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fseventy
Dodge Dakota
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7/06/2006
03:28:45

Subject: 2000 4.7 w/ auto any good?
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I currently have a 98 club with the 3.9 v6, and I'm looking at a 2000 quadcab that has the 4.7 and auto trans with 128,000 miles. I know the 3.9/5.2 Magnums are bulletproof if you change the oil and keep the plenum gasket in good shape, but I don't know about the 4.7, especially with 128K miles. Can I expect it to go 200K and beyond with good service?

What about gas milage? I'm currently getting around 20mpg combined city/highway with the 3.9 and 5 speed, and I'm hoping the 2 wheel drive 4.7 w/ auto is not going to drop to 15.

What about the auto trans? I thought these were up for failure around 100K depending on if the fluid has always been changed with Mother Mopar juice rather than AutoZone bargain basement trans fluid?

Also, the owner claims it need upper and lower control arms, but I thought these year trucks had problems with the balljoints. If you go too long on bad balljoints can you destroy the control arms?

Thanks for any info.



jpkomm
Dodge Dakota
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7/06/2006
07:36:26

RE: 2000 4.7 w/ auto any good?
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Well, with any used vehicle you purchase, how the owner treated it in the previous 128k miles is going to determine how much longer it lasts. The higher the mileage you go, the bigger risk you are taking in your purchase. I have a 2000 Dak CC SLT 4x4 4.7L, and I love it. I've been babying it with regular baths/waxes and high quality fluids. It is only giving me one problem and that is a rough idle for a few seconds after starting in cool mornings (think it is the idle air control motor). My truck only had 25k miles on it when I bought it in November and pales in comparison to the mileage on yours, so it may not be the best comparison.

The 4.7L engines are just as bulletproof as their elders (time willing) but only if they are taken care of well. A friend of mine had roughly 200k miles on the original motor and tranny before trading it in. It still ran great when he traded it. If you change the tranny fluid when you are supposed to (every 30k miles) with decent quality fluids, you should have a long life out of it. Same goes for the engine.

I get roughly 19-22mpg on the highway and a bit less in the city, but a lot of that has to do because I am running synthetic fluids all the way from the engine to the rear differential. I had gotten about 18mpg highway before that. As for the control arm issue, the reason many people change out their control arms with their ball joints is because the dang things are riveted into the control arms; however, I've read where a lot of people have gotten intimate with a hammer and busted the rivets out and reused the control arms.

The best thing you can do is go drive that truck and don't be gentle on it. Drive it like ya mean it. If it is a dealer, see if you can borrow it for the weekend to see how it does.



toolfan
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7/06/2006
12:06:26

RE: 2000 4.7 w/ auto any good?
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the trans that comes behind the 4.7 is suppose to be very very reliable.



DakLover2
Dodge Dakota
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7/08/2006
00:03:13

RE: 2000 4.7 w/ auto any good?
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DITTO to what jpkomm stated. I have a '00 QC 4.7 Quad auto trans with a 3.55 rear end.The truck has 87,000 miles and gets 19 to 22 GPM on the highway too. I've have added a Airaid air filter with Magnaflow muffler. When need be, the truck can get up and go. Witn 87,000 miles the truck the only real problem was the front rotors warping. I put on 2 sets in under 50,000 miles. That problem was solved with Raybestos rotors and pads and adjusting my rear brakes with each oil change. Then of course the recall on the ball joints. No problem with mine, but still had them changed out.
Mileage on the truck you're looking at shouldn't be a problem as long as the previous owner took care of the vehicle. One final sentenance -
GET IT CHECK OUT BY YOUR MECHANIC



DakLover2
Dodge Dakota
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7/08/2006
00:07:47

RE: 2000 4.7 w/ auto any good?
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Forgot to mention, I had a 97 CC 3.9 4x4 and when I got the 4.7 - WOW what a change! BTW- you should get better gas mileage with the 4.7 compared to the 3.9 --- I did.



ZenDak
Dodge Dakota
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7/09/2006
12:16:33

RE: 2000 4.7 w/ auto any good?
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My '01 4.7 has 140k+, everything pretty much original. I've got HO cams, intake, headers, a,,bunch of other crap... It's been nothing but super reliable. I'm surprised how easy it starts still,,,just BARELY bump the ign. and she fires up. My cats are shot, but still get about 18hwy,,,about 2 city :)

(I'm also the original owner, and take great care of it!)



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