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Dodge Dakota Radiator and Cooling Issues

59 messages,  Last post on Nov 21, 2009 at 3:13 AM

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#7 of 59 4.7 Overheat issues by c32077 Jan 24, 2008 (6:29 am)
Hello all,   Just this morning I was going in to work and I noticed that the truck wasn't heating up inside as it normally would have. I looked at the temp gage and it was readin very low as if it hasn't been running. Then it just spiked like crazy into the red. My check gages light came on and I pulled over. I opened the hood to check for a problem but nothing seemed to be apparent. Then the hose on the passenger side burst at the bottom and started spraying coolant. My coolant level was fine. I waited about half an hour and drove it back home. The temp gage rose slowly this time but eventually back up into the red. When I got it home I let it sit for a while and checked the fluid level again. It was still good and it hadn't leaked very much in the driveway. When I was inspecting the hose I could feel something inside the hose at the bottom. Not sure what it is unless the thermostat for this truck is very odd shaped. It kind of felt like rod or something similar about pencil thin and about 4 or 5 inches long. Does anyone know what this is and if this could be my problem?   When I pulled over the first time. I walked to a parts store and grabbed a manual. It didn't seem to offer much help in troubleshooting. I figured I'd come here and see what you guys can do for me.   Thanks and I appreciate any help you can give.   Chuck Replies to this message: celticredneck (Jan 27, 2008 7:36 am)
#8 of 59 Re: 4.7 Overheat issues [c32077] by celticredneck Jan 27, 2008 (7:36 am)
Replying to: c32077 (Jan 24, 2008 6:29 am) Well, you can tell from my first post, I am far from an expert, but my son and I did replace the thermostat on my Dakota and it looked like any other thermostat to me. I definitely didn't see a 5" rood sticking out into the hose. Your problem does sound like a sticking thermostat to me. Sounds as if it stuck wide open at first, then closed and stuck there. So far, since replacing lost coolant and getting a new radiator cap, my Dakota hasn't overheated again and I've driven it several hundred miles since then. I hope it remains so, because since my wife's 89 Jeep Cherokee failed inspection due to having a badly rusted out floor board, the Dakota is our only vehicle.
#9 of 59 Electrical Problem by kenjwest Jan 27, 2008 (8:22 pm)
I have a 2004 Dodge Dakota Pickup and the temp gauge is running high but not overheating. My electrical cooling fan is not coming on - relay is okay, fuse is okay, and the fan is okay. The thermostat seems ok too. Any ideas what may be wrong? Is there another thermostat I should be looking at?
#10 of 59 Overheating 2000 Dakota 4.7 Quad Cab 2wd by ahoover123 Feb 02, 2008 (6:01 am)
I am the original owner of this truck with 124,000 miles on it. It has been a fine truck with no regrets. However, back in December it ran really hot and cracked one head and warped the other. To make a long story short, both heads were replaced, water pump, thermostat (3 times), radiator and fan clutch all were replaced eventually since then. Also just replaced the catalytic converter the other day. It will still run past the center mark while on the interstate causing the electric fan to stay on, which is uncalled for at highway speeds, but the temp controls the fan so it comes on anyway. It will keep climbing a little more to around maybe 220 degrees. I stop on the side of the road and check the lower hose to see if the thermostat has opened and it has not yet opened which is the strangest thing in the world. The thermostat has been replaced 3 times and is 195 degrees. I have tested these in boiling water with 2 thermometers in the pot and they open at around 205 which is okay. Why in the world it will not open while in my truck while driving on the interstate is beyond me. There is nothing else that anyone can do even all the mechanics are scratching thier heads on this one. Does anybody have any ideas on what could be happening here? By the way, it runs at normal temp while doing city driving.
#11 of 59 Re: 97 Dakota-Overheat Issues [moquelvog] by esper Feb 10, 2008 (7:19 pm)
Replying to: moquelvog (Nov 03, 2007 6:33 pm) I have 2001 quad cab having the exact same problems. I replace the water pump twice, thermostat 3 times a new fan clutch, new radiator cap, radiator flush and still overheats. I wanted to know if you ever figured out why and if you fixed it. Im at wits end. Help. PLEASE Replies to this message: moquelvog (Feb 10, 2008 8:19 pm)
#12 of 59 Re: 97 Dakota-Overheat Issues [esper] by moquelvog Feb 10, 2008 (8:19 pm)
Replying to: esper (Feb 10, 2008 7:19 pm) I haven't actually. Since its been winter, I haven't had a need to look into it further, but as the season heats back up I am going to do the only left... change out the radiator. Do me a favor, if you do it first, please let me know if that works. I'll do the same if I end up changing it out first. Thanks.   Omen
#13 of 59 Leaking coolant by aredtruck Mar 02, 2008 (5:31 pm)
Just this weekend I trucked to the top of Wolf Creek Pass in my 2001 4.7L Dakota. When I stepped out of my truck I could smell coolant immediately and it was my car leaking it. When I popped the hood it appeared that the coolant had been spewing from the overflow bottle. This is the first time I've ever had this problem and cannot seem to figure out exactly what it could be. My fist suspicion is that the radiator cap has gone bad and the pressure is now incorrect. Does this sound like the culprit?   So after that I drove it into town, topped it off with coolant and proceeded to drive home. After going back over the pass I stopped at a gas station and found the same problem of leaking coolant from the overflow bottle. Unsure of what to do I drove it back to Boulder without a problem. But as I pulled into my drive, coolant was leaking once again.   Any solutions?   Thanks Replies to this message: stsdakota (Apr 01, 2008 10:30 am)
#14 of 59 Re: Leaking coolant [aredtruck] by stsdakota Apr 01, 2008 (10:30 am)
Replying to: aredtruck (Mar 02, 2008 5:31 pm) I,m having the exact same problem. Did you ever figure it out?
#15 of 59 Radiator Conversion by moquelvog Apr 12, 2008 (1:50 pm)
I have a 97 Dodge Dakota 5.2L with an ext transmission cooler. This apparently is rare and a new radiator will be upwards of $300. If I buy a radiator with an internal transmission cooler it is about $180. Can I do a conversion?   Omen Replies to this message: moquelvog (Apr 12, 2008 2:18 pm)
#16 of 59 Re: Radiator Conversion [moquelvog] by moquelvog Apr 12, 2008 (2:18 pm)
Replying to: moquelvog (Apr 12, 2008 1:50 pm) Nevermind my previous post. After doing some research, I found out why such a drastic price difference. I didn't know that a manual transmission like mine, does not require a cooler. Just one of those things you learn I guess. So I am forced to purchase a radiator with an ext cooler mount which is rare i.e. the higher price. Obviously I can't convert because there is no need for a trans cooler. With that said, anyone have a radiator they want to sell?   Omen

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