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Dodge Ram: Problems & Solutions
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The ratios of the 47/48RE pretty much match gears 3-4-5-6 of the manual, so if you really have no need for the 2 lower gears of the handhaker, the automatic will be just fine.
kcram
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No, Dodge truck automatics are not bad.
See my post #644 in this thread.
Best regards,
Dusty
Dusty I do have a question for you.....
Our 99 Ram 3500 dually is a handful to drive. We thought at first it was the missing steering dampner, so we replaced that (we bought the truck used), it got a little better, but is still aweful loose. The steering gear box has been replaced once already on this truck (according to the Dodge dealer's records) and we found it leaking a few weeks ago. Its since stopped leaking. We have an extended warranty on the truck, thinking about taking it in and having the gear box looked at. That sound like it might be the problem? The truck only has 13k on it. Thanks for any info.
My '01 doesn't track all that great, but I wouldn't say it's a handfull. I noticed a big difference when the bearings were going bad (around 80k miles) but tires seem to really make a difference. The factory Michelins felt good but not very sticky in the mud/snow. I went to Toyo A/T's and and they wandered around a lot too. I'm back to Michelin A/T's and they're a nice compromise between the OEM Michelins and a cheaper A/T.
It doesn't take me long to feel comfortable in the '01, but jumping into that out of my '03 Ram dually will scare you for a few minutes. The '03 Rams have better steering than some cars I've driven.
I'm not specifically familar with the heavy RAMs, but I don't ever remember someone having a similar comment like yours, so I'm guessing it's not an inherent trait.
As to the leaking gear box and the fact you've replaced it already, I would bet that it's made by Saginaw (GM). Just a guess, but I'd bet that the lower sector shaft bearings wore and the seal passed fluid. Big Chevies and GMCs will more than occasionally have the same problem.
You could have a stack-up of front suspension wear tolerances that are contributing to this condition, or really out of alignment, but I would think you'd have other signs of front end problems, like signs of tire wear. The steering column shaft coupler could be worn, or the gear box itself may be loose on the frame.
Sorry, I don't think I'm being much help to you on this one.
Let us know what you find, if anything.
Bests,
Dusty
Best we can tell it was kept for hauling a truck camper, we can see where the wiring and the tiedowns were at one time.
I don't believe for a second it was wrecked, no signs of it that anyone has found so far. Other than that, I think the only reason it changed owners so much is the steering and fuel economy. Also, we bought it in Anchorage and vehicles tend to have very low mileage down there. The 97 Explorer that I just traded in only had 41k on it when I bought it in July 2003.
The guy at the dodge dealer where we asked about its service history said that some of those 3500 have strange steering. The dodge dealer closer to home agrees.
The fun part is we bought it at a Ford dealer, so have a Ford backed ESC, we have to take it to a Ford dealer, not a Dodge dealer. Who knows, they might have a different perspective on it and be able to correct it. That is if we would ever get off our lazy (ha, more like busy) butts and take it in.
Down there?! You mean you're north of Anchorage?
With the temperatures we've had in Western New York these past few days, I can't imagine anyone being north of Anchorage on a night like tonight.
Hope the fireplace is blazing up there!
Best regards,
Dusty
Bests,
Dusty
I currently own a 02 Ram 1500 QC with the 275/70/17 GY/ATS tire option.
Other vehicles include an 88 and a 04 Accord.
Measure your tire pressure when your tires are cold. Drive to get them up to operating temperature, 25 miles or so, give or take.
Measure you tire pressure again after they're up to operating temperature.
If the pressure difference is less than 3 psi you have too much air in your tires "not enough sidewall deflection". The tires aren't generating enough heat. The tires will wear out in the middle.
If the pressure difference is more than 6 psi you don't have enough air in you tires "too much sidewall deflection". The tires are generating too much heat.
If the pressure difference is between 3 and 6 psi you're in good shape.
On the Ram I run 42 psi in the front tires and 36 psi in the back tires and rotate every 10k and my tires are wearing perfectly as measured by my tread depth gauge.
On the Accords I run 33 all the way around and also have perfect tread wear.
Please keep in mind that all of these vehicles have good wheel alignments, if you don't you'll never nail down the correct tire pressures.
Any and all feedback is welcome.
Let me know how this works out for you.
Sure hope it holds up for the life of the truck.
