1999 Dodge 1500

[agesilaus]

My son is looking at a 99 Ram 1500 p/u. The vehicle looks very clean, has 4 good tires and someone kept up on the maintenance. But it does has some minor problems:
1) Gas gauge doesn't work
2) A/c works sometimes, owner thinks it may be the battery
3) Heater hose leak
4) mystery ticking in the left side engine compartment about 50 mph

The paint is in excellent condition especially since it's a burgundy color, belt look look new.

They are asking $1200 what do you Ram people think?

[dodge_guy]

I also had a 97 Dodge Ram Conv. van with the 5.9L and 3.90 rear end. best vehicle I have had. Always ran great. the only thing I did was replace the intake plenum gasket (oil usage) and replaced the radiator (preventative maint.) I wish I still had it, but it wouldn't have been able to pull our current trailer.

[LanceRKeys]

I had a 1999 dodge 2500 360, 5 speed. It was a great truck, if it had a crew cab where I could haul the kids, I would still have it. I bought it for $3500 drove it for five years and sold it for $3500. All I ever had to do to it were tires, clutch and a water pump. The truck was in a wreck before I had it, but it was fixed correctly, so that never concerned me. The fifth wheel I pulled with it was a little too big for the truck, but I could put it in fourth gear and hold the gas to the floor and it would never even get warm, it would just keep pulling down the road till time to stop. At some point everyone should have to drive a cheap vehicle, makes you appreciate the nice ones down the road.

[Jarlaxle]

Intermittent A/C might be a low charge, might be a stuck blend door. Easy fix: if it always blows cold with a cold engine, it's the blend door. Cheap fix: install a shutoff valve in the heater hose.

[996Pilot]

My '94 Dodge RAM 2500HD with the 5.9 gas engine is still running (in Mexico) on the original engine (just a little less than 300,000 miles) and once rebuilt tranny. Upholstery is worn out, dash cracked, paint is good (Earl Scheib job) A/C works (needed some serious service back in 2004), all 4x4 drive train stuff works fine.

[blt2ski]

So are we saying I should trade in my 2000 GM C2500 with 125K miles, I've owned since new.............

As long as it does not need an engine etc.....probably a good first truck for your son. My sons were in to yota cars at that age. They each still own one that became their toy to play with on weekends. Look pretty good actually. They ea have now trucks for work less than 5 years old.

If any of us were into knuckle bashing, who did not have a first rig that did not need some wrenching?!?!?

Marty

[theoldwizard1]

rjstractor wrote:
The AC has nothing to do with the battery, other than it needs 12V power to work. More likely problem is a bad electrical connection, switch or the AC clutch itself. The "leaking heater hose" (easy fix) could actually be a leaking heater core (not an easy fix).

Those 2 would concern me A LOT !

[ScottG]

TurnThePage wrote:

theoldwizard1 wrote:
All FCA vehicle do not hold up well against the test of time. Usually electrical issues that are difficult/expensive to fix.

I would pass.

This BS gets old.

Yeah, that's absolute total garbage.

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

If the owner has a clean title and appears trustworthy I would not think twice about it. Sure there is a risk buying used, and buying used for $1,200 increases the risk, but seriously, that is a very low price for a decent running vehicle. I have purchased a few low cost cars over the years when I was a young guy and also helping the kids with their first cars (their money, I helped pick the car). Every one was well worth the money when you considered cost of ownership. Would advise your son to have a maintenance / replacement budget which is appropriate for any vehicle whether $1,200 or $50,000.

Good luck,
Stu

[PDX_Zs]

That was actually the Daimler years...

Anyway, FWIW, I have a '97 2500 4x that is a work truck. Get abused mercilessly. Always starts, always goes, and never fails to make it to home depot and back.

As has been stated. The 360s are pretty bomber, and expensive repairs are rare.

[dodge_guy]

Sounds like a good deal. Its very hard to find a running driving truck in decent shape for even $3k.

The gas gauge is more than likely the sending unit in the tank. If you replace it your better off doing the entire fuel pump assembly with the sending unit.

The AC could be anything but the battery.

Heater hose leak? maybe. My guess would be either the bypass hose or T-stat gasket, a water pump is also a possibility.

Ticking noise could be a leaky exhaust manifold. they tick when cold and goes away when warm. If its in the engine it will be a bit harder to diagnose.

[burningman]

I drive a ‘99 Dodge Ram (although mine is a Cummins diesel).
It isn’t falling apart, it’s extremely nice.
At that price, like the others said, why not.
Picking it apart for having some issues and claiming it’s because it’s a Chrysler is ridiculous.
It’s a $1200 truck, that’s to be expected.
Sounds like a deal to me.

2nd-Gen Dodges like that have a common glitch with the dashboard top getting brittle and cracking apart. Replacements are now available.
If the driver’s seat bottom upholstery is torn, the trick on those trucks is to swap on a passenger side seat bottom from a parts truck, they go right on in minutes, just four bolts on the underside.

[Ron3rd]

$1200 for anything that runs is cheap.

[romore]

Make sure it has not been wrecked, a thorough frame inspection will show clues. Pay particular attention to the ball joints and tie rod ends. It wouldn't take long to sink another $1200 into it.

[ib516]

For $1200 if it runs and drives he can almost certainly get $1200 for it reselling it. Not much of a risk for a 4wd pickup. Around here that'd be worth double that (Canada).