sorry if this question seems stupid. but im currently lookind to get a 99-02 2500 or 3500 extended cab.what should i be looking for in problem areas? i noticed alot the wheel well openings and door bottoms seem to have rust/rott issues. im also looking to stay away from ones already programmed etc cause i dont want a truck thats been hammered on. what do you think i should be concerned with looking for? thanks in advance tim

 

Chevy, Dodge or Ford?

OOPS! sorry, I just noticed this is a Dodge forum, My opinion, the Cummins engine will run strong forever. The rest of the Truck. However will fall to pieces around it.

 

The single most common problem with these trucks is the fuel pressure issues. Not a hard thing to fix as long as it's caught in time. You need to hook a test guage up someplace that you can see it while your driving to read fuel pressure. If it ever drops below 5psi you could have problems.

Most of the other stuff pretty much falls under maintenance. Trac Bar problems and such.

Is it an Auto or Manual tranny.

I wuldn't even be worried about a trucks with gadgets already on it. Not all of us that have gadgets abuse them. I got enough stuff on my truck to melt the pistons within seconds bt it has never been over 1200 degrees in the life of the truck. Some stock trucks have been pushed well beyond that. Gadgets also usually mean that somebody has done some homework on the truck. This means they have probably fixed some of the shortfalls already. Many of these folks drivin stock trucks don't know about the problems that need to be fixed to control the damage and so they never get fixed.

Not that I would seek out an already bombed truck, but I would'nt pass one up just because of it either. I would look more at the operater then the truck to make that decision.

 

look for the 53 block..............known as the weakest block of them all

 

Personal experience talkin here.