The dream has become...

[Panama_Red]

A nightmare...LOL...

Man I am about to stop spending $ on parts and use the $$ for some airbrush work of a gremlin juggling lemons on the truck...LOL..

I have owned a lot of cars and trucks, never a dodge until recently when I got a new 2012 challenger.. I like the challenger so I figured I'd trade my Ford truck on a dodge and I am feeling a bit of a sting now afterward...

Every time I fix one thing something else dies. I have done little but chase gremlins through this truck. First was a vacuum leak, thought it was a bad fitting for one of the vacuum lines, I replaced them all. Still bad thought it was the LDP (leak detection pump) Nope not that I dismantled the whole thing and it looks to work great, then I replaced the gas cap, I waited for the check engine light to reappear 3 days later and it didn't I was feeling pretty good, and the P1494 code came back.... Still not right..

Post cat o2 sensor is acting up..

Then my wife tried to roll down the window on the passenger side and it didn't work.. I got a new switch for the passenger side and it worked, now the drivers side switch is trashed.. None of the switches work...LOL... Took the master switch apart and soldered a bad connection. It burnt up after I hooked it back up, Ordered a new one, went up in smoke as soon as I turned the key on, got another it just doesn't work because it's a bad part. Pulled the fuse for the windows looked at it and it didn't look right, not blow but not right, so I replaced it and put the original switch back in and got my windows rolled up. I have had some plastic over one It hadn't rained in over a month and it started raining 10 minutes after the switch crapped out, no joke.. Switch is still bad so I am waiting on another.. At this point I wish they made a manual window conversion I'd buy it..

Linkage was sloppy, and or difficult to move, lubed that up and it works fine now but still a bit sloppy..

Thats just a little taste, I don't want to write a book on here...LOL...

I can see why dodge needed a bail out here.. I kept having bumper sticker sayings pop into my head while working in the shop, like:
You know what I like about dodge trucks? Nothing
Know what makes dodge truck great? After market parts..

I'd ask if anyone had a fix but I pretty much read about every thread on the internet already...LOL..

Is there some light at the end of this tunnel here? or do I pretty much need to replace everything?

 

[05singlecabHEMI]

For the window switch, sounds like a bad ground to me or split wires. The ground should be to the left of the parking brake at foot level behind the carpet.
Have you put in a new o2 sensor?

 

[Panama_Red]

For the window switch, sounds like a bad ground to me or split wires. The ground should be to the left of the parking brake at foot level behind the carpet.

Thanks, I'll check the ground, and the wires going from the door to the cab. I already had to re insulate the rear door wires.

Have you put in a new o2 sensor?

No, it's on the list of to do stuff.

 

[HolyRamBatman]

If the previous owner did not do any maintenance on the truck then it will be up to you to fix their crap.

Either way if it has a problem we have a fix.

 

[MegaMouseGW]

As far as the O2 sensor goes this is what worked for me. The dealership let me know that the ethanol in the gas was screwing with the O2 sensors, and when I asked what could be done about it they told me to run Lucas Ethanol treatment in every tank full. Have not had the O2 sensor code pop up in 4 years now.
My neighbor has the intune programmer for his truck and he tuned it for the e85 gasoline. Again no code for at least 3 years. SO it may not be an O2 sensor going out, it may just be the idiotic ethanol in the gas screwing with you.

 

[Panama_Red]

As far as the O2 sensor goes this is what worked for me. The dealership let me know that the ethanol in the gas was screwing with the O2 sensors, and when I asked what could be done about it they told me to run Lucas Ethanol treatment in every tank full. Have not had the O2 sensor code pop up in 4 years now.
My neighbor has the intune programmer for his truck and he tuned it for the e85 gasoline. Again no code for at least 3 years. SO it may not be an O2 sensor going out, it may just be the idiotic ethanol in the gas screwing with you.

Man I didn't think about that, thats a great tip. It's all e85 out here. Thank you sir!