Jack
The formula I mentioned in post #658 was actually worked out when we were racing 1/4 mile and trying to get the most rubber on the ground without using slicks. The results were derived from trail and error. Since we were racing on the same tires that we drove to the track on we noticed a big difference in the pressures that we left home with and arrived at the track with. We kept working with the pressures until we came up with that "formula" which put a perfect footprint of tire on the road with no high or low spots with the footprint after the car had been driven to operating temps. I have been using this for a little over 21 years now and the results have proven themselves on every set of tires that I ever had on any of my vehicles.
As for the tonneau cover, I have the "Tuff Tonno 3" and it is the nicest, slickest Tonneau cover I have ever seen or used....
If someone just blindly fills E-rated tires to their max of 80 psi, they will likely be kissing those tires goodbye much sooner than necessary because they will likely be overinflated for the loading and will wear out in the middle of the tread (rather than the edges).
kcram
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Upon investigation it appears that the Tire Certification Label -- and Dodge specifically, at least -- is not intended to represent the tires that are installed at the factory.
The Tire Certification Label lists the MINIMUM rim size and tire required for the vehicle as equipped from the factory, as well as the cold tire air pressures for the MINIMUM tire requirements.
It is not intended to indicate that the tires installed at the factory match the Tire Certification Label.
By the way, I did find this information in my 2003 Dakota service manual (page 22-6).
Regards,
Dusty
Is this also true for some of the radial LTs? I know Michelin makes a creature like that and I've wondered if it was really a true LT. Usually "LT" are diagonal bias and "radial," of course are radial ply.
Thanks,
Dusty
I don't think that is quite right. The placard DOES list the tire size as originally installed on the vehicle and the appropriate inflation pressure for that size.
If there is an inaccuracy on the placard, that is grounds for a recall. There's been a recent case where that happened on a certain brand that has had some tire problems.
BTW, I've looked up all the Dodge 3500 duallies for the last 10 years and none of them had inflation pressure as 60 / 35 or 65 /40 or anything in between listed on the placard. The minimum rear inflation was listed as 50 psi and that was for a vehicle with LT235/85R16's. Duallies with LT215/85R16's had a minimum of 60 psi. I can understand the ride issue with an empty bed, but the pressure has to be increased BEFORE some load is put in. I'm sure that thsi isn't always the case. It is safer to have overinflated inflated tires, rather than overloaded ones.
Besides, there is more to choosing an inflation pressure than just load. At the very least, it is good engineering practice to have some reserve. I have been advocating 10% minimum and would prefer 15%.
Also LT metric tires can come in bias, bias belted and radial. The rules apply regardless of the type.
Hope this helps.
Regarding the tire certification label, I think what is adding to the confusion is the ambiguiousness of the way the label reads.
Actually, the label in question is technically known as the Vehicle Safety Certification Label. The label is intended to list the minimum tire size and cold inflation pressures based on the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). Thus, it is only stating the minimum tire size and pressure for the GAWR that has been specified.
The manufacture may install a larger size (higher load capacity) tire, and if they're not changing the GAWR the minimum size tire is what is listed on the label. If you look at any Dodge factory service manual this is explained in the Introduction section.
Best regards,
Dusty
I agree for the most part, capri, and I do air up if I know I'm going to be carrying something heavy. Ironically, I'm running Michelin LTX M/S Commercial 215s, and after almost 30K miles in 21 months, the 4 rear tires look brand new at 35-40psi all this time - even the sipes are still there. Could easily go another 50K.
Here's the tire chart I like to use:
http://www.trucktires.com/zip/Light_Truck_Tables.ZIP
That's three PDFs zipped together - the ones named "page 81" and "page 82" cover most of the LT-metric tires used on current pickups, including Dodge's new LT235/80R17E. These are posted by Bridgestone, and cross-ref the axle load to the psi of the tire that will support that load. With me and a full load of fuel and fluids, my 3500 comes in around 7000 pounds, with about a 4200/2800 axle split. That means the rear tires are supporting just 700 pounds each. At 35 psi, the tire is safely capable of 1390 - almost double. 50 psi is 1765 pounds per tire, which would have the rear of the truck bouncing all over the interstate when empty.
kcram
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Oddly, this conversation came up earlier in the week involving a 2000 GMC Sierra.
Regards,
Dusty
Bests,
Dusty
kcram
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Post # 658 by Fangster has me concerned. The idea of using pressure buildup as an indicator is a good one. However, the conditions used to generate the pressure buildup ought to be worst case, if we are discussing setting up a road vehicle. Things such as vehicle speed, ambient temperature, vehicle load, etc. are all going to affect the answer you get. I use this pressure buildup as an indicator that there is something wrong, rather than an indicator of what is right. Plus I know that different tire manufacturers have different pressure buildups, because the operating temperatures are slightly different. So it's hard to be precise.
