built it.
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paulz
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# Posted: 14 May 2022 09:11am
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This one is an early 24v. I did read that some of the early blocks, stamped with a 53, are prone to cracking. Don't know if this is one of them.
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happilyretired
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# Posted: 14 May 2022 02:25pm
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Do NOT get involved. If they buy the truck and something goes wrong, you'll be the first person they blame. If nothing goes wrong then all you've done is dodged a bullet.
You can't win. A simple: "Sorry, I don't know enough about them to know if something is wrong" should be a good enough answer.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 18 May 2022 10:15pm
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The happy new owner.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 19 May 2022 08:01am
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Paulz, so he did it anyway. Well, tell him to save money, anything diesel is ultra expensive when it comes to repairs.
I own a RAM diesel, bought new in 2010 and its been perfect for dragging my trailer over 3 mt passes. I got the manual transmission because of MOPAR junk autos, and I lost the clutch at 50K, so went with a stouter aftermarket unit. Otherwise, its been flawless and I over maintain it. Its 12 years old and only 50K on it now. I mainly just use it for cabin runs.
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paulz
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# Posted: 19 May 2022 08:37am
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I still haven't seen it, mom sent me the photo. I'm so used to extended cabs it looks odd to me now, used to be the other way around. At least it looks good for 20+ years old.
I too have a Ram, my dump truck, but it's a V10 gas with automatic. Just sits, gets used about 3 times a year. To drive it you start it up, set the parking brake, put it in drive, go have a cup of coffee, come back and it's ready to go. But it's been a huge part of my getting this place together.
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