Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Intake Air Heater And Rear diff Questions

[kennethh]

Hi all I'm a bit new to the diesel scene so I have a couple of questions about my new truck. It is a 99 Ram 2500 5. 9 with 54000 miles(love it). The Air intake housing is dicolored near the air heater and the boots over the cable mounting studs have melted some. This happened before I came bought the vehical. It seems that the problem has been fixed because I don't smell anything like plastic burning(just the great smell of diesel ) and the voltage seems to be doing fine. I would like to know what might cause this, what symptoms to look for incase it happens again and what to do to check if it may still be happening? Next I got DC to send me a copy of the MSRP and on it the rear end is dicribed as an anti slip diff. or something allong those lines. Does that means that it is a limited slip diff. ? How else can I check to make sure because I am going to change the diff fluid and I have to find out if I need the additive for the lsd.

Thanks

Kenneth

 

[John Berger]

Someone else more knowledgable than I can chime in on your first question. Yes, you have a limited slip and you will require the additive, depending upon the make of gear lube you use. Amsoil's Series 2000 gear lubes do not require the friction modifier be added. There are other excellent gear lubes that won't require it to be added. If you use the factory stuff, use the additive in the recommend dosage, which is one tube per fill. If you have a higher capacity differential cover, you will probably need two tubes. Good luck and welcome to the TDR. You'll learn lots of things to save your money on repairs only to be separated from it later by the BOMB bug. :-laf

 

[illflem]

A loose connection may have caused the terminal to heat up and melt the boots. For some reason the heater terminal boots are very attractive to mice. Seems that half of them I see are gnawed up.

 

[Huff N Puff]

Replace it

Replace the air heater,cause you may damage your engine if something comes loose and pumps it into the engine. The other problem is you may be leaking boost at the melted insulators. It could also short and start a fire. When you replace it you need to test the control circuit make sure it turns on and off when its supposed to, the relay may be stuck on keeping it on too long,causing it to over heat. Good luck Merv

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The discoloration was caused by excessive heat (baking the clear-coat paint on the air intake). The heater grid relay may have stuck "on" at some time and subsequently been replaced. If the heater sticks on, you will see low voltage on the gauge. Whatch the gauge during winter starts and you can see the low voltage during the "wait to start" cycle, and until you get up to 20 mph, if the ambient air is cold enough, the heater will cycle while the engine is running. Sometimes it seems only one grid cycles (voltage doesn't drop as much).

 

[andrewkoperdak]

I am not sure why JB says you definitely have a LS rear diff. I had to order mine on my '01 and there isn't any external markings to say it is there. To check to see whay you have, you can jack up the rear of your truck, both sides, rotate either wheel forward or reverse. The other tire should follow. If it doesn't you probably don't have the LS rear end. I said probably because the clutche(s) could be worn out and one wheel may not turn as prescribed.



R,

Andy