2000 — 2002
5.9L Magnum V8
Petrol
Remove the air cleaner assembly and peer down the throttle body with a flashlight to check the very bottom of the intake manifold for pooled engine oil or heavy carbon crust. | Note: The Magnum V8 features a steel plenum belly pan bolted to an aluminum intake. Due to mismatched thermal expansion rates, the gasket routinely blows out, causing the engine to suck oil from the crankcase, leading to spark plug fouling, severe pinging, and NZ WoF exhaust smoke failures.
Accelerate hard through 3rd and 4th gears on an open highway up to 100 km/h, monitoring for delayed engagement, gear hunting, or transmission slippage under heavy load. | Note: The stock 46RE 4-speed automatic transmission is heavily stressed by the weight of the 2500 platform. If it exhibits shifting hesitation, a heavy-duty rebuild with a dedicated aftermarket cooling system is required to handle New Zealand towing demands.
Drive over rough NZ backroads at 80-100 km/h and check for violent front-end steering wheel oscillation or excessive center dead-zone play. | Note: Commonly known as the 'Death Wobble', the heavy front-end geometry on the 2nd-gen heavy-duty RAM platform accelerates wear on the track bar, steering box, and ball joints, making it a high-frequency WoF failure point.
Inspect the RHD steering conversion joints, steering box brace, firewall weld reinforcements, and lower dashboard wiring looms. | Note: As US imports converted to Right-Hand Drive for the NZ market, the quality of the engineering varies drastically. Poorly executed steering conversions pose massive safety risks and will cause immediate WoF/CoF structural rejection.
With the engine running, engage 4WD High and Low ranges on a soft surface to confirm that the front axle completely locks and transfers power. | Note: The 4WD models utilize a vacuum-operated Central Axle Disconnect (CAD) on the front Dana 60 axle. The vacuum lines easily become brittle or crack, preventing 4WD engagement despite the transfer case shifter being moved.
Perform engine oil and filter change with high-quality oil, grease all 11 front suspension steering fittings, and inspect the vacuum lines.
Service the 46RE automatic transmission including fluid, filter, and critical front/rear band adjustments; flush front/rear differentials and transfer case.
Perform a complete cooling system flush, inspect the water pump housing, and replace the plenum gasket with an upgraded aluminum plate kit if oil consumption is noted.
Inspect the intake manifold plenum pan through the throttle body at every major service interval.
Adjust the automatic transmission bands every 40,000 km to prevent premature friction clutch wear.
Regularly grease the front driveshaft double-cardan joint and steering knuckles to prolong component life.
Verify the operation of the CTM (Central Timer Module) to ensure electrical accessories like wipers and locks function reliably.
Apply high-quality UV protectant to the plastic dashboard to prevent severe cracking under Southern Hemisphere sun.
Estimated repair costs if issues arise
Replacing the factory steel belly pan on the intake manifold with an aftermarket aluminum plate permanently resolves internal vacuum leaks and excessive oil consumption.
A standard factory rebuild will fail prematurely under heavy load; a durable rebuild requires an upgraded valve body, stronger input shaft, and premium torque converter.
Replacing worn factory Y-style steering linkages with an upgraded heavy-duty T-style linkage, combined with an adjustable track bar to eliminate steering wander.
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Disclaimer: This report is generated with the assistance of AI analysis based on verified automotive data. While we strive for 100% accuracy, enthusiasts should always conduct physical inspections and consult service records. View Full Disclaimer