> Ignoramus16919 wrote:

>>Just spoke to a friend of my wife who is a car mechanic who makes
>>money by fixing cars.

>>He mentioned that it could well be a tranny problem.

>>He advised me that once shit starts on Chryslers, that it only gets
>>worse, and advised me to not do any repairs and to get rid of this
>>truck as soon as possible.

>>I am inclined to do just that.

>>i

> We just got rid of a 1998 Ram 3500B stretch extended van, that may or
> may not have a similar drive train as your truck.  (5.9 L engine, auto
> trans).  The transmission croaked at something like 89000 Miles, and they
> rebuilt it for ONLY $3100!  We did get a "lifetime" warranty on the
> rebuild, so if it ever blew AGAIN, we'd be covered.

> Having had major transmission problems on our last THREE American-brand
> cars in a ROW, I've pretty well sworn them off.  Meanwhile, I'm still
> driving my 1989 Toyota Corolla station wagon with manual transaxle.
> Maintenance on that one has run about $100/year, on average.  Some
> years it requires ZERO maintenance whatsoever.  170,000 miles on the
> original wter pump, alternator, the A/C refrigerant has NEVER been
> even topped-up, etc.

> It ought to be possible to isolate grinding noises to the transmission or
> rear axle.  Any way you can jack the rear wheels off the ground?
> If it is the transmission, you are in deep DOO-DOO, and he's definitely
> right, if you can in good conscience dump the thing, do so.

> If it is the axle, then I really don't see how some grinding in there is
> going
> to take the transmission with it.

> Jon