Did I make the right choice???

[RodneyNichols]

This last weekend I traded in my 02 6sp HO for an 03 Auto. HO



Did they fix all the problems we were having with the "Lift Pumps and Injector Pumps" ect. ?



Is there any known problems with the 03's ?



what is a nice mild chip for this 03 HO Auto.



I don't want to make a bunch of mods to this truck I had a Drag Comp and a pump cover on the 02 6sp. and I had to replace a lot of parts. .



Also if guys know of anyone looking for a drag comp and a pump cover please let me know. I have it listed in the classifieds.



Sorry I still need to update my signature.



thanks again.

Rodney

 

[Posm]

Rodney

No one knows yet whether you made the right choice. My first two lift pumps made it about 45,000 miles each. There are probably not a couple hundred 3rd Gens with that kind of mileage and only 10 or so on this board.

I am very encouraged when I see how smooth the transition to the HPCR has been compared to the Duramax and the Navistar 6. 0. Besides the alternator bracket, I have seen very few multiple failures. I just sold my Y2K with a little over 200,300 miles last week. My 04 should be here today or tomorrow.

Besides the inability to leave well enough alone, why would you want to bomb you 04. It is starting out like a 2nd Gen with an EZ factory installed. I just hope you did not get the Auto with the 3. 73s.

 

[RodneyNichols]

POSM

yes I did get the Auto with the 3. 73's why whats up. . Don't tell me I'm going to have problems with this one.



thanks.

 

[Intense Marine]

Cummins-man



This is my first post on this site. I used to have a powerchoke. I think you made a smart choice. I have 6000 miles on my 03. We took a 1500 mile trip last weekend to Missippi and averaged 20. 1 miles to the gallon running 75 to 90mph. I think that the 3:73's are the best all around gears to have. I have had 18,340lbs behind a truck with 3:73 gears. The 3:55's were to high and the 4:10's are to low. Thats just my opinion. :-{} I also went with the automatic. I had the automatic in my last truck and reguardless of problems will not own a stick.



Good luck with your new truck. I love mine!

 

[RodneyNichols]

Intense Marine

Friday is the day I picked the truck up and I took it on a 300 mile trip and according to the over head computer I got 14 mpg Avg. running from 70 to 100 mph.



what performance mods do you have on your truck if any? how does it run?

 

[Posm]

I was just kidding about the 3. 73 and the auto. It is a great gear for most people. I think it may be a little steep for those that want to pull a heavy load often. Remember the Auto is 6% higher gear than the 6 speed and 8% higher than the 5 speed. The 4. 10 is only 9% lower. I am concerned about dogging the Auto at 45 to 55 MPH with the TC unlocked. This generates a lot of heat. The 4. 10 would get the RPMs up quicker and get it locked up sooner.

Lock up generates less heat.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Cummins-Man, I have 14,000+ on mine and I'm

I towed a boat over the weekend, with that and all my junk I weighed in around 11,500lbs combined and towing at 70mph and charging up hills at full speed and bucking a headwind I turned 15. 73 mpg.



Mine is stock other than a little exhaust BOMBing, but I would get gauges before you get carried away with adding power. There are a number of power boxes available but I would lean toward the ones that do not raise fuel rail pressure if you are concerned about long-term reliability.



I have been living in this 3rd-Gen forum for a year now and with the significant number of members here now with these new HPCR engines, lift-pump failures and other fuel system problems have been unheard of. I haven't seen more than 1 or 2 posts about any lift pump problems and so far I've never heard of any injector problems either (very much unlike the 6. 0 PSDs, right Intense Marine?? ) I did have a problem on mine right at 10,000 miles when it started blowing smoke constantly and smelled rich like poorly burned fuel. I took it in and they replaced the ECM, and ever since then it's been running friggin awesome.



Welcome you guys to TDR, by the way!



Vaughn

 

[yogibear]

Cummins-man, you made the right choice!! I've got 83+K mi. on my 03 now, and like it more every mile. I've got the new alt. brkt. , and the flash for the dash lights, and thats all I've been to the dlr. for. Oh I almost forgot, had power steering hose split on me on the first trip I made with it. I get 18 to 21 mpg empty, and last week took a 35' 5er to Harrisburg, Pa. , and got 12. 4mpg on the trip. I was following a friend in his 04 duramax with an allison tho, so had to ease up on the throttle going up the hills to keep from running over him, he was towing the same size trl. , he wouldn't tell me what mileage he got. Hope this helps ease your mind a little. Happy trucking!!



Larry