Originally Posted by daw_two

Being originally from Louisiana and having attended many an LSU football and basketball game in the "old" places, I just have to chime in and offer some "personal experience".


As you probably know, I'm on my second daily driver, 300SDL, having just entered the MB world in March, 2007. Coda, my current daily driver, needs a long list of stuff. The BIG major stuff that MUST be done ASAP are:

1. FIX the fuel leak from the IP delivery valves.
2. Replace the motor mounts.

The fuel leak has "rotted" the driver's side motor mount. All the vibration can't be good for the rest of my car.......but, it still starts (when I don't run out of fuel) and gets me to work and home again, safely and very dependable.

Now, let's talk about the 2000 Dodge Ram 2500, Cummins truck I bought on Halloween. I bought it with "known electrical issues in the wiring harness plug" near the rear of the engine. I got it cheap (does anyone see where this is going?). I drove it to storage with erratic shifting. Here's the service history on it thus far:

1. Took it to a diesel guy that does Dodge diesels --- he owed me a favor. He cut out all the non-factory wiring modifications that had been done. He said it was charging, throwing codes, and should go to the transmission shop. Tells me it really needs a lift pump.
2. Took it to the transmission shop --- they dropped the pan and said it definitely needed a rebuild.
3. Still coding....Both parties agreed it needed a PCM. I bought a PCM and replaced it. Still coding, erratic shifting, not charging.
4. Took it back to the diesel guy --- ran out of fuel on the way --- fuel gauge was still reading about 1/4 of a tank. He figures out that I ran out of fuel, puts 5 gallons in it, bleeds the lines, installs a lift pump that I take to him that he says is not much better than the one that was on there. He says I can solder the wires as good or better than he.
5. Take it to my independent "gasser" shop. They think the PCM needs to be replaced (again). Can't figure anything out. I go to pick it up and it drives PERFECT. They didn't do anything to it.
6. Two days later, it's erratic shifting and no charging .....AGAIN.
7. All the time, I'm visiting the Cummins Forum --- a lot of threads with no conclusion as to what fixed the various issues. Here, we have a lot of threads that have the solution to what was causing the original problem.
8. I take to the dealer. They said the battery cable terminal ends need to be replace. They do that......and replace a speed sensor on the transmission. It's better....they say it feels like the transmission valve pump is not quite right....suggest I take it back to the transmission shop.
9. I go and pick it up and it much better, park it at storage. Next time I start it up, it's back to erratic shifting and no charging.
10. Then I take it back to the dealer. They suggest the PCM needs to be replaced. I tell them I've done that......and it is under warrenty. I ask if they will remove it, let me send it in, and then install the new one.
11. I send it in for exchange during Christmas holidays; have to wait until after New Year for the next one to be installed.
12. Dealer installs the PCM at no cost because it did not fix anything. Their next suggestion is replace the wiring harness. I say no, I can charge it at night a lot of times for less than "about $3800" was the quote on the wiring harness.
13. I take it back to the transmission shop and they replace the valve pump.
14. Still erratic shifting and no charging, so I drive my truck HOME to the house.
15. I do a lot of research, tracing wires, cutting out butt joints and soldering jumpers in, etc. Still no fix.
16. I replace the lift pump with an aftermarket fuel pump. Got plenty of fuel pressure, but still erratic shifting and no charging.
17. Last night, I removed the starter and replaced the crankshaft position sensor (47.99 from NAPA), charge the batteries and take it for a test drive.
18. Charging and NO erratic shifting. YEAH. Truck hiccups a few times and dies at the red light. Will NOT restart. THANK goodness it's a bit of an incline and I'm albe to roll it backwards off into the turn lane and then into a shopping center and position it where the batteries are away from the curb.
19. Walk home.
20. This morning, I go and try to take out the batteries --- I ran them down last night trying to get the thing started. Can only get one out because of the rusted hold down strap on the second one. Take it to AutoZone for testing and charging.
21. Pick up 7 gallons of fuel, reinstall charged battery, jump 1986 300SDL to the batteries, so it can be charging the other one while I "load" 7 gallons of fuel, crack open 2 injector lines.....and crank....and crank....and crank.....finally decide that my IP must have died.....no fuel to either injector.....crank a few more times......get diesel. Tightened up both injector lines and it starts....coughs....and then idles smoothly.
22. Unhook 1986 300SDL and park it out of the way, drive truck home with hiccups along the way.....thought it was going to die once.....get it parked, sit down and eat dinner.....walk back for car.

More than once, I asked some guys at work if they had a handgun in their toolbox because I needed to borrow some tools.

My truck is a 2000 Dodge Ram 2500 with the Cummins Diesel engine. Do you want to buy it?

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel

How much for the Dodge?
Got any pictures?

Originally Posted by Bio300TDTdriver

You sure you want a 1998.5-2002? If it were me I would steer clear of those years.

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel

Not aware of any particular issue with those years.
What's their problem?
I am always looking for that diesel pickup, but they are either stupid expensive or dead. Wiring harness isn't such a big deal, probably get one for ~$400 and all day to get it in.