Dodge Cummins auto 2500

I'm looking at a truck with an auto transmission(2001) and wondering if these are any good or sh!t like the earlier ones. If there is something wrong with them what specifically is wrong with them.I was also wondering about the lift pump.Is it common for them to fail and are the new (replacement) pumps better. Also, were the front end problems with these trucks or the older design? Every response is appericated.

farmerboy:

They are a decent truck for fuel mileage and torque but do have their problems. The lift pump will fail and the new stock replacements are no better. If you run one for an exteneded period of time with a bad lift pump you will destroy the injection pump (for lift pump and injection pump youre looking at $2000).

The transmission is not that strong either. If engine is modified or you tow heavy expect to replace it for about $3500 to make it last. For some reason these trucks kick in and out of lockup on their torque converter at 45 mph of steady driving. This does not help them.

Front ends are weak. If it has loose steering it can be anything from the steering gearbox, wheel bearings, ball joints, tie rod ends, or traction bar or all of the above. If it has any miles on it at all the steering will wonder. It can b fixed with aftermarket parts but can be costly if everything is shot.

They will do a lot of work but you can expect to do a lot of work back to it.

I may be washed up on this, but I don't think the lift pumps were a big issue before the HPRC motors that came out in '03.

HPCR

4010 Puller is right. If you don't get crazy with it, the trans. will last a long time. Nearly 200,000 on one that hasn't been touched, other than keeping the fluid changed. As for the lift pump, they do go out. Install a low fuel pressure warning light on the dash, so that when the lift pump does go you will know and can replace it before you ruin the injection pump. Aftermarket kits are available to do away with the factory in-tank lift pump .

125,000 the front end will be gone. You will need to replace bushings, ball joints, wheel bearings, tie rod ends. I did it to mine. Drives like new now. I also put a solid steel steering stabilizer on mine and that tightened things up significantly in the steering box.

Lift pump- I have heard all kinds of stories and you will always rememeber the worst. Mine went out at 144,000 miles. Died in the driveway. Most engines continue to pull suction from the tank and keep running. The lower pressure cavitates the VP44 injection pump and it dies. Also the electronics on the pump had some issues. Mine has 200K and is still on the original injection pump and second lift pump, knock on wood.

Transmission - My truck doesn't have a chip. Never has. I get 21 hwy miles. 3.55 rearend. I can pull my Super M Farmall and it does fine. Now if I was going to pull more, I would get a standard transmission, or maybe have it rebuilt. Key here is keeping it cool.

Also, turn the key on off on off on and read the codes that come up in the odometer. Should so PCU and ECU codes.

dieseltruckresource.com is also another good resource.

The 24 valve dodge is a good choice, just be ready to do a little mechanical work every now and then. I am hoping my truck will go to 500K

Would something like this help the torque converter situation
Parts bin

My '95 has just over 200k on it. Last year I had to replace all the tranny cooling lines, the plastic fittings were cracked. I've had to replace a few throttle position sensors also. Haven't had to do a rebuild though.

what about the weak block casting that causes them to crack? what about the poor quality injectors? dodge cummins , no thankyou !

My Dodge Cummins has a 5-speed, but I have two friends that have automatics. One pulls a big gooseneck and has gone through several transmissions. The other one doesn't pull anything heavier than a drift boat, and still has the original trans. Two of us have had no engine problems, and one had his lift pump kill his injector pump.

I forgot about that. It wasa #53 block cast in Mexico. Everything else broke on my trucks but this, thats unuausal knowing my luck. I think it was 1998.5 through 2000. If it's an 01 it should be ok but Im not 100 percent sure.

Yeah your washed up on this.