The load tables are but one tool in trying to determine the proper air pressure. The tables highlighted are straight out of The Tire and Rim Association Yearbook, but unfortunately, there are some pages missing - ones that deal with more subtle issues. For example, non speed rated LT tires are supposed to be inflated to 10 psi more if the operating speed is 66 to 75 mph. I assume that all of Bridgestone's LT metrics are speed rated, since they didn't note this.
Anyway, I prefer that folks follow the placard settings, and deviate from them very cautiously, recognizing there is a lot of information needed to decide the proper inflation pressure, and there is a lot at stake - specifically Safety. I would hate it if someone were to be hurt (or worse) if a tire failed because of something they did without having the full info available.
Hope this helps.
As an aside I've read comments about the "ugly" interiors on the RAMs. Such things are a matter of subjective taste of course, but golly, they look pretty good to me. I recently had the opportunity to drive an '04 F150. Although I thought the interior was nicely done, I also thought it was just a little odd looking. To me the RAM seems to have understated class, smooth flowing transitions and no glitzy eye-disturbing forms.
Regards,
Dusty
I plan on getting a 2005 Ram 3500, and although the LT235/80R17E will use even less psi for the weight normally carried, I'll prbably air them up a little for two reasons:
- the Goodyear Wrangler GS/A is not a commercial-duty tire and doesn't have the reinforced construction to handle lower psi consistently
- I plan on using Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks that can tailor the ride
Both the Bridges and the Miches have seen their share of impact that would have shredded a lesser model - tire carcasses on the interstate at 65mph, glass bottles in the street, curb abrasions where circumtances forced me to scrub the outside right tire at a corner - not even a cut, let alone a puncture.
kcram
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If you do, I'm curious about how the ride and handling was perceived after the switch.
Thanks in advance,
Dusty
kcram
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At 71k miles when hill climbing on highway engine would knock violently, lose power and check engine light would flash. Easing up on gas and engine operation would return to normal.
Dealer diagnosised bad engine seal that was allowing motor oil to enter in to fuel injection system. $800 later all was okay except my wallet.
The truck has stalled on me many times usually idling in gear. After long trips if I park it on anyless than level ground tranny won't engage on the first AM attempt and then clunks hard into gear.
When the battery died after jump starting it engine refuses to idle without giving the motor lots of gas pedal making for some interesting parking and traffic maneuvers!!
I have owned 8 others vehicles, putting 100k to 185k miles on each and never had the number of problems this vehicle has had. All of them maintained to the book.
So I am shopping for a new full size truck. Imagine my surprise to discover ONLY Dodge's full size has seatbelts/seating for 6. That's right 3/4 ton Toyota, GM, Ford, Nissan only seat 5. Now how stupid is it to drive a vehiicle of this size and not have any more passenger capacity than a Civic!!!?
Wish me better luck with my new Dodge. They claim quality is up but if Mercedes quality slide is any indication I am doubtful
Two questions. Does this truck have the 360 motor?
Have you ever changed the transmission filter and fluid?
Best regards,
Dusty
Dodge Hemi rated third after two BMW motors..............
that's the old list. here is this year's list...and yes the hemi is again one of the 10 best...as is the new cummins 600.
http://waw.wardsauto.com/ar/auto_decade_best_2/index.htm
How'd I get out-of-date?
Or, maybe I am out-of-date. At least my kids think so. Most of my favorite actors and actresses are dead, and on my top ten list of favorite movies there's only two that are in color.
How's the weather up in Idaho? How's your SuperCrew running?
Dusty
IDAHO...where did that come from? have only been there on vacation...
south dakota is currently home and the king ranch is running just fine thank you...
Glad to hear everything is fine. Hope your holidays were restful.
Regards,
Dusty
If anybody in here wants to put things in perspective, look at the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado/GMC bulletins. Much worse, both in number and in severity. Twenty-two for automatic transmission alone (to RAMs two PCM flashes), many very serious.
Ford F-150 is better numerically, but I wouldn't want my 4x4 transfer case to engage all by itself at 60 MPH.
My Ram 3500 is a six-speed manual with a bench seat in the front and I could fit six. It wouldn't be extremely comfortable for the center front passenger because of the shifter/console, but could work in a pinch.