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DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB
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Comments
Bookitty
Thanks in advance
Traumagas@aol.com
I actually pulled the wheels on a few before I ordered mine. Besides, think about about DC advertising. If the brakes were bigger they would boast about it to sell more.
What I would like to know is, is the Dakota scheduled for a redesign anytime soon? I hate buying a car and having them redesign it the next year.
I like the current model, but if a redesign is coming soon, I can wait for a little while. BTW, the reason I ask is because of the new Ram 1500's. What a nice looking truck!
I get 15-16 mpg in daily suburban driving, but on a recent trip from NC to New England and back, got 18-19 interstate 70+mph. I use Mobile 1 full synthetic and change it every 3 months. I have seen the other makers try to "catch up" to the Dakota, and those space cadet vehicles are quite humorous. With my truck/suv "look", I get comments almost every where I go.
Has anyone heard anything about replacing the 3.9 engine with Chryslers new 3.7? I know that it has 210 hp and the mileage rating is 16-20. Does anyone have more info on this engine. this sounds like a good engine for the dakotas. What do you think?
Does anyone know how you can track the status of a factory order via the Internet once the dealer has actually placed the order for you? I thought someone mentioned that before.
I placed an order for a 2002 QC (4.7L V8, 5 spd, 4WD, tow pkg, etc.) at the end of October, and I'm dyin' for it to get here (and I've only called the dealer once to check)! If possible, I'd rather ping Dodge's website instead of the poor dealer...
- ScoutX
I would hope that it would get better than the 16-20MPG you suggest. The 4.7V8 hemi will get over 19 MPG in a 4X4 configuration. I just finished a 1000mile trip with an average of 19.39 MPG.
I tracked my order, in May 2001, from the factory in Warren MI. to the rail terminal in Maryland. Your truck will likely take a different rail carrie than mine, or at least a different terminal (they used CSX for my truck.) If you have the VIN number, the rail carriers's web site will allow you to track the rail car. Updates were posted several times a day. The truck was then delivered via auto carrier from the rail terminal. This web site helped a lot
http://www.dakota-truck.net/order_status.html
Good luck!
Let us know how it goes.
Thanks for the link to the Order Status web page!
All -
I picked-up my new 2002 Dakota Quad Cab yesterday, AND I LOVE IT!!! I have to say that I'm really impressed with the drivetrain:
- The 4.7L V8 is quiet & powerful.
- The clutch is light.
- The gearshift is smooth and nicely synchronized.
- The gearshift is shorter and more agile than older models from the 1990's -- it's perfectly sized with the middle compartment which acts as an armrest for the stick.
This is a vast improvement over previous models which had true truck transmissions -- a long rugged gearshift and a somewhat clumsy clutch. They've really transformed the Dakota from a mid-sized pickup into a more refined SUV.
Anyway, there was a problem that I encountered since I ordered it from the factory. The rear window was shattered during shipping! The Dodge dealership was really good cleaning up the vehicle about finding a temporary replacement for the window. I say temporary because the window matches in tint, but it has the electrical filaments for a rear window defroster, which I didn't order, so it's not functional. The dealer is ordering a normal rear window in the meantime at no additional charge (it comes out of the shipping company's pocket).
http://www.4adodge.com/PriceEquip/zipcode?appStr=priceEquip&marketing_family=dakota&family=dakota
And yes, the Edmunds website ROCKS! Thanks for all the great car-hunting advice.
Sounds like a similar setup to mine. Yea, the truck has some get up and go in 1st & 2nd gear.
Glad to hear the dealership is on the ball, and is helping you out with the rear window.
Good luck,
Bob
A funny thing happened to me yesterday. I decided that I kinda liked the the defroster lines in the back window -- don't ask me why. I called the dealership and told them not to worry about ordering a plain rear window as a replacement!
I really enjoy this vehicle -- it makes driving an absolute pleasure. How has your Dakota held-up for you?
ScoutX
Bookitty
The truck has been great! Had for over a year now, just passed the 6300 mile mark.
Had one window regulator replaced, (bad upon delivery), 2 flat tires (stuff happens), had 2 recalls on it (4x4 transfer case reprogramming, and front seatbelt anchor bolt.
No other problems.
Great in the snow.
Gas mileage could be better, but, it is a sweet machine. The 4.7L V8 is nice and powerful. Gets out into traffic quickly.
Like bookitty mentioned, it may be possible to hook up the rear window defroster with a seperate switch. (Wish I had the heated mirrors and rear window defroster at times).
Hope you like your truck.
Bob
Dealer says its a common problem b/c everyone "overfills" when pumping gas. I quit doing that and the problem persists. Does anyone have any ideas or tips.
FYI: I have a 2001 QC SLT-Plus HD, 4.7L, with auto. tranny. I also have the large, folding, heated mirrors (they're great).
Another FYI: I dropped off for a while when Edmunds made it more difficult to find this board. I see that the traffic on this board has dropped off a lot since the change. Did the crowd go to another board or what?
for a few years. Bill, I am certain that someone like mopar67 or bpeebles will be able to offer an explanation that will address your idle problem. Have a happy and safe holiday.
Bookitty
Does it happen in "neutral" as well as in "drive"?
Only when engine is at normal operating temp?
If your engine continues to do this after ample time is allowed for the ECU to "learn" the new operating conditions, (No AC, lower temps...etc) then to the dealer you should go.
