The Verdict: I did not buy
Long Story, if you care.
6-15-152011 Dodge Nitro SE 4x2 39557 miles $14900 firm price
Purchase Inspection
·3.7 V6 Engine:ran OK, but oil on top of valve covers and on top of battery.The engine was not weak.The truck had some power, but not a lot of power. Engine performance was OK, but no better. Oil color medium brown, but OK
·42 RLE Transmission:Shifted OK, shift solenoid made odd gear noise when shifting into reverse, Trans oil was brick red in color with no brightness, level 40 mm at operating temp, with coolant temp needle half way up gage. This may have been right, since the fluid would have heated up more after we had been out on the road. Needed trans oil and filter change.
·Fluids: Orange Coolant was low: nothing in reservoir and radiator not completely full. A Plus: Nitro has an actual radiator cap rather than a pressurized reservoir cap. Brake fluid, and power steering oil OK.
·Windshield Washer: reservoir dirty at bottom. Washer did not operate. Could need pump or just everything cleaned out
·Air Filter: dirty
·Serpentine Belt: good, no cracking. Upper and LowerRadiator hose OK.
·Exhaust pipe/muffler/cat, and resonator: OK
·Suspension: components looked clean and straight
·Steering: Smooth, no clunks even at extreme end of travel. Steering was a bright spot.
·Brakes: worked well: 4 wheel disc, single groove on outside of RF rotor. Could be outside pad’s rivet. Need front brakes. LR outside pad also looked low. I think it needs pads all the way around. Owner did not agree
·Tires 225-75R16: rims had a few small dings. Cold Tires:LF 5-5-5-6 44psi, LR 3-3-3 32psi, RF 6-5-6-6 46psi, RR 2-1-2 51psi. Both rear tires need replace. All but 1 tire overinflated.
·Spare Tire: under cargo area on winch and hook. Tire had been used and replaced with valve facing up. Could not check air pressure
·Body/Frame: frame was arrow straight. No damage visible anywhere under truck. A big plus. Body also straight. Crack in LR bumper fascia and Left tailight lens. Tailgate had 4x4 emblem. I wondered if it had been hit and replaced, since the truck is 4x2. Regarding emblem, Owner said, “someone just put that on there.” Front air dam loose under bumper fascia at RF corner.
·Driveshaft & U-Joints: Moved with my hand and also with large flat blade screwdriver thru both u-joints. No play in u-joints or signs shaft was not straight. No vibration at any engine speed or road speed.
·8.25 Rear Differential: popped out rubber plug in diff cover. Level just below fill hole.Oil clean. Axle housing clean. No noise or issues.
·140 Amp Alternator: Engine Running, No Load, @ Battery 14.15-14.25V, AirC & HeadL Load, @ Battery 14.05-14.15V
·Lights: OK
·Windows: electric, OK. RF a little noisy. Some of the interior window tint was scraped/scratched
·Locks: electric,OK
·Heat: OK in all positions. Could not really test on summer day
·AC: mediocre. Our Concorde puts out colder air at max AC and it has 160000 miles at 15 years old. AC was not powerfully reaching backseat. AC was a big negative.
·Stereo: OK
·Mechanical Seats:OK
·Seat belts(Buckle Faces Out): all latched, but center rear buckle faced backwards
·Windshield wipers OK.
·Trunk Tailgate: remote unlock and key unlock OK. Latch OK
·Carpets dampness: none
·Electric Port(cigarette lighter): DVD player. OK
Interior condition: dirty. Lots of orange tomato sauce spots in roof liner
The $14900 price was firm. Owner did turn out to be willing to knock a couple hundred bucks off, but I came away thinking that this particular rolling box was worth more like $13,500 or less. I spoke with my heart, thanked her for her time, said that I wasn’t interested, and drove away.