Dodge Dakota Problems. Please help!
I would like anyone's help regarding my problem.
Here's my problem: I own a 1999 Dodge Dakota CC
Sport 4x4 3.9 liter 6, and I have had problems with
my engine, steering column, and rear brakes. My
engine sounds like a diesel(they say pings), my
steering column pops when I turn it hard left or
right, and they recalled my truck to fix the rear
ABS. They updated the computer with a flash for
the engine and replaced the steering column after
the fourth time. There was only 5K miles on it
when I first brought it in for the problems, and it
has been in almost every other month. They want
me to bring it in so that they can fix it again,
but I am getting sick and tired of it! Any
suggestions, or help, would greatly be appreciated.
Thanks.
Sincerely,
James A. Balsdon II
Here's my problem: I own a 1999 Dodge Dakota CC
Sport 4x4 3.9 liter 6, and I have had problems with
my engine, steering column, and rear brakes. My
engine sounds like a diesel(they say pings), my
steering column pops when I turn it hard left or
right, and they recalled my truck to fix the rear
ABS. They updated the computer with a flash for
the engine and replaced the steering column after
the fourth time. There was only 5K miles on it
when I first brought it in for the problems, and it
has been in almost every other month. They want
me to bring it in so that they can fix it again,
but I am getting sick and tired of it! Any
suggestions, or help, would greatly be appreciated.
Thanks.
Sincerely,
James A. Balsdon II
Tagged:
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Sincerely,
James A. Balsdon II
I read in several articles that the towing was compromised due to
suspension design. I would like to haul my Jayco to campsites is all plus have a tire burning hot rod truck...
Regards
Bookitty
Newer vehicles do not have a spinning cable for the tach. In fact, the speedometer doesn't even have a cable. The speedo cables went away starting in the 1980s. For the most part, tachs haven't had cables since the early 1960s. The speedo gets an electronic trigger from a sensor on the output shaft of the tranny. The tach gets a similar trigger from the crank pick up via the EECM. Some vehicles with distributors and a single coil have the tach trigger taken from the coil itself.
Sorry to hear about your truck. It seems like there's a few gripes in here, but on a positive note, I have a 1995 Dakota Sport with a 318/auto and it has 128k miles on it. The miles have been trouble free too! I think I'm going to have to break down and put a radiator in it this spring (it's getting a little green around some fins). This will be the first replacement part it's had other than normal stuff like brake pads, oil changes, etc. In fact, it's still on it's second set of pads with the original rotors. I like this truck so much I plan to buy a Dakota R/T next year....if they're still making them.
The Dakotas have actually been pretty good trucks overall, but anyone can make a lemon..or two. If you have a lemon press hard through arbitration or an attorney who knows the lemon laws. My neighbor just got their vehicle replaced under the Michigan Lemon Law.
As for all of the stuff I see here on the 3.9 V6....well, I have to agree. I never have liked that engine. It wasn't very well thought out. It's not balanced well becasue it's really a 318 less two cylinders. It started out that way and with no counter balancer. It also does tend to make more noise becasue it isn't well balanced and I have heard of lifter problems with it. I suspect this might be coming from the fact that the oiling routes were changed somewhat from the 318 when they made the 3.9 (lifters might be bleeding down when the engine is off as well). What's even worse is that the 3.9 gets the same or worse mileage than the 318. Heck, it is sometimes worse than the 360 in the R/T! The only benefit to the 3.9 is that the insurance costs less than a V8 version. The new 4.7 V8 seems like a nice mill, but I have to admit I'm a little old fashioned. I actually like those pushrods and brute force torque that comes with the 360 and 318.
Anyway, keep up the good fight!
Bookitty
See my profile for more details.
Definately a nice smooth shifter.
The throws are a bit long, but its a truck, not a sportscar.
The only "problem", is some people experience a slight clunking sound when shifting.
It is heard when the clutch disengages / engages.
Relatively minor sound and the service department people call it normal.
If I were to do it over again, it would be equipped with the 3.92 axle ratio.
Are you going with a 4x4? If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
Good Luck,
Bob
That said...Ping is generally not considerd a "problem". It is a phenomena that occours when an internal combustion engine is running at its most efficent fuel-mixture and ignition-timing especially under a heavy load on a hot day.
There are conditions when pinging is caused by carbon build-up in the combustion chambers or an out-of-tune state.... but this is not a "problem" with the engine design itself.
A related phenomena... pre-ignition can cause engine damage under some conditions.
