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Dodge Dakota - Quad Cab
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2000 SLT+ 4.7 Auto(2WD) T&H package, towing package. Just at 59,300 miles now (I commute mostly highway so I see around 19 MPG) bookittys intake mod, A/C mod. more to come.
I had some issues the first year or so: idle (TSB-fixed); Aux AC fan fuse went and BBQd my fuse box (warranty - fixed) Crankshaft position sensor fail (fixed same day)
I did the following - new rotors and pads (ceramic). Just a hint of warpage but replaced based on quality concerns. did it myself so not bad $$. Tune up to Bosch Platinum 4, Synthetic in the pumpkin, and have had synthetic in the 4.7 (Mobile 1) since first change. Replaced OEM headlight bulbs to PIAA 9007, replaced useless plastic driving lights with PILOT lights and PIAA H3 bulb.. WOW what a difference. Added PILOT fogs for the southern foggy mornings.
As of today, still smooth, responsive, a pleasure to drive. TIRES? still dont need them. the wear is PERFECT and have enough left to wait till spring if I chose, then see about a more aggressive /bigger tire. see my link below for pix and one has a tire in it.. you can see the tread wear.. tell me thats not the sign of a good alignment. the QC has stayed true. ( i do my OWN rotations)
OK long post but I was in the mood to make positive comments about my DODDGE QC..
Good Luck
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-ahasher
My bad experience so far was that a heating element in the driver's side mirror went dead. It was covered under warranty. I also had the engine computer chip reprogrammed under warranty that fixed the staling problem. And yes the front brake rotors warp and need replaced with a non-mopar product. Other than that the Dak keeps going. I have a '00 4.7L, 5sp, 4x4, LSD 3.55 rear, T/H package (31x10.5-15 tires) and have added Catz foglights and a daytime running light module (low beams on when engine running). If I keep my foot out of it, I can get 20 mpg on a trip. In the near future, I'll change the spark plugs and the oil in the transmission, front and rear-ends. At 36,000 or May 2003, the factory warranty ends and I'm not afraid. This truck has been a joy to own and drive all of its 32,000+ miles.
Although a win would have been even better, kudos to the Hawkeyes for giving the Seminoles a scare. Go Gators!
Bookitty
Bookitty
twj
2001 qc 4x4 4.7 auto limited-slip AWD 15,600 miles
2. Whats a good Brand of; Rotors an pads, to replace with as I still have the oem stuff for brakes on my qc?
3. is this the light & bulb http://www.pilotautomotive.com/pilot2be.htm
that you #4252 ahasher replaced the fog lights with? How much of a Difference are they compared to the oem lights?
Thanks
James, in Houston Texas
Bookitty
Either use the proper diameter tires or pay the $80 for a flash to your Dak computer. It is not worth compromising your safety to save a few dollars on some tires. (which may not be such a good deal after you pay the $80 to re-calibrate the ECU)
It is good to hear your report on the Michelins providing better ride&handing. I expect to be replacing my original tires after one more winter. I will not be getting the "LT" rated tires since I do not need the stiffer sidewall. (I do not haul anyting in my truck.)
This will give me a better ride.
Thinks the closest tire size in the system will be 265/65R16 which will make the
difference only about 1.64% according to the calculator Bookitty posted. Much better than the current delta. Will let you know if it turns out any different. Thanks again. Czar
PS to Bookitty, dropped the bike and broke my leg! I'm getting too old for this enforced bed rest.
Norm (Bookitty)
The vehicle is a black w/dark slat 4x4 quad cab sport plus with the 4.7L auto and 3.55 rear. It has every option except for the front bucket seats. Picked it up last Thursday from my brother-in-law, who is a dodge dealer, for $600 under invoice (it was his demo) and 0.0%.
I couldn't be happier with this vehicle. I traded in a Blazer ZR2, which I beat on extensively off-road and I'm sure the Dakota is more than equipped to take on the task.
It has 6k on it, and I'm still thinking of what to name it.
