Thinking about buying a 2012 with too many repairs done... bad idea?

[Nuieve]

I found this local Longhorn sold by a non-profit charity for 18k (the only honest "used car" place in town that I know), they fix up and sell donated vehicles. They disclose everything they know about their vehicles, so honesty is not a concern but rather stuff that they just may not know. This one has about 100k miles and what looks like regular oil changes until this point... however the charity had to do the following:

• Vehicle serviced
  • Valve lifters replaced
  • Cylinder head gasket(s) replaced
  • Washer nozzle(s) replaced
  • Fluids checked
  • Body lubricated
  • Valve cover(s) replaced
  • Engine serviced
  • Transmission shift solenoid(s) replaced
  • Wiper(s) replaced
  • Air filter replaced
  • Engine checked
  • Oil and filter changed
  • Engine oil pump replaced
  • Spark plug(s) replaced
  • Cooling fan clutch replaced
  • Drivability/performance checked
  • Thermostat replaced
  • Differential serviced
  • Oil pan gasket replaced
  • Timing belt replaced
  • Engine timing/front cover gasket replaced
  • Battery/charging system checked
  • Clutch replaced
  • Timing chain replaced
  • Transfer case fluid flushed/changed
  • A/C refrigerant recharged
  • Differential fluid flushed/changed
  • Transmission fluid changed
  • Timing chain tensioner/guide replaced
  • Antifreeze/coolant flushed/changed

Makes you wonder how on Earth the previous owner drove it because before this it was just regular oil changes every 6-9 months. The truck looks clean in the pictures, the price is ok (given how much $$$ and time they put into it fixing all that crap), but damn if this repair history doesn't scare me a bit. On one hand sounds like they basically replaced 99% of the truck everything except mudguards, so if that was done, it's basically is brand new and I won't have to do anything for a while if it doesn't break, but on the other hand... what if they missed some cascading issues that are about to surface 1000 miles down the road.


So I don't know how to feel about. It does look very tempting. A beautiful truck. Very clean. Should I grab it? Should I run from it?

 

[Hagar1]

I found this local Longhorn sold by a non-profit charity for 18k (the only honest "used car" place in town that I know), they fix up and sell donated vehicles. They disclose everything they know about their vehicles, so honesty is not a concern but rather stuff that they just may not know. This one has about 100k miles and what looks like regular oil changes until this point... however the charity had to do the following:

• Vehicle serviced
  • Valve lifters replaced
  • Cylinder head gasket(s) replaced
  • Washer nozzle(s) replaced
  • Fluids checked
  • Body lubricated
  • Valve cover(s) replaced
  • Engine serviced
  • Transmission shift solenoid(s) replaced
  • Wiper(s) replaced
  • Air filter replaced
  • Engine checked
  • Oil and filter changed
  • Engine oil pump replaced
  • Spark plug(s) replaced
  • Cooling fan clutch replaced
  • Drivability/performance checked
  • Thermostat replaced
  • Differential serviced
  • Oil pan gasket replaced
  • Timing belt replaced
  • Engine timing/front cover gasket replaced
  • Battery/charging system checked
  • Clutch replaced
  • Timing chain replaced
  • Transfer case fluid flushed/changed
  • A/C refrigerant recharged
  • Differential fluid flushed/changed
  • Transmission fluid changed
  • Timing chain tensioner/guide replaced
  • Antifreeze/coolant flushed/changed

Makes you wonder how on Earth the previous owner drove it because before this it was just regular oil changes every 6-9 months. The truck looks clean in the pictures, the price is ok (given how much $$$ and time they put into it fixing all that crap), but damn if this repair history doesn't scare me a bit. On one hand sounds like they basically replaced 99% of the truck everything except mudguards, so if that was done, it's basically is brand new and I won't have to do anything for a while if it doesn't break, but on the other hand... what if they missed some cascading issues that are about to surface 1000 miles down the road.


So I don't know how to feel about. It does look very tempting. A beautiful truck. Very clean. Should I grab it? Should I run from it?

