A Ram in Phoenix usually earns its keep towing, hauling, or running a route in a ProMaster from April through September when the pavement is hot enough to matter. We service Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500, ProMaster, ProMaster City and Dakota, from routine oil service to the heavy diagnostic work a work truck eventually needs.
Ram’s strengths and weaknesses are both well documented. The Hemi V8 is a strong engine with a known lifter problem. The Cummins diesel is exceptional but sensitive to emissions system maintenance. The air suspension on 1500 models is comfortable and heat-sensitive. Knowing which of those you are dealing with before spending money is most of the job.
Models we service: Ram 1500, Ram 2500, Ram 3500, ProMaster, ProMaster City and Dakota.
Diesel emissions components EGR coolers, DPF systems and turbo actuators do not respond well to short-trip driving in extreme heat. If your Ram diesel spends its life on short runs around the Valley rather than long highway pulls, expect regeneration and EGR issues sooner, and plan maintenance around that reality rather than the mileage in the manual.
Interval | What we perform |
30,000 miles | Full synthetic oil and filter, tire rotation, brake inspection, air and cabin filters, cooling system pressure test, trailer brake and wiring check, fuel filter on diesel models |
60,000 miles | Transmission fluid service, spark plugs on Hemi (16 total), brake fluid flush, front and rear differential fluid, transfer case fluid, four-wheel alignment |
90,000 miles | Full coolant flush, water pump inspection, serpentine belt and tensioner, EGR and emissions system inspection on diesel, steering and suspension inspection, fuel system service |
A persistent tick from the top of the engine, often with a misfire code on one cylinder. MDS lifters collapse and wipe the camshaft lobe beneath them. It is the most common major Hemi repair, and the cost difference between early diagnosis and late diagnosis is substantial. Any new tick on a Hemi Ram should be inspected promptly rather than watched.
The truck sitting low, refusing to raise, or displaying a suspension service message. Air springs dry out and crack in desert heat, and once one leaks the compressor runs continuously until it fails as well. Diagnosing which component actually failed spring, compressor, valve block or height sensor is what prevents a large bill from becoming a larger one.
Loss of power, repeated regeneration cycles, white smoke or a check engine light for EGR flow. Diesel emissions hardware is built around an assumption of regular highway running at temperature. Phoenix delivery and job-site driving often does not provide that, and soot accumulation follows. Proper diagnosis separates a cleaning from a component replacement.
A truck that follows ruts, needs constant correction on the highway, or wears the front tires unevenly. Heavy front axles, big tires and desert road surfaces wear steering linkage, and worn linkage cannot be aligned around. We inspect the components first, then align the reverse order wastes your money.
Light truck tires on a Ram are a significant purchase, and nothing destroys them faster than worn steering components or a truck that carries weight with the alignment set for an empty bed. We inspect the front end before mounting anything, align on our own rack afterward, and set pressures to the door placard rather than the sidewall maximum.
Schedule your Ram service today. Written estimates, correct specifications, no pressure – and an honest answer if the work belongs somewhere else.
Beat the Phoenix heat with a fast, reliable AC checkup from Pete Kelley’s.
Quick, affordable oil changes to keep your engine running smooth.
Expert engine diagnostics and repair from Phoenix’s local experts.
Restore performance and quiet the ride with expert exhaust repairs.
Stay safe on the road with thorough brake inspections and repairs.
Expert transmission care to keep your ride shifting smoothly.
Battery testing and electrical repairs, done right the first time.
Prevent overheating with cooling system repairs from Pete Kelley’s
Yes. We handle diesel maintenance, diagnostics, cooling system work and emissions-related repairs. Call with your year and engine so we can confirm scope before you drive over.
Almost always a leaking air spring on air-suspension-equipped 1500 models. Desert heat cracks the rubber. Have it diagnosed promptly a leaking spring makes the compressor run constantly, and a burned-out compressor turns one repair into two.
Usually an MDS lifter beginning to fail. It is worth diagnosing quickly, because a collapsed lifter damages the camshaft and significantly increases the cost of the repair.
Yes. We service work trucks and fleet vehicles with scheduled maintenance and priority scheduling, so your trucks spend their day working instead of waiting. Ask about a fleet account.
Free written estimate. No pressure. Honest advice from a shop that has been on North Central since 1972.