 

[johnnysart]

Like Billy said.

I've taken excellent care of mine. I hope you didn't pay too much for the truck. I believe bb value for excellent shape is around 10k.

 

[Panama_Red]

Like Billy said.

I've taken excellent care of mine. I hope you didn't pay too much for the truck. I believe bb value for excellent shape is around 10k.

It isn't that the truck wasn't maintained.. It runs, drives, and stops fantastic.. I'm talking about wires, window switches, vacuum leaks, o2 sensor, and sloppy linkage and such.. The o2 sensor, and some stuff I can see as being a normal part that wears and needs to be replaced. Even some window switches, I can see as needing replacement.. But having to go through the wiring with a fine toothed comb is BS IMO... I have read tons of reports of bad wiring all over the web. Actually every issue I have had seem to be common problems with these trucks. Thats poor construction period. I have had cars from the 70's, 80's, 90, and on and on with power everything that I never gave a second thought to window switches and wiring..LOL...

I realize the truck is 11 years old so I'm good to put some $$ into it and I got it for 8K they wanted 13.5K so I don't expect it to be like new. I don't mind doing a little wrenching on it, and parts are cheaper than payments which is why I got it in the first place. But some things are obviously just made poorly on these. I didn't know there was a town in Mexico called Detroit...LOL...

I just had a bit of a rant for the nickle and dime junk parts in it.. I have owned 15 vehicles not including the ones my wife drives, and some things just don't go bad on vehicles at least not in 11 years, so it was a little bit of a shock to me to have to mess with it so many little garbage parts..

Regardless I'm in it to win it at this point, it's going to get fixed.. I like the truck and have a vision for it, and what I am going to do to it. Don't get me wrong I am not saying it's all bad just that it seems they did some things on the cheap to make other bits and pieces good. I just wish they would have done more of that good throughout. If they had the BB value would have been higher like other brand trucks of the same age.

 

[HolyRamBatman]

Detroit, Mexico......now we know where "Detroit" went.

The engineers save 2" of wire per wire on every truck just to save some money and give you a F'n headache later. And what's up with plastic switches. REALLY...MEN handle these things, BEEF EM up a little.

Check out the 2nd GEN DIY for a service manual. And post what you have on here for help. We have new members joining all the time=new info possibilities.

Good luck Ed

 

[Panama_Red]

Detroit, Mexico......now we know where "Detroit" went.

I have been noticing "assembled in Mexico" on a lot of bad parts... Just poking at that for fun regardless I'm sure they make some good stuff in Mexico... Just not window switches...LOL...

I live on the coast of Washington and there is a port here full of Dodge, Jeep, and Chryslers, that arrive via ship.. Where are those coming from?

 

[Sparkyy]

Sorry to hear about your truck just ******* out bad parts.

My 2007 that I have now just a over a year at 64k miles, I am started discovering that the prior owner never and I mean NEVER did any maintenance on this vehicle.

My front and rear diffs I am positive were original oil, the spark plugs were .052 - .061 gap so probably original, one sleve of my coil pack actually ripped off. So I'm slow switching and changing things out.

Hang in there though, it will all be worth it in the end!

 

[Panama_Red]

Ehh, I figure the more I replace the better it gets.. It's a PITA in the meanwhile but it is what it is..

I just did the plugs wires cap and rotor damn near double gap on the plugs.. People think they just need to change the oil and their good...LOL...

Changed the trans filter, and am siphoning the fluid out and refreshing it a few quarts at a time here and there.. Thankfully no shavings or chunks were in there...LOL...

 

[WhiteExpress]

I can see why dodge needed a bail out here.. I kept having bumper sticker sayings pop into my head while working in the shop, like:
You know what I like about dodge trucks? Nothing
Know what makes dodge truck great? After market parts.. ?

So why exactly did you come here? Feel free to sell it and move on.
RamForum is for Ram Enthusiasts, not Ram Haters.

