Hey Guys I know this is very late notice but tomorrow i am going to look at a truck just outside of york, pa. Its a 1995 Dodge Cummins with 88k on it & i'm really not sure everything I should be looking for. And was wondering if anyone would be willing to help me take a look at this tomorrow... Or if anyone has a list or something that i could look over it... Thanks, Jon

 

Just check it over real good like any other truck. Make sure it has a good clutch if stick or the auto trans works properly. Loose steering and ball joints are common problems. Check for pulling or vibrating brakes. Check for oil leaks but remember that diesels don't have PVC valves and blow by will be present at the vent tube and blow back underneath the truck, it makes it look like everything is leaking. If it hasn't been cleaned it will be oily and if it's just blow by from the vent this is normal. I know a buddy of mine has turned down several used trucks because he just looks underneath and sees some oil and says it must be junk, he could have had some sweet deals. He bought a sweet 360 gasser that had no leaks except for the where's the gas going leak??

 

Do a search on this topic--there are lots of others asking the same question.

Could this topic be moved into a "sticky" somewhere or has there been a buyer's guide established (complied) for gathered comments and data on this forum? If not, I would be glad to offer help to put one together.

As for your truck search--remember that compulsive decisions often co$$$t quite a bit. I have a hard time buying the first one I look at, of anything, and there will always be others--maybe not quite the same but perhaps a better deal later on. If in salt country, check the underside for rust on the inside of the doors. Also try to do a full cold-start on the vechile. Go with a 5-speed if at all possible. Have a mechanic inspect the truck if you are serious about it and run a CarFax on the VIN.

 

"He bought a sweet 360 gasser that had no leaks except for the where's the gas going leak??"

Boy, am I sorry for him!!

 

DO you mean by not letting the heaters to warm up, or buy letting them cycle and see if it fires right up... I already did a carfax report on it& everything came back clean.....

 

I think 96_12v means a cold start as in, the truck has been sitting long enough to completely cool, like, say, overnight. All the trucks I went to look at I specifically asked the day before I came down that it not be started so I could see for myself how the cold start system(s) functioned.

 

Exactly what G1625 said--try out the whole cold start system if you can. How did it go?

 

Well guys heres the results....
This is the truck i was looking at today.... 1995 Dodge RAM 2500 Diesel
At first look it looked like a really nice truck... Until I started going over it... Before I even got to the drivetrain the rear bumper had some rust (nothing to worry about), the bed had one of those plastic bedliners and i always expect some rust under them, but this one had some major rust problems.... Some of the ribs in the box had completly rusted away.. SO i thought this would be more of a deduction in the end... Next was the drivetrain... It was cold out today and i called before I went down & told him not to start it..so it took about 10 sec. till the light went off and the volt meter came back up & it started after about a sec or 2 of cranking & in ran pretty smooth... And every now & then you could see the volt meter drop with the grid heaters kicking in... So I took it out for a test drive & it shifted nice for an auto... Even at WOT it wasn't bad.... The only thing I didn't like was that when ever you would let off the accelator there would be a clank noise & the truck would buck a little... I wasn't too happy about this so I did get the guy down 1k off the price but between the bed & the clunking nosie I'm going to keep looking... This was the first truck I looked at....

I do have a queston though... If the KDP pin let loose & cracked the housing would you see this after coming back from a test drive????

So the Search Continues....

 

Well, 88k miles is low, but when there is some rust already started--it will only get worse. Fact is, $14,900 for ANY 1995 truck is out of this world expensive!! Given the rust issues, the fact there is a shake in the driveline (sounds like U-joints, perhaps) this truck is likely worth about $8500. Sounds like it may have been used hard or neglected. I think I would steer clear. Have you tried looking for a truck online in Texas? No rust issues, generally higher miles, but worth more for the enviroment they have been in and the care they *typically* have recieved. The dealer for that green truck is simply expecting way too much. Good luck--and Merry Christmas!

 

heres a good deal for you. if your interrested i'll go look at it for you. 96-98 are the best years
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...or=&cardist=77

i like my 5 speed better than any auto i've had, but some people just don't like shifting.