1990 Dodge Ramcharger LE review from North America
"A great ride around town or on the highway, but 14 mpg gets expensive"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Previous owners (elderly couple) apparently never had a wrench put on this truck except for new shocks and tires. Paint fading all over the place.
Calipers, pads, and shoes, as well as master cylinder all replaced at 110,000 miles. Upper ball joints replaced during front-end alignment.
Fuel pump and ignition coil replaced at 112,000 miles.
Thermostat, water pump, and radiator hoses replaced 111,000 miles. Also, valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap & rotor, catalytic convertor, and drive belts replaced.
PTU Unlock (transmission) solenoid that was missing and presumed never installed at the factory was found to be setting a code in the SBEC and was installed at 112,000 miles... highway passing immediately improved.
Plastic driver side power window motor gears replaced and window motor windings cleaned of rust shavings at 111,500 miles. Headliner replaced shortly thereafter.
Odometer failed at 113,750 miles, and was replaced with a salvage unit of comparable mileage.
Factory stereo head unit and speakers replaced with AM/FM/tape/CD Chrysler unit with new Jensen speakers... no more buzzing!
General comments?
This truck handles great and rides smooth & quiet with the installation of Firestone R4S LTP235/75R15s...a vast improvement over the Goodyear Eagle II P275/70R15s the previous owner had installed. Parking this thing is a breeze, and ease of entry is great (just ask my grandma).
Engine performance is flat & gutless between 45 and 65 mph... it runs like a champ at 75 mph, and flies at 95 mph. I've driven Dodge trucks with a 360, and they get the same fuel economy, but have power to spare at any speed; kinda wish this Ramcharger had a Magnum 360 MPFI.
Bucket seats are superb; center console is cavernous; kinda wish it was compartmentalized.
Rear seat removal is a chore; tools are required. But with the seat folded up, it makes a nice bulkhead for large amounts of cargo and big dogs.
And it can pull a trailer!
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1990 |
| Year of manufacture | 1990 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 5.2 V8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 109000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 114000 miles |
| Previous car | Dodge D250 |
| Date of Entry | 25th September, 2004 |