Thunder Child Note Log
2003 Dodge Ram 2500
Property of flainn.
Added Mar 14 2015
Showing all notes
Dec 26 2016
Oil and filter change. Also lubed lower ball joints, torsion bar end links, front of front driveshaft, and rear driveshaft at rear axle. Unable to grease axle half shaft U-joints, the rear two U-joints on the front driveshaft (will do later)
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214,519
Added by flainn on Dec 26 2016 at 10:55 am
Sep 28 2016
Rebuilt the transfer case. (still leaks afterward, but not as badly). Tried but failed to install transfer case position switch. Replaced all four shocks with Bilstein 4600s. Replaced front stabilizer bar frame bushings and stabilizer bar end links. Replaced passenger side front hub (Timken HA590032, same model as the driver's side hub, which I replaced in April 2015). Replaced all U-joints in front and rear driveshafts and front axle shafts. Replaced inner driver side axle half shaft since I bent the original one with my hydraulic press (trying to remove a U-joint). Had front and rear driveshafts balanced. Cleaned air filter.
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209,820
Added by flainn on Sep 28 2016 at 9:35 am
Jul 11 2016
Fuel filter, engine oil and filter change.
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207,048
Added by flainn on Jul 11 2016 at 9:07 pm
Jun 11 2016
Installed four Bully BBS-1103 steps, not too difficult. Takes about thirty minutes per step. These were a Father's Day present along with my wireless backup camera, phone holder, and some new micro USB cables.
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205,600
Added by flainn on Jun 11 2016 at 1:11 pm
Jun 4 2016
Changed brake fluid (turkey baster) and bled all four brakes. Changed power steering fluid (turkey baster). Used ATF+4 this time for the power steering, and the pump sounds a lot happier.
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205,003
Added by flainn on Jun 4 2016 at 10:46 am
May 29 2016
Changed front and rear differential oil. New oil: AutoZone house brand 75w-90 conventional, non limited slip (the rear axle is not a limited slip axle, and fronts never are), $6 a quart. For the rear, I took the pumpkin off, drained completely, and cleaned inside really well. The original gasket was still on there, so probably the oil hasn't been changed before (good thing I'm doing it!) I made a new gasket with Permatex RTV and am waiting 24 hours to let it cure before refilling with oil. The front diff pumpkin seemed way too difficult to remove (I'd have to take off various bars and whatnot even to get at the bolts) so rather than taking the pumpkin off, I sucked ~2.3 qt of old oil out through the fill hole and refilled an equal amount. The old oil in both diffs was very dark and a fair amount of metal spooge on the magnets. New oil is very light straw color.
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204,780
Added by flainn on May 29 2016 at 5:25 pm
May 28 2016
Changed transmission oil. New oil is Valvoline MTF Synchromesh. I drained through the PTO bottom bolt and filled through the shift tower, which let me put in 6 quarts (1 quart overfull, which is recommended for the NV5600, especially for towing). Old oil looked fine, not too dark.
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204,772
Added by flainn on May 28 2016 at 6:35 pm
Apr 21 2016
Added a DiabloSport Power Puck (+60 HP / +100 lb-ft and +90 HP / +180 lb-ft), used on eBay. Required me to solder on a new connector, but works fine. Makes the truck much peppier!
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202,800
Added by flainn on Apr 21 2016 at 12:09 pm
Mar 27 2016
Drained, flushed (three times, with distilled water) and refilled coolant. Kevin was a big help! Old coolant appeared to be a mix of gold and green coolant. New coolant is Zerex G-05.
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201,325
Added by flainn on Mar 27 2016 at 6:30 pm
Jan 23 2016
Oil and filter change, 12 qts. Valvoline Premium Blue 15w-40 ($12.99 per gallon at O'Reilly) and a Mopar filter that I got from the clearance bin at Wal-Mart. Valvoline Premium Blue says it has a Cummins-approved 5,000-mile drain extension, so I suppose that means you could push the oil drain interval to 10,000 miles if you wanted. Note that I am about to replace the instrument cluster with one that has approximately 177,000 miles on it, so the next oil change will have strange mileage.
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199,740
Added by flainn on Jan 23 2016 at 6:05 pm
Nov 25 2015
Balanced wheels at Wal-Mart
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197,627
Added by flainn on Nov 26 2015 at 8:13 am
Nov 20 2015
Attempting to fix the gauges-going-nuts problem. I repaired the fan clutch wiring, which was visibly damaged. Took both batteries to Auto Zone and had them tested; one was bad. Replaced both batteries with Everstart Maxx 65s, manufactured 11/2015. Cleaned and oiled air filter. Upon startup, truck still misbehaving (P0480, P0483, P1652) ...
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197,602
Added by flainn on Nov 20 2015 at 7:32 pm
Jul 26 2015
Oil and filter change. Delvac 1300 15w-40 and Fleetguard LF16035 filter. I also removed the air filter and air filter housing hoping I could access the filter, but I wasn't able to; however, I did clean up the air filter housing -- which was covered in filter oil and dirt -- considerably. Note that the service manual says oil capacity, including filter, is 11.0 quarts. This is incorrect. Actual capacity (with a Fleetguard LF16035 filter) appears to be approximately 11.8-11.9 quarts. I put in 12.0 quarts and the oil level is above the hash marks after sitting overnight. This may be due to the filter not being quite saturated yet. Also note: using a filter end cap socket is the easiest way to remove the oil filter from this truck. The filter is accessible by taking the inner fender off, but there isn't enough room to get a wrench in there -- so don't bother taking the inner fender off.
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193,707
Added by flainn on Jul 26 2015 at 12:55 pm
Jul 7 2015
Changed brake fluid and power steering fluid, using the turkey baster method. Have not yet bled brakes. Refilled power steering with Dex/Merc III ATF.
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193,009
Added by flainn on Jul 8 2015 at 9:35 am
Apr 17 2015
Put Permatex ultra black RTV along bottom of transfer case and refilled with ATF, hopefully to fix leak. Replaced driver's side front hub; both front brake rotors and brake pads, and all new brake hardware (slider bolts, anti-rattle clips). The Bosch rotors (from O'Reilly) have a lifetime warranty, and the Timken hub (from AutoZone) has a 3-year warranty.
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189,553
Added by flainn on Apr 17 2015 at 6:56 pm
Mar 24 2015
Intercooler boots replaced by Johnny Widner at Unique Motor Sports (188,950). All six injectors replaced (189,000) by American Diesel LLC in Albuquerque at a cost of $3000 to UMS.
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190,000
Added by flainn on Mar 24 2015 at 4:50 pm
Mar 19 2015
Fuel lift pump replaced by mechanic at Unique Motor Sports under warranty. Truck had a lack of power, especially above 2100-2200 RPM, and would not accelerate beyond 75 mph in 5th or 6th up a grade.
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188,888
Added by flainn on Mar 19 2015 at 12:32 pm
Mar 13 2015
Bought from Unique Motor Sports in Albuquerque for $19,995.
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188,600
Added by flainn on Jul 8 2015 at 9:37 am
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