Very sorry you bought a 11 year old truck with problems, but don't blame the brand for a trouble truck. Everything that is mass produced will have issues.

My father has a '98 Ram 1500 with just shy of 190k on it, He has had the transmission rebuilt and a new radiator in it. That's it, still runs like a champ and tows a 26' trailer routinely.

 

[Panama_Red]

So why exactly did you come here? Feel free to sell it and move on.
RamForum is for Ram Enthusiasts, not Ram Haters.

Very sorry you bought a 11 year old truck with problems, but don't blame the brand for a trouble truck. Everything that is mass produced will have issues.

what a guy can't have a bad day here?...LOL... I said I like the truck I just don't like the BS problems they have.

My gripe was based off of the poor quality parts used on stuff that usually doesn't crap out.. Why would I not blame the brand? they made it they catch the flack for it.. Like anyone else..

When I joined I was having fun doing mods on the truck.. I didn't realize the hornets nest that was about to crack open with the wiring..

It's all good man I'm fixing it..

 

[johnnysart]

Yup they sure don't make them here like the good old days. detroit mexico huh, wow thats close to me lmao.

My rear passenger window only goes down 1/4 and I have to manually open and lock that door also. Good luck getting everything fixed up.

 

[WhiteExpress]

what a guy can't have a bad day here?...LOL... I said I like the truck I just don't like the BS problems they have.

My gripe was based off of the poor quality parts used on stuff that usually doesn't crap out.. Why would I not blame the brand? they made it they catch the flack for it.. Like anyone else..

When I joined I was having fun doing mods on the truck.. I didn't realize the hornets nest that was about to crack open with the wiring..

It's all good man I'm fixing it..

Guess I was being a grumpy pants this AM too.
Posting critical comments on a Monday morning. I should know better.

I advise you check the connections in your rear door pass throughs. They are notorious for crapping out, potentially causing the short that is eating up your switch.

 

[Panama_Red]

Got it done.. A couple of wires were ground out I replaced them. Windows all work as they should.

Found a gas station with non e85 gas filled her up and haven't seen the check engine light for the o2 sensor since.. Thanks for putting that crap in the gas!...LOL...

Topped my tune up off with an accel coil... NICE!

A few more bits and pieces left to do but I'll leave that for something to mess with here and there on the weekends..

 

[WhiteExpress]

Fact Check on E85 Vs Oxygenated Fuels (E10):

Standard Gas is anywhere from 0-10% Ethanol (Most pumps have a sticker stating as such "May contain up to 10% Ethanol").

E85 is 85% Ethanol, it is sold strictly as 'flex fuel' to be used for FF capable vehicles ONLY.

 

[LS5DodgeRam]

I do not mean to offend you in any way if this does... I am sorry that you are having a hard time with this truck, but I do not believe it is the truck or you... I believe it is whoever owned the vehicle before you that caused this... if I am not mistaking it says you have a 2002? and you just got it recently? so I am assuming that you bought it used.

I have had my truck for the past 3 years, and I bought it from a guy who babied the truck and garaged it every single night and had it for 5 years and only driven it for 40k miles and didn't even buy the towing package.

these trucks run strong... just like everything else... things break and need to be replaced. unfortunately for you it is happening all at once. but IMO dodges are one of the most reliable trucks I have come into contact with and this is why you see so many more of the on the road now adays... not to mention they look as mean as an angry demon... really the only thing I have know about dodges going bad is their radiators, and their dashboards, but with a little tlc they can be avoided.

in other words I don't believe it is you and your experience with the truck, it was the person before you that abused it without noting it in the sale before handing it over to you

let the Challenger speak for dodge over the truck and you should see that they are a very fine piece of machinery.

Chris

 

[LS5DodgeRam]

also just one other thing to remember is that your truck is the first year of this generation... it can be considered their "beta" if you will... where they find out some of the common problems in order to fix them for the next years of production models within this generation.