Couple of questions for everyone. First, while giving it a bath, I noticed that my bed does not line up with the cab. It shifted to the passengers side. How easy is this to fix? Second, and I know this answer is somewhere on this board but 4000+ postings is a lot to read through.... anyway, the question.... on slow sharp right turns the clicking is present. What, if any, was the fix to this? No rear axle whine.
BOB group 3 - axle type ?? no chart
BOB group 22 page 6
tire size/supplier/revolutions per mile
P215/75R15/Goodyear/760
P235/75R15 XL/Goodyear/729
P255/65R15/Goodyear/755
P255/55R17/Goodyear/750
31X10.5R15 LT/Goodyear/689
Also for your info per BOB group 8H - 3
The Vehicle Speed Sensor is no longer used for any Dodge Truck.
Vehicle speed and distance covered are measured by the Rear Wheel Speed Sensor. This sensor is mounted to the rear axle. A signal is sent from this sensor to the CAB computer. A signal is then sent to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) to determine vehicle speed and distance covered.
So reprogram the CAB and you take care of antilock brakes and speedometer.
Hope this helped! Rick
Does anyone have any experience using one of the performance chips like the ones that Jet sells.
Does it really make much difference in performance?
What brands other than Jet are applicable?
Down side?
Thanks in advance, Robert
http://www.tirerack.com/index.jsp
Bookitty
Thanks.
My green,00,4.7,5 spd. has reached 50k and I remain pleased with it's overall performance. I took it in for service and replaced the plugs with the ones that came with it and had the radiator flushed and new coolant added.Brake inspection showed a lot of life left in the pads and shoes! Go figure...considering all we read here about brakes,though I do admit to a lot of coasting stops and down shifting.
I did hit a post the other day and marred the left front quater panel.it sucks..but it was my stupid mistake.
I was walking the dealer's lot and did not see a lot of diference in the 03 quad cabs.I think we bought Quad cabs cuz we are differnt!!!
stephen
Hope your holidy was nice. You too boo!
Just took the truck through it's first motor vcehicle inspection, passed with no problem.
Figures, when I go to inspection, and get to the first in line, one of their inspection lanes breaks down, and I have to wait even longer for those vehicles to back out of the facility and resume in another lane. errrrrrrrrr
Truck runs great, about 17k miles on it now.
Think I am getting the clunk knock on left turns though.
For those who have experienced the clunk with left turns, What was done to remidy this condition? Lube of front suspension parts or something like that?
Thanks,
Bob
Thank you,
RavenOne
Also can someone tell me what, if any, options can be added at the dealership. I have found several models that have most of the options i want, but not quite all. So would it be possible for the dealer to add any options, or do they not do that? I know I could just order one that I want with what i want, but I would hate to have to wait for it. I am very impatient.
Some accessory options can be dealer installed fairly easily. Radios and speaker systems, heavy duty cooling, auxiliary transmission cooler, bed liners, flares, mouldings, fog lights, security systems, and wheels.
Other things might be more difficult. I know of one dealer that installed a sliding rear window in a fellows Dakota a few years ago, but I'm not sure every dealer would go that far. More integral equipment might be possible, but economically difficult. A dealer might swap rear axles with you, provided he has a compatible truck on the lot. I've heard of people exploring the installation of power windows, but again, the economics are likely to be against you. Almost anything is possible, but not necessarily easy in the field.
I remember a time when manufacturers had power steering, power brake, and air conditioning kits for installing these items after the vehicle was built. Of course, these being almost universally standard equipment nowadays makes them moot.
Regarding waiting for the new Dakota: I thought I heard that the Dakota replacement was being postponed or at least being pushed out aways. I suspect the next generation Dakota will be even more refined and efficient than the current one. However, Chrysler has a poor history with respect to new product launches. They've done well with a few, and exceptionally well with the new RAM. Industry reports indicate that Chrysler has made significant progress reducing component failures and subsequent warranty cost. But the problems often associated with the first year of a new platform design is something that I'd keep in mind.
I think I saw a picture of the next Dakota prototype and have this impression that the styling was putred (in my opinion, of course). Nowhere as attractive as the current design, which by the way, is still eye appealing to me despite being a seven year-old design.
