Hello everyone I just joined this site today and I am proud to be a member. Well I must say that diesel fever has taken me over and I am in the market for a truck. I am not really brand specific however, the major 3 all have their strengths but my questions lies within the truck I have found. I have found an 03 reg cab 2500 dodge 6 spd cummins with the slt package. The truck is clean inside and out and has a spray-in bed liner. The truck has 114,000 miles and they are asking roughly $18,500 for it. Is this a good deal? I have never been around dodges before so what are some things I should lookout for? I would greatly appreciate any advice that could be given and I felt like this would be a great site to start. Thanks and please steer me in the right direction with this huge decision!

 

Welcome to DTR. an 03 has a cp3 injection pump. pretty failure free. the factory lift pumps are horrible, so plan on changing that to an aftermarket setup for reliablilty. the 6 speed is great, better than the 47re automatic that could have been in there. 114K miles is nothing, as long as it is driven like a truck should have been, towing, pulling and working, not getting groceries. have an oil sample done, pretty cheap idea of what is going on inside the motor. 2 wheel drive or 4 wheel drive? that is a fair price, suprised, I thought it would be worth more.

 

Sorry I forgot it is a 4X4. I think it is pretty reasonable but I have no idea what dodges are worth and how they hold their value. Also what is a high output cummins and is this one of them?

 

305/555 motor. look on the data plate on the front cover of the engine. drivers side toward the top. it will give you Hp rating

 

GearJammer, WELCOME to the site!!!! Good -usefull - information on this site.
BEWARE of FOOLIER and at times be thick skinned! Some people will go off on you. Sounds like you have a keeper in this truck just analze all the info before making the plunge. This site ROCKS!!!!!!!!

 

change the fuel filter often.

 

Milage is low and the price seems good with the 6spd you can rule out a lot of the possible problems. The only think I would say to have checked is the front end. The Cummins is just getting warmed up. So have someone go over everything on the front suspension and steering. Seems like the weekness on these trucks since the Cummins is so heavy...

 

2003 six speeds all came with the 305/555 on them. Sounds like a truck i need to buy

 

http://www.mdpmotors.net/item.php?id=6561.

Here is a picture of the truck in question. Thanks for all the quick responses.

 

I think 18.5 is too high of a price for that truck. Just by looks of it. The rear of the truck is sagging. They took the picture of he trucky dirty. So the paint does not look all that shiney. What does the interior look like? It has the tan interior that is known to get stains real easy. Here is an 04 with same motor and lower miles and probably more options. It may not be down the street from you. But look at the upside you get to drive it home. Keep looking. The truck you pictured maybe a good truck but it looks like it needs some TLC.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...&car_year=2004

 

OH yeah here is an easy way to figure out motor. 99% of the time this works. Some people say this is wrong. I have yet to see it proved wrong. All the 03 with the man tranny have the 305/555 motor. The auto's have three different power options 235/460 250/460 and the 305/555 motor. the 235/250 are known as the S.O motor (lower hp Cali emm) The 8th place in vin tells the story in the 03 a 6 in the 8th place has the S.O motor and if built before 1/03 has the 47re tranny. Built after 1/03 they have the new tranny 48re. A "c" in the 8th spot all came with the H.O 305/48re. In "04" model all trucks came with the 305/555 and have a "6" in the 8th spot. But all trucks built after 1/04 have a "c" in the 8th spot and came with the 325/600 motor. This motor is refered to as the 600 series motor. Lots of aurguements which is better. the 600 series can build power easier but can also drink down the fuel easier. The H.O just a little slower in stock form gets better fuel mileage.

 

Looks like it has a leveling kit in front.
Good price though, do the 3 cycle the key code check.

 

My 04 has a 235/460 and a "6" in the 8th spot. I'm that 1%.

 

What is the three cycle key code check? I was at the lot when this truck rolled in with the previous owner driving it. I happened to be there looking at another truck and this one caught my eye. At that time it wasn't for sale. It was all washed up and shiney and looked just beautiful. As far as the rear end saging I didn't notice it but the picture may lead you to believe it is. The truck has never had a gooseneck ball in it but may have pulled heavy loads on the bumper.

 

r u sure? All 04's I thought were H.O and 50 state legal. But then again you just never know