What are the issues with the 2003 cummins?

chance · Apr 28, 2013

I'm going to look at a 2003 cummins with the auto, I have been looking for a while and I found one I like. The pickup is the 4 door with about 150,000 miles and no modifications to the motor or trans. I know the auto transmission is a no no but the wife is also going to be driving it sometimes. I guess my questions are, what issues have people had with that year motor and transmission.

t1h5ta3 · Apr 28, 2013

biggest issue on those is filtration, or lack there of.
03-early 04 are my prefered 5.9's. great power, best economy of the comonrails.

chance · Apr 28, 2013

t1h5ta3 said:
biggest issue on those is filtration, or lack there of.
03-early 04 are my prefered 5.9's. great power, best economy of the comonrails.

I'm still learning, you talking about fuel or oil?

Lucky Jeff · Apr 28, 2013

Is the tranny a 47 or 48?

All diesels have their own problems. Best thing to do is learn what's common on whatever rig you buy and fix them (or take precautions) before they become an issue

chance · Apr 28, 2013

Lucky Jeff said:
Is the tranny a 47 or 48?

No idea, i thought they only had the 48re in that year

Lucky Jeff · Apr 28, 2013

48 was an option. I think it was finally standard in 04.

chance · Apr 28, 2013

Lucky Jeff said:
48 was an option. I think it was finally standard in 04.

Is one better then the other, they have any issues?

skinny_pedal · Apr 28, 2013

t1h5ta3 said:
biggest issue on those is filtration, or lack there of.
03-early 04 are my prefered 5.9's. great power, best economy of the comonrails.

My understanding 03 if any got the worse mileage? I know some came with a California emissions and were only getting 12-14mpg.

chance · Apr 28, 2013

skinny_pedal said:
My understanding 03 if any got the worse mileage? I know some came with a California emissions and were only getting 12-14mpg.

I thought 03-06 got the best, i really hope that's not true. My brother has a 07 and I know he had issues with the emissions until he pulled all of it off.

Lucky Jeff · Apr 28, 2013

03-04 stock had better mileage and less heat stock for stock. Programmers fix that though for the 04.5+

chance · Apr 28, 2013

Lucky Jeff said:
03-04 stock had better mileage and less heat stock for stock. Programmers fix that though for the 04.5+

Any information is good guys, I really don't need to be buying a pile.

Lucky Jeff · Apr 28, 2013

chance said:
Any information is good guys, I really don't need to be buying a pile.

Biggest issue is previous maintenance. The more info the better.

48's are just known to last longer and handle power a little better stock.

chance · Apr 28, 2013

Lucky Jeff said:
Biggest issue is previous maintenance. The more info the better.

48's are just known to last longer and handle power a little better stock.

Thanks man I will start reading about it

skinny_pedal · Apr 28, 2013

My father in law has an 06 he's had since new. It's his daily driver and tows a 27' boat multiple times a month. Has around 240k on it now. It's on it's 3rd set of shocks, one a/c pump and everything in the front end done. Truck is stock and gets around 18-20mpg with 33's. truck runs and drives like new and has been maintained by the dealer since day one. He has had zero complaints and prior to this had power strokes.

chance · Apr 28, 2013

skinny_pedal said:
My father in law has an 06 he's had since new. It's his daily driver and tows a 27' boat multiple times a month. Has around 240k on it now. It's on it's 3rd set of shocks, one a/c pump and everything in the front end done. Truck is stock and gets around 18-20mpg with 33's. truck runs and drives like new and has been maintained by the dealer since day one. He has had zero complaints and prior to this had power strokes.

Sounds like good news to me :awesomework:

t1h5ta3 · Apr 28, 2013

chance said:
I'm still learning, you talking about fuel or oil?

fuel. 26Kpsi is like a water jet... ANY contamination wears the injectors out. originaly the stock filters only went down to about 15microns, a few years later there was an update to 7mic, most recomendations are to use an aftermarket 2micron setup.

graysquirrel · Apr 30, 2013

Lucky Jeff said:
Biggest issue is previous maintenance.

:eeek: You talkin about me????????? :kissmyass: Haha

I have a 2003, I love it. It has the 48re. Truck only has 75k on it but no problems so far with the transmission and its lifted 6in on 37s and i haul a 8 and half foot Arctic Fox camper, 20ft car trailer with my toyota wheeler on it.

Lucky Jeff · Apr 30, 2013

graysquirrel said:
:eeek: You talkin about me????????? :kissmyass: Haha

Noo, not you. I was just working on a guys 05 that I worked with at Costco (member here too). The previous owner was NOT kind to that truck and the issues are starting to show up. Truck came from Northwest motorsports.

CHOP SHOP · Apr 30, 2013

Own it under 100K or be prepared to SPEND LOTS of loot fixing it.

The front ends are junk and expensive to rebuild.

The fuel system is a pile of ****.

Ill wait for your future, "whats wrong with my electro dodge" thread.

These are great truck,,,, to own new till 100K.

And stay away from NW motosports. Every tarded flatbiller in the world trades their **** in there as soon as it costs over $1000 to fix. Every truck there has got "tuner abuse".