laker

I'm very interested in purchasing a 2003, 2500 with 160000 km on it. Is there anything that I should be looking for in terms of problems in this generation truck? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

jw

mamor

If it is an automatic make sure it has the 48RE tranny in it. Also is it the H.O.? The H.O. would be better

Bigred01

But, the non H.O. gets better mileage. But......... I like the H.O.

SOhappy

Mine's been a great truck, best purchase I ever made in my life.

(and it's an S.O. with the "bad" 47RE).

Standard things to look for are loose ball joints, u-joints and a leaky steering box.

Little03

Make sure it has the ecm update in it, cuz mine didnt and the truck died on me going down the highway, it was a factory recall on it so at least i didnt half to pay for it.

kully560

my 2003 is a s/o with 47re best truck so far .I have owned 5 dodge trucks since 1994!!!.81000 miles only thing was ball joints, front ujoints,once.general maintaince and fass fuel pump otherwise stock.20 mpg highway @65mph,16.5 around town

Tony T.

Ditto! I've had no major problems with my SO/250. Bad ball joints, u-joints, can happen on any of them SO or HO. I have one ball joint on drivers side that is questionable now, and have been checking it every 5K oil change over the last 10K miles, it's still with in specs according to DC, and has not become any worse since I have checked it myself. No problems out of the 47RE either, plans are to keep a eye on trans temps and service every 30K miles for me that would be the same maintence interval even if I had the 48RE.

Tony

drdigger11

Love my 03 SO, did ball joints @ 140000km, drive it like it's stolen. Taken it for flying lessons on more than one occasion. Still really tight truck with 200000km on now. Great fuel mileage, only complaints is the 47re & the power steering pump/resevoir. Going to keep it. There was a 03 at the dealership when I was there last with 1000000km on it without a rebuild. Plus I like the front end styling better than the newer models, but just my opion.

drdigger11

Oh yeah, the lift pumps have a notoriosly bad failure rate, my went @ 140000km also. Put the FASS on and got even better mileage and working great.

dodgepower88

I like my SO too, it gets great mileage and is a dependable truck. It is not like they don't make modules, tuners, intakes, and exhausts for a SO truck so i would'nt worry about the power, cause that can be fixed.

FMB

Check the operation of the Heater/AC system. Make sure you can direct air to everywhere it is supposed to go, and it blows hard on High. If it doesn't go where it should, suspect a broken mode door. Lots of work or lots of money.

Change it from Fresh to Recirc air. You should hear the door hit the stops. The noise the fan makes on high when on recirc is much louder than when on fresh. That is normal, if it is the same, suspect a broken recirc door. Lots of work or lots of money to fix.

I love my truck. Only has about 109k miles on it so far.

drdigger11

The SO makes wicked power gains with the add ons. You're starting with less but you don't have to end up with less, that's my theory.

gsbrockman

HO's are the best !

Greg

stang

in the classifieds there is a 2005 2500 4X4 6 speed low Miles no mods bone stock. I know the guy he is ready to deal needs to sell, truck is mint. its under PowerSerg

Tony T.

Greg, You forgot to add 6-speeds to that comment also!

Tony