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High Mileage 98 RAM Question
I am considering the purchase of a "cherry" '98 Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4. It is immaculate, but with 120,000 commuting miles, which is my concern. The truck comes with a C.A.R.S. 3 year, unlimited miles, Value Plus warranty, which covers about anything. Can someone tell me their experience with the Ram trucks with this high of mileage??? I don't necessarily want to be broken down every other week, even with a warranty.
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The "RE" series automatic transmissions are actually extremely durable. Depending on the engine, the vehicle you're looking at will either have a 45RE or a 46RE. These transmissions did have a marginal fluid-flow problem to the overdrive units in the '89-97 years. This was excerbated by cold weather and was more prone to be a problem on the 360 engines with 4x4, usually from heavy snowplow operation or trailer towing in hilly country.
All Dodge truck automatics received a major upgrade in 1998, which included increased pump volume and commensurate fluid flow, as well as a change in the vendor-supplier of the shift solenoid packs. These were troublesome, too.
The $2500 figure for a rebuild is on the high side. Even with clutch pack replacement -- which is not always needed on this transmission series -- the average price in the Rochester, New York area is between $1200-$1600. I've yet to hear of one go over $1800. The good news is that the versions prior to '98 are easily upgraded to post-'97 specs. Still, most of the Dodge automatics have not needed transmission repairs, and after '97 the ATF "black death" problem has been seldom seen. Change fluid and filters regularly and you'll likely never have a problem.
I don't know what area of the country you're in, but around here Dodge truck bodies hold up real well. I would say they are the least prone to rust, although the F150 series are just about as good in this respect.
Track bars on the '94-'01 RAMs seem to be short lived. I think this is around $100 repair.
In all the (now) older RAM series were solid trucks, and component quality seems to have improved through the years.
Best regards,
Dusty
Was that an off-the-shelf (in a box) rebuild? Those are often referred to as "remanufactured" and done by rebuilding companies that sell to general garages. I've never inquired on a Dodge factory rebuild, but I know those are available, too.
Yeah, around here 45 & 46REs are typically rebuilt for $1000 less. Now, if you're replacing input shafts, full clutch packs, torque converters, etc., the price can go up, of course!
Regards,
Dusty
Tom