Dodge Dakota Problems. Please help! - READ ONLY

738 messages, Last post on Jan 13, 2003 at 3:27 PM

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What is this discussion about? Dodge Dakota, Brakes, Engine, Transmission, Truck

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#729 of 738 Oil filter change.......... by dustyk Dec 01, 2002 (6:00 pm)
There have been a couple of posts relating some type of horror when removing the oil filter on a 4.7 equiped Dakota. I changed mine for the first time this past week and I didn't find it difficult at all. The oil filter is located on the front right side of the engine and was easily accessible from underneath the vehicle. The process didn't produce a mess of any type. So, I must be missing something. Was this a problem on 4x4s only? As an aside, I actually was able to do the oil change without using my ramps. Kind of a nice change having enough clearance to shimmy under the truck. Regards, Dusty
#730 of 738 dustyk Re: Filter change by bookitty Dec 02, 2002 (6:56 am)
Dusty, the oil filter change and subsequent mess are related to the skid plates used on the 4X4. Other than using a Fumoto valve for dropping the oil, and an empty with bottom removed two liter plastic soft drink bottle for containing the old oil filter you may be faced with a considerable messy task. Even with the soft drink bottle, there is usually a mop up involved. Bookitty
#731 of 738 Bookitty........... by dustyk Dec 02, 2002 (1:51 pm)
Okay. Hey, thanks for the quick reply. A couple of guys at work commented to me that changing the oil filter would be a nightmare on my truck. They stated it in such a way as to presume that it was symptomatic problem with the Dakota. Now to these three General Motors is a religion and anything else is "junk." I think you know the type. Anyway, when I changed oil last week I was surprized at how easy it was to get to the filter. So I didn't know if Dodge had made a change, or what. Now I understand. Thanks again, Dusty
#732 of 738 Temperature Gauge by dustyk Dec 02, 2002 (6:23 pm)
Dakota owners with the 4.7 engine: When fully heated, where is the needle on your temperature gauge? Mine seems to be at about 1/3rd of the range, up from cold end of the scale. I get heat quickly, even in the +10F temps of the last few days. But I seem to remember driving another Dakota (3.9 engine) and I thought the temp gauge was 1/2 way. Dusty
#733 of 738 Temperature Gauge by bpeebles Dec 02, 2002 (6:59 pm)
(dustyk)Your description sounds about right. The reason that the 4.7L warms up faster than the ol' 3.9 engine is directly due to the technology packed into the 4.7L engine. The ol 3.9L used a simple thermostat mounted at the top of the engine that simply let some coolant out of the engine when it got too hot. The temp of the coolant from the radiator into the bottom of the engine was completely unregulated. The cooling system on the 4.7L is a 'bypass' system that has a constant flow of coolant thru the engine. The thermostat is mounted low on the engine and regulates the temperature by acting as a 'mixing valve' using both the HOT flow from the engine and the COLD flow from the radiator as input creating a constant temperature flowing into the engine. Even with my 4.7L engine, I still have a block heater (plugged in as I write this due to single-digit temps predicted.) I also have a cardboard 'shield' that I place over the radiator when the temps dip into the negitive teens. Just pop the hood and place it in front of the radiator. (covers about 2/3s of it)
#734 of 738 Hey Danny.... by mullins87 Dec 13, 2002 (7:29 am)
How's Mike getting along these days?
#735 of 738 Fuel pump update by slr9589 Dec 13, 2002 (7:37 am)
No replacement fuel pump yet after 8 days of driving on the "engine'warning lamp.Have kept the tank half full so not to lose a ton of gas when the work has to be done.. The warning lamp stays on and only will blink briefly on harder than normal acceleration.Have found BG cleaner locally and will try it next tank of gas. vehicle runs ok,not great but I still can get to work. all for now, stephen
#736 of 738 jones27 on New Tires by ahasher Jan 04, 2003 (12:10 pm)
Im back! After taking a work break from my life and working (75+ hrs a week was a SHORT week) the contract to meet goal before the calendar year end. I have begun reading the boards again. The Tire replacement post caught my eye. Refresher (altho mopar67, bpeebles and bookitty always remember the early posters): I have a 2000 QC, 4.7, auto, T&H package with the big 255/65R15 Goodyear rubber. Good tires, lasted till 64,000 miles for me and NO uneven wear. I shopped around and read all about Pirelli (sp) Dunlop etc.. and settled on BF Goodrich radial TAs but switched to 255 /70R15. A higher profile with a small % of spedo offset of +2.51 mph at 70 (I hope someone verifies this, since i got it from http://www.dakota-truck.net/TIRECALC/tirecalc.html and am not a tire expert) The ratings for the tire suited me and my location here in N.O. and I have to admit they look great, ride smooth and quiet. I paid $74 each at Tire Kingdom. Also it fills the wheelwells better and teh truck does ride slightly higher.. to me anyway. Just my .02 but I am satisfied with this setup over $125 quoted by Goodyear for OEM.
#737 of 738 Hey Mullins by danodw Jan 05, 2003 (8:52 am)
Thanks for asking about Mike. Would have gotten back sooner but I had computer problems. Think my motherboard was hit by lightning. Sent board off and they covered it under warranty and I told them the truth. Anyway just got it back and it was the wrong one so I have to wait another week or so. In the meantime I have put together an old pc that I made out of 3 junk PC's and used my hard drive. Forgot my password and needed it off my hard drive. I'll be up and down for a while. Plus I'm having truck problems with the check engine light, trans etc. I'll get it all worked out soon. Anyway, about mike, he saw the Doc in Nov. and he took X-rays. One bone in arm is doing good but the other we are not sure of. X-ray shows a slight bump that might be the bone starting to grow. We go back at the end of Jan for another look. Doc said if it is growing, it will be very slow because of all the damage. Next visit might be more talk on a bone graft. Will not let him do any work that requires lifting until he knows for sure. plus I think money has something to do with it. We only pay about $50. per month on a 8K bill. 30K total. Attorney is still trying to help but not sure if he can. Its all about time now, we'll just have to wait and see. I have never tried to put a pick on this site. I guess it can be done. If you want I could send you a pic of the bike and Mike after the wreck, by email.
#738 of 738 Dakota R/T faulty rear brakes by fschutt Jan 13, 2003 (3:27 pm)
This is just a heads up to all you R/T owners out there. Seems the 2000 to 2002 models have a faulty design for the rear drum brakes. Mainly, they don't work!! My 2000 had 27000 miles on it when Chrysler bought it back, they couldn't make them work. One good thing, they won't ever wear out!!! Found my problem when I stopped on ice, fronts skidded, rears kept turning at 10 mph on the speedometer with the brake pushed hard. Showed the dealer that the wheels couldn't be stopped while on a lift, they then believed me. Chrysler rep said it was "normal" and the way it was designed to work! Ha! This is a SAFETY issue!! Demand results if your's is this way. Fred Schutt