buying an 04 truck what do i need tolook for

[ChrisWalker]

iam lookin at buying an 04 cummins from a car lot around here but i have an 05 now and i want this 04 to drive around to keep miles off the 05 but i just wanted to know if there any problems with an of i know the 03 where ruff so if u can help just let me know thankx

 

[XXLTexan]

is it and H. O. ?

 

[BHolm]

Whats wrong with the '03s? I had two of them, some of the finest trucks I ever owned.



I would also wonder which engine. I think it could be a 250 Cali, 305 HO or even an 04. 5 325. Which transmission?



It is going to be virtually identical to your '05 anyway. If it has the auto it will have an OD lock out instead of the T/H on an '05.

 

[JDiepstra]

Check on the lift pump. Has it been moved in tank yet? If not you might want to get this worked into the price. The other setup has left many people stranded.

 

[XXLTexan]

yup... what they said=0

 

[Grizzly]

Chris, first of all I would never buy anything from a car lot. I would only buy from a private original owner. I would hope to see the truck at his house and with any luck see inside his garage. Seeing the house, yard and garage is an indicator of how well he took care of the truck. I'm not talking about a richy mansion house. A 1200 sq ft house is good enough. BS with the owner a bit and get a feel for how honest he is. You won't get that from Slick Willy at a used car lot. Having said that, be sure and check the truck to make sure it wasn't in the Katrina flood or any other flood.

 

[betterthanstock]

Start the engine, open up the oil fill plug, and feel for blowby. There should be none, to very, very minimal. Any pulsing, may mean a bad piston, or scored cylinder.



Listen to exhaust at cold start, for any misfire (bad injector).

 

[BHolm]

Start the engine, open up the oil fill plug, and feel for blowby. There should be none, to very, very minimal. Any pulsing, may mean a bad piston, or scored cylinder.



Listen to exhaust at cold start, for any misfire (bad injector).

Blowby, jeez... it's probably like a typical '04 and has less than 60k miles on it by now. Not even broken in, much less having worn out rings. Doesn't hurt to check I guess.

 

[betterthanstock]

Actually someone on here just posted that his truck had oil leaks. It turns out it had big blowby from one damaged piston (hole melted in it from high temperature).

That, and the possibility someone used a damaged air filter in dusty conditions, without bothering to check until too late, then traded truck due to excessive oil consumption.

 

[ChrisWalker]

well thanks its still at the car lot but they dont own it its owned by a guy in ashboro and iam trying to find him now the car lot want tell u much but there r not many trucks like this around so pluse it have a banks six gun witch i dont care about but some one put it on there i took my turck guy the one that works on big red and it has passed by him but like yall said he wants to see where it come from and i the lift pump has not been moved and the car lot has no cule what we r talking about but thanks if there is any thing else to know just let me know yall have never told me a lie thankx