1st impressions and questions???

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Observations & Questions after about 50 miles.

Going into 4th gear is a little stiff. I hope this will loosen up some.

Is there supposed to be floor mats for the rear on a quad cab SLT or just the front. I need to stop by the dealer if the rears are supposed to be there.

The oil pressure seems very low. About a needle width above 20 PSI is about the highest I have seen it go warm. I will observe the cold PSI in the morning. What are you guys seeing for normal?

The steering is somewhat stiff, and has a tendency to stay where you point it, rather than trying to seek a straight path. While not exactly what I would classify as wandering, it does seem to require a lot of input to keep things pointed in the right direction. I believe some of you new owners have reported that this will loosen up after a while? Does this sound like what other new trucks are acting like?

Other than that, I am having fun with it. Seeing way over 20 MPG on the trip computer (instantaneous) while traveling a steady 55 on the flat. Off the intestates, that is still the speed limit in Oregon, of course few people observe that, me included, most of the time.

Shelby

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2001 2500 QC LB 4WD, ETH, DEE, 3. 54 gears, Laramie SLT, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Travel Convenience Group, Power Driver Seat, Alarm System, Remote Keyless Entry, Fog Lamps, Cab Clearance Lamps, HD Transfer Case, Bright White with a Gray Interior. Took delivery on 10-06-00. Coming soon: E-Brake and a custom aluminum work body / flat bed.

 

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My oil pressure has always been in the range of 45 psi. Don't know if the 24 valves are different in this regard, but that seems low to me.

The steering sounds like mine did when I first got my truck. Steering "wander" is a complaint often associated with Rams, particularly if they've been equipped with after market, over sized tires. I about wore out my dealer (and a couple others) getting them to "troubleshoot" and correct the sloppy steering of my truck. It drove me nuts on narrow country lanes; I felt like I was forever dodging mailboxes and oncoming traffic. They replaced the intermediate steering shaft; that helped. They tightened some gizmo in the steering box; that helped a LOT! I replaced the factory toilet plungers (shocks) with Ranch 9000s at 25,000 miles; that made a significant difference. Then I replaced the factory "links" with Rancho links (as reviewed by Scott Dalgleish in the TDR) a couple thousand miles later. Now the truck drives like a charm. I think the single biggest help was having things tightened up in the steering box. I don't know why your steering doesn't want to return to center. Check the inflation on your tires -- that can be a key factor; a difference of 5 lbs (air pressure) in your front tires can make the truck want to drift in one direction or another. Get a tire gauge (a good one) keep it in your glove box, and use it regularly. Have your alignment checked, too. The dealer should do this for you (at no charge) with a brand new truck. I have an alignment done, as a matter of routine maintenance, every 10,000 miles. You'll save money on tires, anyway, with a properly aligned vehicle.

Congratulations on the purchase of your new truck! You're in for a lot of happy hours behind the wheel.

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97 2500 4x4, club cab, auto, 3. 54 limited slip, JRE 4" exhaust, Dr. Performance Fuel system (370 HP), "Twister Turbo," Geno's guages -- Boost, EGT, transmission & Rear -- MAG Hytec covers, SunCoast Converter/Transgo shift kit, Brite Box, tons o'chrome under hood, Prime Loc, EZ Drain, Seat covers, wood dash, Rancho Suspension, Warn M12000 Winch on Warn Brush Guard, Warn driving and fog lights, Hella twin back up lights, 285/75/R16 B. F. G. ATs on Mickey Thompson "Classic" rims; Linex bed liner, BD exhaust brake.

 

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Your oil pressure seems very low. My new 2001 ETH/DEE shows 40-45 psi most of the time. I have 190 miles on it so far.

Your steering problem sounds like the tightening that was done to Sasquatch's was done to yours, only too much. I was reading the TSB on how to do that, and it said if you go to far, the steering wants to "stick" as you described. Time for a dealer visit on both counts, I'd say.

My shifter has been very cooperative since I got the truck (which had all of four miles on it when I drove it for the first time). It's loosened up quite a bit, but it's been easy enough to get into the gears. It did grind a tad going into 3rd this morning when it wasn't completely warmed up and I was shifting kinda fast, but other than that, it's been great.

My truck has no rear mats either. I want to order a set of the Husky Floor Liners in black to match my Agate interior. I have a set of front and rear Huskies in gray that I took out of my '96 automatic, but I'm not sure if they'll fit properly in the newer trucks. I got 'em from ultimatetruckandvan.com for $55 per set (front/rear).

Rob

 

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The Quadcabs don't come with rear floor mats. I bought the rear floor mat from the dealer. It's a long one piece that matches the front mats.

As far as steering goes: I've had a nightmare with mine. It wandered, was way too sloppy, and it wouldn't come back to center correctly. 4 or 5 trips to the dealer included: alignment, a new track bar, a new steering box and another alignment.
After all of that, I still wasn't too satisfied, but it was better. Then, I found the missing link. After rotating my tires last week, I checked the pressures. They were too high (about 60 all around), so I bled them down to 50 psi front, 45 psi rear. That did it. After 5400 miles, it finally steers like it should have from the beginning. The wander is gone.
The track bar and steering box were both bad, so when I previously had the tires properly inflated with the bad components, it still didn't steer right. The dealer must have changed my pressures one of the times it was in and I didn't know it. The combination of the new parts and proper psi is what I needed. Start by making sure your pressure is correct, but be aware that the steering boxes are suspect on these trucks. There are other threads on the steering subject. Many have had problems. Keep at it and don't accept bad steering as being normal. Good luck!

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2001 2500; SLT; 4x4; QC; LWB; Auto; 3. 54 LS; 265s; Camper; Tow; Sliding Rear Window; Travel Convenience Group; Cab Clearance Lamps; Forest Green

 

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20 psi oil pressure , is that at idle ? i noticed that at idle when mine was brandy new the oil pressure was about that , when the motor was reving in the 2k range it was fine . at 2400 mi. i changed the oil and it jumped up to 40-45 psi at idle ,i think the oil installed at the factory is a bit thin to speed up the break in process , but have the dealer check it and your steering box adjustment , it should return to center.

[This message has been edited by Mopar-muscle (edited 10-08-2000). ]

 

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Thanks guys, for the replies so far. I will check the air pressure in the tires, and then start dealing with the other steering problems if that does not help.

The oil pressure is still kind of a mystery to me. Today, from the initial fire up onward I have always had 40-60 PSI, 60 PSI this morning when cold. Why it was only showing 20 PSI no matter the engine speed yesterday is still a mystery and I might add a little bit scary. I hope it was only a electronic glitch and not a actual mechanical malfunction. I had visions of a blockage in the oil supply, so will definitely keep a close eye on it.

Shelby

 

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Originally posted by Surveyor Shelby:
Why it was only showing 20 PSI no matter the engine speed yesterday is still a mystery and I might add a little bit scary.

Remember that scene in the movie "The China Syndrome" where the gauges looked normal, and then the engineer thumped the gauges and the needles fell off scale low? (I loved that scene - the OH $__T looks on their faces as they realized what was going to happen next... )
I bet your needle has a "sticky spot", your pressure was probably normal and trying to push the needle past that spot all along.
If it happens again, THUMP THE GAUGE!
And if it happens three times again, make your dealer install a new gauge while you are still under warranty. But the good news is, #1, your oil pressure is probably OK, and #2, we don't have those "one reading" idiot gauges that Ford put on their trucks. (I read on the ford site that their oil gauges just read one of two settings - "low" or "normal". It is really just an idiot light, not a gauge. ) (I'm not slamming Fords in general, just this particular feature. )