First off, I'd look for a truck with a build date before 3/4/2009.

Anything built after that has the ECM Bootloader software, which in the event you try to upload a tuner to it, it will lock your truck's ECM up and it will have to be towed to the dealership to be unlocked...In which case they'll probably try to void your warranty.

HOWEVER, Marco, the owner of MADS who manufactures the Smarty programmers is working on a software update for these trucks that will get past that and not cause it to mess up. :thumbsup:

Other than that, I don't really think there's anything else to avoid.

 

First off, I'd look for a truck with a build date before 3/4/2009.

Anything built after that has the ECM Bootloader software, which in the event you try to upload a tuner to it, it will lock your truck's ECM up and it will have to be towed to the dealership to be unlocked...In which case they'll probably try to void your warranty.

I just picked mine up last week, got 470 miles on it so far...love it. Mine has a build date of 03/09. I am not planning on modding it all so would there really be any other reason to care what the build date is?

 

Not really. As far as emissions go, if you plan to leave that stuff on until the warranty is up, an 09 should be the most reliable of all the years. After 3 years of emissions, the later trucks should have most of the bugs worked out of them.

Also, the Edge Race is supposed to work on the 09 bootlegger software. I read that these programmers are momentarily pulled off the market now. Saw it on the forum somewhere, but I'm not sure anyone has comfirmed it. Edge must be making some changes to the programmers.

 

i have 1525 miles on my 09,build date is 8/08,must of been an early 09.was a year old when i got it,lol,no problems here.all stock.

 

If your looking for a truck to mod, why waste $40,000, mod it, void a warranty, wreck an engine, then spend another $12,000 to replace it. Find something used.

 

Just because you mod it doesn't mean your going to destroy the truck or end up having to replace an engine. Some folks just don't like to buy used. I have never bought a used vehicle simply because I don't trust anyone to take care of something as well as I do.

 

Donutman1, I just bought my 09 2 weeks ago. The service manager advised me to add a fuel filter/water seperator to my truck. He said make sure the filter filters down to 2 microns. The reason for doing this is because he is seeing some injectors that have been trashed by bad fuel and Dodge will not warranty them if caused by bad fuel. I installed mine last night.

 

What filter did you buy? Did it just replace the stock one or did you have to add something inline? My truck manual states it already has a fuel filter with a water drain valve, how is that different?

 

DSEFCIK, there are lots of filtration kits out there - this is the kit I used - Longevity & Dependability Products. It filters smaller particles than the factory filter like adding an oil by pass filter.

MonkeyBomb, it seems the dealers will look for any excuse to void a warranty. The service manager said it's very obvious when an injector has been ruined from bad fuel. He said the injector is rusted and and has "trash" in it. I don't know how true that is but I figure it won't hurt to have a little extra filtration.