Im thinking of buying a 1999 Dodge 2500 diesel 4X4, 5spd, Standard cab, long box. When driving it makes a growling noise, not all the time & it doesnt seem to matter what gear your in, reverse included, its the weirdest growl noise! Hard to explain, but ive heard something similar when my driveshaft steady bearing was going on an old truck I had...problem is this truck doesnt have one. Any ideas? Also the truck is very,very hard to start....Its been sitting awhile, but the batteries are fully charged & it seems to turn over fine? I know...walk away, but the price is right.
thanks,
Doug

My dads 99 started to make a growl noise and we took it took us a while to figure it out but it ended up being the rear end =( at a 109,000 but the only time the truck is driven is when we are plowing or pulling a trailer we figure maybe he spun from ice to dry pavement and thats what did it. He also had a problem of taking a lot of time to start because it was losing its prime one of the lines coming off the injector pump had a slight pin whole in it. We have no idea how it happened.

The rear end makes sense, I see the pinion seal is leaking. With the starting problem, it starts right up if you pull start it. Its really hard starting even when its warm......cam position sensor?
thanks,
Doug