If you look closely at the list, you will see that a lot of the parts are in fact related to the lifter change.
Some things just don't apply ...... ie: "timing belt" never seen a 5.7 with a timing belt.

 

[BossHogg]

The list may have "copy and paste" attributes, like timing chain and timing belt. Separate the list into maintenance and repair items so it doesn't look so daunting.

 

[Nuieve]

I was wondering if some of the repairs were a cascade of one part change leading to another as part of one bigger issue. They say they replaced engine lifters, camshaft, timing chain set, VVT solenoid, knock sensor, oil pump, thermostat, spark plugs, head gaskets, oil pan gasket, valve covers, exhaust manifold bolts and more.

Overall, still, does it seem to be alarming? I'm not mechanically savvy, do these repairs indicate the previous owner wasn't maintaining this truck at all and it was falling apart? Or were these likely changed because they were doing a lifter change job so they decided to replace some parts anyway.

 

[KalboKalbs]

Ask them for the repair paperwork.

It'll validate what they did OR it was copy paste.

If they are honest, they'll gladly show repair paperwork.

 

[andymax]

Seems to me there's a few general possibilities:

1. They replaced a lot of parts (ie: spark plugs) out of simple caution and because they had easy access to them while doing the cam/lifter job, which I think is great. This would speak to their thoroughness and would be a positive. If the overall condition of the truck, both interior and exterior, appear to be clean and well maintained then I'd feel pretty good about this truck. BTW, the famous "Hemi tick" failure seems to be the reason the original owner traded or sold it.

2. the original owner did nothing to the truck, other than cheapo oil changes and otherwise didnt maintain it, resulting in many problems so they addressed all these issues. A good mechanic has a fairly good chance of figuring out which of these scenarios may be true.

3. They mistakenly diagnosed an exhaust manifold bolt failure, which causes a "tick" noise also, as the hemi tick, so they did the cam/lifter replacement. After which they figured out that the noise was still there so they replaced the exhaust manifold bolts.
During all this work they did a lot of the ancillary work (spark plugs, thermostat, etc).

4. if the list is accurate-ish, then I'm fairly impressed they did a few extras, such as transfer case fluid change.

I'd think I'd have this truck inspected by a good mopar mechanic and move forward on his/her results. I like that so many things have already been done that I wouldnt have to worry about.

Just my $.02. Good luck.

 

[Nuieve]

I will. I plan on checking it out later this week.

I've been reading up on this era 1500s, seems like tick/cam issue is one of the biggest issues with these trucks.... so hopefully that it taken care of.... anything else to worry about at this age/mileage?

 

[Nuieve]

Seems to me there's a few general possibilities:

1. They replaced a lot of parts (ie: spark plugs) out of simple caution and because they had easy access to them while doing the cam/lifter job, which I think is great. This would speak to their thoroughness and would be a positive. If the overall condition of the truck, both interior and exterior, appear to be clean and well maintained then I'd feel pretty good about this truck. BTW, the famous "Hemi tick" failure seems to be the reason the original owner traded or sold it.

2. the original owner did nothing to the truck, other than cheapo oil changes and otherwise didnt maintain it, resulting in many problems so they addressed all these issues. A good mechanic has a fairly good chance of figuring out which of these scenarios may be true.

3. They mistakenly diagnosed an exhaust manifold bolt failure, which causes a "tick" noise also, as the hemi tick, so they did the cam/lifter replacement. After which they figured out that the noise was still there so they replaced the exhaust manifold bolts.
During all this work they did a lot of the ancillary work (spark plugs, thermostat, etc).

4. if the list is accurate-ish, then I'm fairly impressed they did a few extras, such as transfer case fluid change.

I'd think I'd have this truck inspected by a good mopar mechanic and move forward on his/her results. I like that so many things have already been done that I wouldnt have to worry about.

Just my $.02. Good luck.

I was thinking about doing a PPO at RAM dealership. Just to make sure work is done ok and no other issues remain.

