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Dodge Dakota Engine and Underhood Questions

371 messages,  Last post on Nov 06, 2009 at 6:41 PM

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#335 of 371 Poor performance / Bad fuel milage by srscubalot Apr 22, 2009 (10:15 pm)
My 99 Dakota 3.9L / 44RE auto transmission with 80K miles has been suffering from poor performance and fuel milage (13 mpg city / 17 mpg highway) now for over a year. There are no check engine codes coming up. The truck is very sluggish when under load such as pulling hills or accelerating at cruising speeds. The colder the ambient temp is the better the performance, but as the engine warms up the performance worsens. When the ambient temp is hot the performance is poor and gets worse as the engine warms up. As I said there are no codes coming up. I have twice given the engine a tune up consisting of spark plugs, distributor cap / rotor, new plug wires, air filter, PCV valve. I checked the ignition timing and it is dead on. I have also replaced the entire exhaust system including Cat. Conv. and O2 sensors. I have also replaced the TPS sensor. None of the above has made any differance at all in the performance. I have had it to two different Dodge dealers and both told me it needed a tune up. I am assuming it is one of the sensors or possibly a faulty ECM computer. Any help is greatly appreciated.   Mike Howard Replies to this message: paparanda (May 13, 2009 7:09 pm)
#336 of 371 Re: Poor performance / Bad fuel milage [srscubalot] by paparanda May 13, 2009 (7:09 pm)
Replying to: srscubalot (Apr 22, 2009 10:15 pm) This may be coming too late but when it comes to fuel consumption usually a tune-up does the trick but when it doesn't you should try a fuel injector cleaner(one could be clogged) or the fuel filter in which case you would have to replace the entire fuel pump from inside the tank. hopefully this solves your problem. Good luck
#337 of 371 Leaking power steering fluid by tommy97 May 15, 2009 (11:46 am)
This applies to the '97 Dakota Sport (2WD/3.9L)   I recently noticed that power steering fluid is leaking and running along the line sheathed w/ the slit corrugated cover (the other line is bare). I presume this is the outlet line from the pump, which I think lies just beneath the reservoir.   I have also been getting a Check Engine (haven't pulled the code).   I wonder if anyone has seen this. Is it likely the seal at the pump where the outlet line connects? Or is it more likely the seal where the reservoir attaches?   In searching this site, I see posts #227 & 228 that allude to the power steering pressure switch (which may be located under the reservoir). These posts also suggest a connection with the O2 sensor. I bring this up because the other day, my truck - w/o warning - began to wildly lose power for a brief spell. This now makes me wonder if there's a connection.   Any thoughts or experience w/ this are appreciated. Replies to this message: tommy97 (May 16, 2009 6:47 am) bpeebles (May 16, 2009 4:32 pm) tommy97 (May 17, 2009 7:45 am)
#338 of 371 Re: Leaking power steering fluid [tommy97] - UPDATE by tommy97 May 16, 2009 (6:47 am)
Replying to: tommy97 (May 15, 2009 11:46 am) I now know that the leak is caused by a suspicious "pin prick" hole in the pressurized line about 2" from the lower fitting (steering knuckle side). When the front wheels are steered, a tiny geyser appears.   Recall that this line is covered by a slit, corrugated plastic sheath for protection. What are the chances that this hole was caused by "natural" (i.e., not nefarious) causes?    I think I know the answer but thought I'd put the question out there ...   Replies to this message: bpeebles (May 16, 2009 4:32 pm)
#339 of 371 Re: Leaking power steering fluid [tommy97] - UPDATE [tommy97] by bpeebles May 16, 2009 (4:32 pm)
Replying to: tommy97 (May 16, 2009 6:47 am) "What are the chances that this hole was caused by "natural" (i.e., not nefarious) causes? "   Chances are low... But there is no such thing as a perfect machine. Unless you have good reason to consider anything else, you have to assume it is simply a natural failure.
#340 of 371 Re: Leaking power steering fluid [tommy97] - the plot thickens by tommy97 May 17, 2009 (7:45 am)
Replying to: tommy97 (May 15, 2009 11:46 am) BPeebles is probably right - I'm willing to accept that the leak in the pressurized p/s line is a "normal" failure. I've also heard other anecdotal experience of the same kind: this line does develop leaks. The good news is that AutoZone had a new hose ("Duralast" brand) - lifetime warranty - for $17.99. I'll replace the line today.   Now let's turn to the Check Engine message I mentioned. I pulled the code and it's P0132 (O2 Sensor Circuit High Voltage). Sensor 1 & 2 on Bank 1 read "1000V 0% S.T. fuel trim". This strikes me as a possible short.   Again I refer back to posts 227 & 228 on this forum, which point to the possibility that the p/s line leak (a mini geyser at times) may have put fluid on the O2 sensors (which I suspect are in that region of the engine area).   I had only one instance of a real sloppy power failure in the last 2 weeks and it seemed to have "recovered". If this theory is valid, I wonder if it's fair to assume the the fluid wetted O2 sensors will "dry out" and eventually go back to normal.
#341 of 371 Overheating by goose1956 Jun 10, 2009 (3:10 pm)
Have a 2000 dakota, V-6, 315000 miles, overheating, checked coolant, flushed, recently change water pump, head gaskets do not appear leaking by checking rear exhaust. I was told check timing, could this be it, any other suggestions beside a different pickup.
#342 of 371 Idle Surge and Hesitation/Surge while in Cruise Control by wrestlingref21 Jun 16, 2009 (10:38 am)
Hello,   I have a question regarding my 2000 Dodge Dakota 4.7L V-8, with 117,000 miles. A couple of months ago, I noticed while having my cruise control set at 60 mph and my rpm setting at 2, that the engine would "surge" just above 2 after going over a slight "rise" in the road (not during) and then go back to 2 on the rpm display. After slowing down and re-activating the cruise control at around 50-55 mph, I would notice as the stick arrived at 60 mph, the engine would give a quick surge slightly above 2 and go back to 2. I added STP Fuel Injector cleaner on three occasions, and it seemed to help temporarily, but it is back and occurs more frequently, even when not going over any rise in the road.   Additionally, about a month ago I noticed that when I would start my truck up in the morning, it would surge while idle then come back down, then surge again, and so on.   Could these two issues be related and what should I be looking at? I was looking online a little, and one suggestion was made regarding the idle surge as it relates to the IAC valve. Any help would be much appreciated! Replies to this message: scheeler (Jul 08, 2009 3:30 pm)
#343 of 371 Roaring engine at start up by bone5 Jun 30, 2009 (7:09 am)
#344 of 371 Roaring engine at start up by bone5 Jun 30, 2009 (7:09 am)
2000 dodge dakota quad cab 4.7 engine roars when started up and roars for a couple of miles down the road. It sounds normal after about 2 miles down the road. It seems worse in the winter. What could be the cause of this? Replies to this message: bpeebles (Jul 03, 2009 6:20 pm)

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