Searching for a Ram mechanic near you in Savannah? Savannah Auto Repair is the local alternative to the Ram dealership. We repair and service Ram cars, trucks, and SUVs across Savannah, GA, gas, hybrid, and diesel, with honest, upfront pricing.
Ram repair near you
Our technicians know the Ram lineup inside and out. We use factory-grade diagnostic tools and quality OEM or equivalent parts, so your Ram is fixed right the first time, without the dealership markup or the wait.
A Ram pickup that develops a tick or knock from the engine at idle in Savannah is worth checking before it's driven hard — the Hemi's lifter design is a known weak point industry-wide, and catching it early beats catching it late. Savannah Auto Repair runs walk-in diagnostics Mon–Sun 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM. Call (912) 999-4689.
A tick or knock from a Ram's engine at idle is worth checking before the truck gets driven hard, not after — the Hemi's lifter design is a well-known weak point industry-wide, and catching it early is a different repair than catching it late. Not every tick is the lifters, though; an exhaust manifold leak sounds similar and costs far less to fix, which is exactly why guessing from the sound alone is a bad way to spend money in either direction.
For a truck that earns money every day it's on the road, the real question usually isn't just what's wrong — it's how fast someone can put eyes on it without a multi-day wait for an open bay. A 4.8-star average across 37 Google reviews doesn't fix an engine, but it tends to reflect the same thing: showing up when the truck actually needs to get looked at, not on a callback. Current hours: Mon–Sun 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
Is a Ram engine tick something to worry about right away?
A tick that only shows up cold and quiets down once the oil warms up is worth watching, not panicking over. A tick that persists once the engine's fully warm, especially with any hesitation or a check-engine light for a misfire, is the one that gets driven in rather than driven on — a lifter that's already collapsing can take a camshaft lobe with it, and that turns a contained repair into a much bigger one.
The sound alone rarely settles it. A scope down the valve cover and a look at oil pressure trends tell the difference between a lifter and a manifold leak faster than listening from the driver's seat ever will.
What does taking a Ram to the dealer versus an independent shop actually change?
A dealer working under warranty has to follow the manufacturer's exact repair and documentation process, which is the right call if the truck still qualifies. Outside of warranty, that same process adds a service-department layer and a booking calendar to a repair that doesn't need either. An independent shop pricing the same lifter or cam job isn't bound to that process, and that's usually where the schedule gap closes, not the parts cost.
- Still under the factory powertrain warranty: the dealer, no question.
- Warranty's expired and the truck needs to be back on the road fast: an independent shop, most days.
What does a bad lifter sound like on a Ram?
A ticking or clacking from the top of the engine that tracks with RPM, usually more noticeable at idle or on cold start-up. It's easy to confuse with an exhaust leak or a loose accessory, which is why it's worth having someone actually listen rather than diagnosing it by description over the phone.
Can I still drive my Ram if it's ticking?
For a short trip, probably. For daily towing or job-site work, it's a bad bet — a lifter that's starting to fail doesn't usually give much warning before it takes the camshaft with it, and that's a far bigger repair than catching it early.
Do you work on diesel Ram trucks?
Diesel drivetrains come through regularly enough that this shop's own search history includes marine diesel engine queries alongside truck work — different systems, but the same comfort working on compression-ignition engines rather than treating them as a specialty case. Call ahead with any fault code the truck has already thrown; DEF and emissions-related codes narrow the diagnosis before the truck is even on the lift.