DO NOT allow them to tell you it is somehow YOUR fault. If you have these symptoms AT ALL TIMES when idling... there is somthing amiss.
The 4.7L V8 hemi should idle so smooth that a glass of water on the engine will not even ripple.
(OK... that may be exagerating a bit... but it IS smooth)
This causes the myrid of sensors, solenoids, servos...etc to get confused. The ECU then would attempt to compensate by "dumping" this raw fuel into the intake manifold at idle.
I hope this simplified explanation is sufficent to explain how overfilling the gas tank COULD affect the idle quality.
The whole dealership process made me feel like I had been violated. The funniest part was how the sales people said what a great truck it is and then the Extended Warranty salesman asked me if I had read Consumer Reports and seen the terrible repair record of the Dakota (I had). My wife thought the whole process was amusing, but realized how important it is to be prepared when facing these people. Just a quick note for future buyers, I used carbuyingtips.com as a valuable resource before going into the dealer. Also, I found that carsdirect.com had a lower price than a similarly equipped Dakota with Edmunds TMV! (I actually used the carsdirect.com price as my final # and I actually got it. My wife and I walked out and the salesman came running after us and gave us what we wanted)
Sorry about the long post but I guess I'm a little excited. One last thing...I will be buying a cap and probably a spray in liner, any ideas on websites or research places for these items would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening.
Bookitty
PS Do you know how to tell if a dealership person (sales/service) is lying? Look closely, and if their lips are moving: They're lying.
Then buckle up and motor on!
Anyway, tomorrow I am getting a Line-x spray in bedliner put in and then on Friday we'll get the bug shield put on. We still need to put a topper on but haven't decided who to go with. The only names I can come up with are Snug Top and Leer. Anybody have some advice on these things? (Brand preference, cost, is price negotiable, etc)
So far so good, 600 miles and no problems. I told my wife that if we have any problems within the first 20,000 miles we're going to trade it in and get a Toyota. Hope that doesn't happen.
Bookitty
See which brand caps are available in your area and then decide. I originally wanted a Snugtop but they were not available through the local cap dealers.
Also have a Bedrug bedliner in the truck. Real nice.
Now I'm looking for a ladder rack for the truck. Not many available for the Quad cab. There is the Renegade XT and one by Hauler Racks. Still waiting for a few more responses from manufacturers before deciding on one.
Good luck,
Bob
The idle only fluxes while in "drive"; when stopped at a traffic light or stop sign; (engine is warmed up - normal operating temp.). (The A/C has been turned off since early November). Occasionally, it will hover around 600 rpm while idling in drive; but, that's the exception - not the rule.
For the 1st year, my 2001 SLT-Plus 4.7 WAS as smooth as glass; never felt any vibration - whether the A/C was engaged or not. Since the end of the 12th month it has been a different story.
The dealer/mechanic says I must be "overfilling" when refueling thereby "dumping" raw fuel into the hose that recovers fumes. If that is the case, I wonder why this problem just started after a year of refueling the same exact way?
This might be classified as a "dumb" question, but why the heck would the recovery hose be placed in such close proximity to the filler neck; almost guaranteeing an overflow???
FYI: Sometimes I'm guilty of "rounding up" to the next "5" or "0"; but, most of the time, when the auto-handle shuts off, I stop there.
One more point. I love my QC. There is nothing else on the market that approaches the looks, engines, size and quality of the Dakota Quad Cab. I bought my 2001 QC in October 2000; special ordered it with all the bells and whistles; heavy duty everything. If I had it to do all over again, I would still buy the QC!
THANKS AGAIN BPEEBLES!
I have found that my dealer ALWAYS trys to "blow me off" when I first approach them with a problem. Unfortunatly, it must be "Standard Operating Procedure" to tell the customers that it is their fault and see if they come back again later.
I have taken to insisting that they formally "log" my complaint in their computer each time. This way, there is a record of when I came to them with a problem. This seems to keep me from being "blown off" and they actually LOOK at my problem.
To answer your question;
..why the heck would the recovery hose be placed in such close proximity to the filler neck...
The vapor recovery is in the filler neck since this is the highest part of the gas tank.
The filler neck should NEVER have raw fuel sitting in it. (completely full gas tank) Instead, the raw fuel only "passes thru" the filler neck on the way to the tank. The vapor-recovery hose is designed in such a way that raw fuel will not enter it under normal conditions.
What really upsets me is that the whole point of buying a new vehicle is for peace of mind for three years, and now I have to treat this vehicle like a used car that could break down at anytime.
So last night for New Year's Eve, I end up taking out my '86 4Runner with 215K miles so we don't get stranded.
Making I'm getting worked up and it is simply a minor adjustment, but it sure isn't a good way to start a relationship.
Sorry about the long post again, but I sure need to vent. AHHHHHHH.
I also agree with you that this board is probably skewed towards disgruntled Dakota owners who need to vent over their problems but it seems that the Toyota site doesn't have as many unhappy owners griping. I hope that my future posts will be positive and will focus on the QC's nice ride, power and passenger room and not the little things that give it a bad name.
I drop the QC off on Friday so I'll give an update on the diagnosis(the engine turns over but it won't start unless I push the gas pedal to the floor) and the dealer experience.
Bookitty