Used truck caught my eye

[DThibault]

I drove by the dealer today on one of my infrequent visits to town and an 07 3500 cab and chassis, manual 6 speed was sitting on the lot. It only has 30000 miles and looks real clean. Its one of the first 6. 7's and I am a little leary of some of the stories I've read. Right now I have three 5. 9s and love them. I took it for a short ride and everything seemed to work well. I know for a fact the previous owner traded it because of an expanding family. Can anyone advise of anything I should watch for or completely steer me away. Dealer mentioned $27000. How far out of whack is that? Thanks for any advice.

 

[TulsaOkie]

Offer him 22k, talk about the stories, and walk out with a new truck !!!! it throws the salesman off everytime. .

 

[TBartlett1]

Dave don't do it!!!

 

[HBarlow]

I would not buy a 2007 pickup because of the early problems we've read about here but would not be afraid to buy a 2007 C&C if I could see the service history and know it was not a lemon. The cab and chassis trucks have different engine tune and less emissions crap than pickups and have been pretty reliable. Mine has been completely trouble free for just under 80,000 miles.

You could demand to see the internal Dodge service history on that truck by VIN to satisfy yourself that it was not traded in because it was a problem truck.

 

[KLauber]

Listen to Harvey, when it comes to trucks, towing, et al, he is spot on! The 6 Spd is a plus.

Ken

 

[Texas Ted]

I own a 2007 that has been completely trouble free. [26k on the clock] I have done all the software updates and am completely happy with the truck. No warranty problems have occurred I am pleased to report. I wonder how many of us have trouble free 2007's??

Ted

 

[HBarlow]

I own a 2007 that has been completely trouble free. [26k on the clock] I have done all the software updates and am completely happy with the truck. No warranty problems have occurred I am pleased to report. I wonder how many of us have trouble free 2007's??
Ted

Good post.

My guess is most of the '07s were fine if driven and used as intended but there may be a few used only as grocery getters and short distance commuting, became problematic, and were traded in. Trucks like that with a service history I would not want to buy.

 

[Whiteranch04]

2007 was the first year and many many in my area were lemon lawed or outright returned to the dealers lot, there are still some showing up after dodge buys them back and resells them into the market at dodge only dealer auctions. 08 and up seem to have all of the bugs worked out, dont buy it and look for a 08 and up good used!!!! Most ranchers quit dodge over the 6,7 down here, thats why dodge truck sales dropped 60,000 units in 08!!! Thr 6. 7 were filling up warranty bays and ran out of parts as well, many been reflashed over 10 times I know of personally. Dont listen to somebody who just goes up and down the pavement to get donuts on the forums, many many hate the 2007s!!!

 

[firemansdiesel]

It seems that the '07. 5 & early '08 6. 7 CTD, are a hit and miss w/ problems. I know of 3 that have those years and have zero issues. . If the truck comes back clean on history, then you shouild be good to go and make sure it has the latest flash.



The newer flashes are making the truck more daily driven friendly if you don't work it hard as some say. The downside, atleast w/ my truck. Every new flash has dropped my mileage some.

 

[daverobb]

Well, I own an '07. For what it's worth, I have had no problems at all. It has 91,000 KMs on it now, half of that towing. I know several other '07 owners with Zero problems as well. I find that much of the griping and problems are self inflicted.

 

[HBarlow]

Well, I own an '07. For what it's worth, I have had no problems at all. It has 91,000 KMs on it now, half of that towing. I know several other '07 owners with Zero problems as well. I find that much of the griping and problems are self inflicted.

I think you are correct and that is what I have always suspected but most of the comments posted by early ISB6. 7 owners have been complaints about emission related issues. We seldom hear from owners with trouble free trucks.

I should have said (in post #4 above) that I would be careful about buying an '07. 5 ISB6. 7 that had been traded in to a dealer because that could be an indication that is was one of the trucks that had not been used as intended and developed problems.

 

[FParisi]

Would it make sense that if used properly/worked that these emission problems would go away? Or is there some damage done that will persist?

 

[HBarlow]

I don't really know so can only offer an opinion which may be wrong.

If previous owner's drive cycle was causing repeated CELs and codes but the truck was taken or traded to a good dealer with a trained Cummins diesel tech who was consciencious and performed proper reflashes and repairs (an unknown IMO) I would like to think that truck was not seriously harmed and would provide good service to a second owner who worked it as intended.

Again, I don't really know. Perhaps earlier soot buildup caused some scoring.

I think I would prefer to buy a used '07. 5 from an owner I know. A dealer might be okay also if I could review service history and speak with prior owner.

 

[Texas Ted]

Harvey, is what you're saying that if a '07 truck has had previous emissions problems there may be some damage to the internal parts of the engine and components unrelated to the emissions systems?
Are there really any differences between an early 6. 7 and the later model 6. 7's after all updates have been done?

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey, is what you're saying that if a '07 truck has had previous emissions problems there may be some damage to the internal parts of the engine and components unrelated to the emissions systems?
Are there really any differences between an early 6. 7 and the later model 6. 7's after all updates have been done?

Ted,

The most important thing anyone should understand from my comments is that I don't truly know. I am only speculating. I am a Dodge-Cummins owner of some experience, an enthusiast, and a reader, but am not a mechanic and don't even play the part of one on television.

I think that trucks that get sooted up from improper duty cycle frequently have had to have turbos cleaned or replaced and egr valves cleaned or even replaced. That leads me to wonder if those trucks were ingesting a lot of soot. If so, some damage in the form of accelerated wear, hopefully minor, could have resulted to cylinder walls, rings, pistons, valve guides and stems, etc.

Again I don't really know but Cummins and Dodge may have made a few minor running changes to turbos and other internal components during the first year of operation. I think I remember one of the TDR member/Dodge mechanics mentioning upgraded components in posts when complaints were showing up and being discussed here.

An '07. 5 truck that never had a problem or one that had all the software upgrades done without a lot of CELs and codes set is probably functionally identical to later models.

If I owned an early ISB6. 7 that never displayed problems I would consider myself a man who understands how a Cummins-powered Dodge Ram should be used and be satisfied and proud of my truck.

I have believed all along and have said so here to the anger and resentment of several that early ISB6. 7 problems were likely to have been caused primarily by the way they were used. They were never intended to be used as grocery getters and short distance commuter cars.

 

[Texas Ted]

Thanks for your very lucid comments Harvey. My truck never has been a grocery getter. It is used for full time RV towing. I have been a member of the TDR group since '02 and when I purchased the truck. The website and magazine were invaluable. I learned a good deal about the 6. 7 before purchase. The automatic trans sold me as I could have purchased a 5. 9 at the time. I have no regrets about my decision and I believe you are correct when you say "early ISB 6. 7 problems were likely to have been caused primarily by the way they were used. "
Ted