Looking at a 2003 2500

[ANG012]

Iam looking at a 2003 2500 with 46000 miles, what should i look for.

 

[Johnstra]

Auto or 6-speed? A low miles 03 is probably a winner.



Check the brakes. Check for drive line vibrations. Get it up to operating temperature and see if there is a pulsing vibration you can feel in the pedals and steering wheel. If you feel it the truck might need the power steering pump hose TSB. If it's a 6-speed, pay attention to how it shifts into gear from a stop and then up and down through the gears. Pay attention to how it shifts into reverse.



And of course look for indications that the truck has been modified. Stock intake? Stock turbo? Stock exhaust?



Good luck!



-john

 

[rscurtis]

While this is not answering your question, I'll give you some encouragement.

I have an '03 2500 4x4, and I wouldn't trade it even for an '08-especially after my last trip to PA from Long Island. How's 23. 3 mpg hand calculated sound?

 

[daytripper63]

Iam looking at a 2003 2500 with 46000 miles, what should i look for.

From one 03 owner to someone who should be another 03 owner, "Why are you just looking at it" If the price is right I would not hesitate to buy another 03 over the newer years.

03's and early 04's have 2 injection events vs the newer having 3 therefore better mileage on the 03

 

[100 Proof]

Biggest thing to look for is whether it is an HO or an SO engine. If it was NOT an HO, that would probably be a deal breaker for me outside of California. Both engines were offered in the 2003 trucks.



If it is an automatic, you will probably want to know if it is the 47RE or the 48RE. The change was made in the middle of that model year. With those kinds of miles on it, I don't think I would make that a deal breaker if the price is right and the rest of the truck is sound.



You also might want to know if it has the 11. 5” rear differential, depending on how you will use the truck. If you will tow heavy, I would want the 11. 5”, preferably with limited slip option. I believe that was standard on all the 6 speed HO trucks. Don't know exactly how that cut was made on the rest.



As a 2003 owner, I echo the others comments. I routinely get 20 MPG around town and have recorded as high as 24+ on a couple of trips with a truck load of Boy Scouts and their gear, ALL hand calculated.



100 Proof

 

[daytripper63]

Biggest thing to look for is whether it is an HO or an SO engine. If it was NOT an HO, that would probably be a deal breaker for me outside of Calaifornia. Both engines were offered in the 2003 trucks.



100 Proof

I would not be concerned about the S. O. vs H. O. with all the reliable power options out there. I have a Calif. S. O. and I started modding my 03 the day after I bought it with the mods in my sig and have never looked back.

 

[AMcCormick]

I like my truck and am very glad I was out bid on an 02' that i was trying to buy. This is my first CTD so I cant help you too much, other than I really like my truck.

 

[Tejasdge]

I love my '03 and just joined the 100k mile club. I did what I said I would never do and bought a first year run. BUT, the body was 2nd year from the 1500 and the automatic could only get better. The 48RE has been an improvement and has been "very very good to me" with regular (15k) maintainance and a little tweaking. If you have the HO auto, it will have the 48RE and 11. 5 rear end.



Some things to look at for all years;



-A/C blend doors (my recirc door is droopy and is not closing completely since around 90k)

-Ball Joints (I still have stock, but others have had issues. )

-Power steering buzz in pedals and steering wheel (Damper TSB fixed mine)

-Death wobble (My problems have been the 315 BFG's with lots of balance weights and/or low air pressure)

-Don't let the dealer do the stupid reverse recall! (I may never take my truck to the dealer just to make sure I don't "get" it)

-American Axle maintainance (I just bought a 5 gallon pail of Royal Purple 75w90 and change it when I do the Trans. at 15k)

-The taillight connector system is ..... lacking (Go buy new glass based bulbs and dielectric silicon at NAPA. )

-Poor headlights (I swear by Silverstars. Are the Ultra's any better?)



Stupid Little things that happened just before 100k;



-At the first cold snap this year my hood supports gave it up and the hood nearly took my head off.

-A motor in the drivers power seat went out. (Mopar doesn't just sell the motor, so I went to the junk yard. )

-Had to change the stock front brake pads. :-laf (Paid the extra bucks for the OEM pads, threw em on, and kept going. I try not to mess with something that works. )

-The water pump went out. (Hmmm, pay the dealer the $100 deductable plus rental or put it in myself and flush the cooling system properly for around $100?)



So based on this being the best truck I have owned and MY perception of the 04. 5 and up models, when/if I turn this one into the farm truck, I will look for an 03 - 04 with low mileage to replace it. Sooo... .



Have you bought it yet?

 

[ANG012]

I got it on the 15, Its a black 2500 quad cab with the laramie package. it has 47000 miles and was used daily driver, never towed anything. Iam a second gen person but this drives and rides so much better than the second gen of mine. Oo.

 

[lamontcn]

air conditioning vent check

check the passenger air vents. lots of problems with air flow and mixture vents on those models

 

[100 Proof]

I got it on the 15, Its a black 2500 quad cab with the laramie package. it has 47000 miles and was used daily driver, never towed anything. Iam a second gen person but this drives and rides so much better than the second gen of mine. Oo.

Congrats and welcome to the wonderful world of the 3rd Gens! You have to update your signature accordingly.



100 Proof