new 03

[ralphr]

Oo. thanks everyone for your input to my post, (help with 03). I just purchased a new 2500 03 HO 4X4 quad cab with short bed! after looking at several dealers inventory I was getting ready to say oh well I'll just order an 04 with the options I want and we came upon an Orlando Dodge dealer who had two vehicles equipped with all the things I was looking for. The first was a SRW 3500 HO with a six speed, D I liked it!), but the boss was along and she said I don't want to drive a stick, and the we both liked the color of the 2500.



Well thanks again and I will take this opportunity to update my signature. sorry Iguess I can't update my signiture from hear???

 

[Dean Upson]

Good luck with your new ride. You would have loved the 6 speed.



Dean

 

[bighammer]

Congrats. You'll enjoy it.

 

[ralphr]

I agree that the six speed would have been nice! but first, the test drive was in stop and go traffic, and the fact I kept missing 4th did nothing to convince the better half that all was well.



some first impressions of the new 4 speed auto, one I guess that I am so use to the old one I can't really tell any of the shifts except the "lock up". and once locked it stays locked unless there is a reason to unlock. on the old transmission, going down the highway and even just letting off the go pedal would have it unlock and you had to "play games" to get it to lock up again, and even at that I would notice that the engine was 100 or so rpms higher than the initial lock!!!!



a couple of questions if you don't mind, a couple of times at low speed 10 - 15 mph the engine or something would sound like it really rev'd up, almost like a big cooling fan coming on, after speeding up it would go away??? is this "normal"? is the transmission shifting into low low. or is there a cooling fan???



also, in 4wH is some tire scuffing at low speed normal?



hope I have not been to long hear would appreciate your comments.

 

[krabman]

Thats the fan roar that you will see talked about here from time to time. Its normal, the fan is clutched in by the puter seemingly for no reason at times. Are you talking about tire scuffing while turning on a hard surfact in four-high? If so that is normal also. BTW congrats on the new ride.

 

[Dean Upson]

It was so cool this spring that I never really heard that fan until we had a heat wave here in the northeast last week. When that thing came on it scared the bejabbers out of me:--) . If you look at the fan, you will see that it could power a small plane, no wonder it makes so much noise. On a slightly different note, the a/c got a real good work out last week and worked flawlessly. I have the dual controls.



Dean

 

[ralphr]

thanks for your input. after posting I did a search and came up with the fan, (your right I was going to call the closest airport and request permission to taxi when I first heard that thing), I suppose I should have done the search first, but then I couldn't post!



Took a couple hundred mile short trip to visit my son. First, it does not ride like the 99 ( the long wheel base of the extended cab long bed and almost 8,000 lbs empty contributed to the great ride). But it was not bad just OK! the cruise control was great, with the old truck after engage I would have to hold my foot on the go pedal until it "kicked" in, or else the TC would unlock and I would play games until I could get it to lock up again, most of the time with just a second or two to spare until I had to tap my brakes because of the traffic! the new one engages instantly and even if I tap the brake the TC will not un lock unless the speed drops to under 45 or so. I got a computed average MPG of 16. 6, the trip "puter" shows 14. 4. I guess I will have to wait until it breaks in, took about 32K on the old one), to expect better MPG.