You did it, U Won ! Worldwide consumers have paid there hard earned money and you provided worldwide consumers with the worst Engineered vehicles on Earth...
Got to hand it to Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth you have Won beaten all your consumers.
Wise old saying you can't read a book by its cover :O)
Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth great looking vehicle unfortunately for the unsuspecting consumer even to date Transmission failure, head gasket failure , too many more serious problems Etc...
Just read this Newsgroup 2% Satisfied , 98% Unsatisfied . Surf the internet U will find 100s of thousands of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth vehicle owners that are Big Losers. Telling there Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth vehicle Horror stories.
Now that Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth consumers have read the book by owning one of the worst Engineered vehicles on Earth. Consumers worldwide learned a costly but valuable lesson.
Now we have come to realize. Yes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth they are the Winners.
Yep we the "Consumers of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth vehicles are the BIG LOSERS" !
Were losing vehicle trade in, Value its Awful.
Quality Automobile Dealers don't want your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth vehicle offering 50% of Galves Trade in if in Mint Condition.
Even Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth Dealers are offering 50% of Galves. Now we are driving around in a nearly worthless Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth vehicle and paying for Major repairs :O(
Its not going to get any better cause Smart Consumers are not Buying a New or even thinking of buying a used Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth vehicle.
We sure learned a Valuable Lesson > Never again buy Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth vehicles. For those few Die Hards remember( Only a Fool Loses Twice )
Rejoice fellow Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth vehicle consumers now it is our turn to Win.
Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth your profits are gone, Stocks are dropping to an all time low Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth is just hanging on by a thread bankruptcy is near Hooray - Yeah !
Now how does it feel to be a LOSER ! Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth :O)
Worldwide automotive consumers buy smart be a Winner don't become a Loser like the rest of us who owned or still own the worst engineered vehicles on Earth.
Let Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth become the final Loser.
Does anyone have any ideas or run across this problem before?
Bookitty
What I can tell the folks that have problems is that it is most likely the dealer. One thing I have always hated about Chrysler was their dealer service. They expect you to find the problem and then they might fix it. I have a Stratus that I bought in 99 (that I am trading for the Dakota) that is hard to start when fuel is at 1/8 tank. I had the dealer look at it and they insist nothing is wrong (of course) I told them to pul the pickup and check the welds. They said I would have to pay because that isn't part of the warranty service say what? The idea is to fix the damn problem not make the customer solve it. BTW, the reason I wanted the pick up checked is because if a pin hole is in the tube by the pickup it can cause it not to want to pick up the fuel. Once it starts its okay. Point being, Chrysler needs to get a better dealer service organization together. I will bet that if the people here with the biggest problems had a better dealer they would actually be happy campers.
Bookitty
By my calculations, the best so far is 16.5 mpg. Worst was 14 mpg. This is local driving. I have not been on a long trip yet so I don't know what all highway driving will produce.
Only 2100 miles on the truck now, the mileage should get better as the enging breaks in.
The window sticker states that actual gas mileage can vary +/- 3 mpg from the estimated figures.
Bob
Bookitty's comments were geared more toward the knowledge arena. There is a wealth of information out there on every vehicle you can purchase. A little bit of research can go a long way. I would never purchase a vehicle without doing some background checks on maintenance histories, engine capabilities and mileage comparisons.
Bookitty
Bookitty
Erik
Your truck may be equipped with a code retrieval routine which is initiated by the ignition switch routine:
http://allpar.com/fix/codes.html
http://www.batauto.com/Chrysler.html
Good luck
Erik
If there is more than one problem, there can be more than one code displayed.
They are usually displayed in numerical sequence and not by priority.
Hope this helps,
Bob
Sorry but we can't help someone who did not do their homework before buying a truck. Maybe you would be happier trading it in on a Geo Metro?
BTW, Do you really think anyone with a 4X4 is getting great mileage? If anyone tells you they get 20 mpg with a 4X4 they are lying through their teeth.
One of the reasons I won't buy a 4X4 is because the gas mileage is so poor and because of that I cannot justify the extra costs for as little as I would need the 4 wheel drive.
Great site. I need a truck that can tow 6000 lbs and I'm looking at the Dakota and the Ford Supercrew.. I would love to drive away in a new Supercrew but it is about 3500 more dollars than the Dakota. Does anyone have any towing experience with their Dakotas. Should I be worried about towing 6000 lbs with the Dakota? Piece of cake for the Supercrew but I have my doubts about the Dodge. Help me out. Are any of you having any tranny problems that I should be aware of? Thanks for your input in advance.
Dave