My '90 GMC 3/4 ton finally gave up a few weeks ago- combustion gases in the coolant. The plan was to get replacement that'll last 4 to 6 years in the $5-6k range, then I'd buy something a bit better.
Turns out this is not a good time to be looking for a used vehicle, especially a truck. Major shortage of used anything, trucks even more so than cars.
As usual, I called home the other day during my afternoon break. SWMBO informed me that I'd just bought a truck. "OK..... What did I buy"? Black with gray interior 2008 Dodge RAM, 4 door, short bed, 4x4, 5 speed auto, power everything (except the seats) including the rear window. Would have preferred a long bed but what the hell, I can live without that.
Ended up being one of those online purchases where the paperwork's done online & they deliver to the house. Cool, 'cause they're about an hour away.
Got home from work, they're supposed to be there in 15 to 30 minutes. We're not that easy to find no matter which GPS or map service you're using, ended up talking them in the final 25 miles or so. That meant that it was not only dark, but verging on my bedtime - got to get up early for work the next day - so the walk-around was minimal. He did mention that there was a "hitch in its get-along" occasionally, usually around 70mph, then it'd drive normally.
Drove it to work the next morning. The "hitch" turned out to be something I've never experienced. Not saying I'm an expert on internal combustion vehicles, but I have built and driven a couple of street rods & dirt track cars from the ground up, performed my own maintenance (motor, trans, suspension, brakes, etc.) on numerous 2 & 4 wheel vehicles - so I have some experience.
Anyway, the "hitch" actually occurs around 60mph and what it does is lock up one wheel (I'm thinking left rear) momentarily - sometimes just enough to feel a jerk, other times the tire will stop rotating for a couple of seconds or so, making enough "rubber sliding on pavement" noise that the car following can hear it. It'll operate fine after that, until the truck's slowed down to 10mph or so, then it'll do it again when you get back up to speed. Supposedly the pads & rotors were changed out at the dealership. The brakes feel good at the pedal and I didn't see anything obvious wrong with the rotors.
The truck's back at the dealer now, I'm driving a loaner, while they fix the problem. I'd like to have some idea of what the problem could be before they get back to me. Not that I distrust them (yet); they seem sincere, their reviews are good and I saw some of the restorations they've done. Sort of a trust, but verify thing.
Also, the previous owner (I'm the second owner) might have been a painter. There's small spots of what seem to be house paint here & there on it, around the door handle, on the drivers arm rest and many drops of paint on the hood - most ~ 1/4" dia. or so. The paint will scrap off with my thumbnail, but there's got to be a faster way. Not sure about using Goof Off or similar on the body paint. I do own a buffer and various grit compounds, but trying to buff the hood, fenders & doors could become a career of it's own. One thing I don't have an abundance of these days is time. I could live with the paint splotches if it's going to be too involved time-wise to remove them.