 

[andymax]

Hemi tick is a huge issue because we're all afraid it will happen to us and because it's expensive, but in reality is not super common. There are many many threads on here about the issue, I'd recommend you read up on this. Far more common is the exhaust manifold leaks cause mostly by broken exhaust bolts breaking. It may happen again on this truck, but its not that big a deal to have repaired.

 

[andymax]

I was thinking about doing a PPO at RAM dealership. Just to make sure work is done ok and no other issues remain.

IMHO I'd recommend finding an independent mechanic with really good reputation vs a dealership that may assign a junior mechanic to the job.

 

[Daw14]

I see lifters listed as replacements , however there is no mention of changing the camshaft .
No mention of any exhaust manifold correction.
The price sounds high.
Look at Kelly blue book or Edmund’s for estimate values.
I would keep up with the search, unless actual records state different repairs ,then that should be considered.

 

[Daw14]

Stay away from a dealer unless you have lot of experience with them . Most will tell you what they think you want to hear . Do not trust without verification.dealers lie often. Search ,ask family and friends for recommendations for independent mechanics.

 

[Nuieve]

Oh, for some reason I assumed that the lifter job had something to do with the tick. I'll read up some more on that.

This truck was donated to this charity.

The price is on the high side, but that's the "low risk" surcharge basically for buying it from a place with a solid reputation.

I'll look for a mechanic to do a PPI.

Thanks guys.

 

[zrock]

Looks like most of the work was related to one failure and the rest was just preventative maint or just common failing parts. Lots of duplicates in that list so in actuality the list is not that big. The price is to high for the year of truck, yes its a non profit but their is a point where to much is too much.

 

[Racer9]

Most of the work is related to the lifter change, but no mention of camshaft change!?!?!
Also, trans issues, solenoids replaced maybe fixed it, who knows.
But, every used vehicle is a crapshoot, you just never know, and you really can't blame the dealer if previous owner is not telling them everything.
Offer 12K, that's probably closer to real value.

 

[Nuieve]

I'll give it a shot, thanks.

 

[mdc1990zr1]

I was thinking about doing a PPO at RAM dealership. Just to make sure work is done ok and no other issues remain.

I would want to see what parts were used on the rebuild and who did the work. If you see the paperwork, you may be able to speak to the mechanic that did it.

 

[chopperman1]

List simply doesn't look "honest". Hemi doesn't have a timing belt. Clutch? Is it a standard?

 

[Nuieve]

Most of the work is related to the lifter change, but no mention of camshaft change!?!?!
Also, trans issues, solenoids replaced maybe fixed it, who knows.
But, every used vehicle is a crapshoot, you just never know, and you really can't blame the dealer if previous owner is not telling them everything.
Offer 12K, that's probably closer to real value.

The original list in the 1st post is from the Carfax history.

In the truck description they said the replaced "engine lifters, camshaft, timing chain set, VVT solenoid, knock sensor, oil pump, thermostat, spark plugs, head gaskets, oil pan gasket, valve covers, exhaust manifold bolts and more."

 

[lilyelliott4]

I was wondering if some of the repairs were a cascade of one part change leading to another as part of one bigger issue. They say they replaced engine lifters, camshaft, timing chain set, VVT solenoid, knock sensor, oil pump, thermostat, spark plugs, head gaskets, oil pan gasket, valve covers, exhaust manifold bolts and more.

Overall, still, does it seem to be alarming? I'm not mechanically savvy, do these repairs indicate the previous owner wasn't maintaining this truck at all and it was falling apart? Or were these likely changed because they were doing a lifter change job so they decided to replace some parts anyway.

It sounds like the repairs could be a mix of preventive maintenance and addressing related issues during the lifter replacement. Replacing components like the timing chain set, camshaft, and gaskets while doing a major repair is common to avoid future problems. However, the extensive list might suggest the truck wasn't well-maintained earlier. A thorough inspection and service history check can provide more clarity.