I have a 97 2500 Ram Diesel with 150K miles. Recently it has developed a ticking noise which I thought it to be valve clearance. I adjusted the valves but the noise is still there. I found that if I apply light pressure to the fuel primer the noise stops! Any Ideas? Thanks in advance for your comments!

 

Ok I am a nubee to this forum....and did a search on ticking to find that my problem could be the lift pump. I also just read about the guy who bought a 97 ctd Ram that had the paint peeling. I am the original owner of my truck and also have the paint problem (red) on the horisontal surfaces. I contacted Chrysler about this and they pretty much said "tough luck ". It appears the metal has something wrong with it as the peeling goes to bare metal. I have tried to reprime the metal but the primer peels also.....any Ideas?

 

Find where the tick is coming from with a long screwdriver or pipe, etc to your ear with the other end to the suspect part. If you want to get fancy buy an automotive stethoscope from the autoparts for $10.

Chrysler reps have been trained to lie to you about the peeling paint issue in order to discourage you from getting it repainted on their dime. They are very good at discouraging you and can do it with a straight face.
Ignore them, read though this >
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...ad.php?t=51938

The only thing preventing you getting it repainted correctly for free is your own willingness and persistence to follow though on the instructions here http://www.theinfomaniac.net/infoman...tepByStep.html

 

If you decide to replace your lift pump check the price at a Case tractor dealer. They use the same pump, just have to change one fitting. It takes 2 gaskets and since the prefilter/heater comes off at the same time you may as well replace the screen and the elbow rubber fuel line between them. I also replaced the bolts with studs, get good grade steel, makes reassembly much easier.