If your impatient, wait for the post-holiday sales.
Good luck,
Dusty
Thanks! I know my 01 Quad will have no problem towing a 7 X 14 or 8 X 14 enclosed trailer loaded with 2 bikes. Anyone have experience with this combo? Thanks!
Does anyone know if Chrysler is going to extend incentives into the new year? I know that the current offering from Dodge runs out on the 6th of January.
Thanks for the help,
Raven
Update: 67,000 miles on my QC, new BF Goodrich 70R15s on the rims, the Goodyears lasted me well. Idle still good, mileage still good, no new rattles or squeaks in the cab. Anti Sway bar bushings remind me to change them soon ( I have new bushings, just need time). they pop often now.
No mods since summer but I hope to get back into shade tree mechanic mods this spring, catback, Cold Air intake etc.. but still have smooth steady power getting to highway speeds and the occasional "punch" to pass... even looks new after a dose of McGwyere (ok how do you spell that ???) polish/wax..
ahasher
As impressive as the motor was I still think a Regular Cab Dakota with a 4.7 and a 5 speed would give it a good run for the money.
The dealer said that the 5.7 Hemi will replace the 5.9 in the Dakota R/T during the 2004 model year.
I also looked at Dakota Quads and noticed that they are still cutting more corners while raising the purchase price. The overhead console on the Dakota and the Ram 1500 won't hold a pair of sunglasses any more. Now the overhead computer will no longer display the instantaneous MPG reading, only the average (this is the one that helps me get better MPG when I see how much gas it is sucking as I go thru the gears).
I was pricing out a 2003 Dakota Quad on the Dodge web site and happened across a printout of similar equipped one I had done for a 2002. I noticed a truck spec'ed out exactly the same would cost $1,600+ more for the 2003 than the 2002.
I guess these rebates aren't really as good as they seem. My Dakota Quad purchased in 2000 had a window price of $23,890, to replace it today would cost $26,305.
I broke my left leg in a motorcycle accident back in September and had to have a rod installed between the knee and ankle to hold all the pieces together! This condition had me considering an automatic which would raise the price another $1,000 or so.
I think I'll stay with the 5 speed because it only hurts when I push the clutch in
Rick continues rambling on ----- Has anone seen the Magnum SRT-8 concept vehicle yet??
It too is due out as a production vehicle in 2004 and is supposed to be very close to the show car. This may be my "new" Quad cab. Rick
There's what some would call a "slick" '02 RAM1500 around here that's been lowered (ugly, IMO), big racing stripes and what I've been told has a blown 4.7 motor. This thing is fast, too!
Bests,
Dusty
Before, I finalize the options list...can fellow Dak owners please give me some Pros and Cons of this option. Is the standard equipped rear-only ABS adequate? Winters are fairly mild but, can get icy where I live and snow is rare with the exception of 1996 when it snowed 4-5 feet in 7 days. (the worst winter in 85yrs, since 1911)
Thanks
That aside, my 2003 Dakota Club Cab is the first rear-only ABS vehicle I've owned and the first Chrysler-built ABS vehicle. Maybe it's the type of system Chrysler uses, or the fact that they're rear-wheel only, but my Dakota does not exhibit any of the negative qualities that I dislike about 4-wheel anti-lock.
Just tonight, in fact, I had to stop quick on thick hard packed snow and the Dakota stopped perfectly straight. This is the fourth time I've had to lock them up and it has gone straight every time. I have yet to experience the annoying false trigger of the anti-lock motor that we experience with our Toyota Avalon, especially on first stops after start-up.
I expect (hoping) to have less problems with this system. Our GM cars had the ABS computers fail and at $900 a crack it gets expensive. If the Dakota ABS fails I just won't get it fixed.
Regards,
Dusty
Do you really want you [non-permissible content removed] end coming around in a panic stop on wet roads.
That's what usually happens with a pickup without abs on the rear wheel.
That's why most pickups now have rears as standard ant optional on front.