Dodge Dakota - Quad Cab

biglucy · March 2001

slickwilliedj · March 2001

i can live with this axle offset thing cause i love the truck its great and i have had 0 mechanical problems with it.but if d/c considers offsetting the rear axle normal and part of the design then i would like to know why and have it in writing just in case...

biglucy · March 2001

I have the basic factory setup with 2 speakers in the front and two speakers in the rear (doors). I'm thinking about getting more speakers for the rear door. Can someone explain to me how the QC can be equipped with 4, 6, or 8 speakers?? BOB is not very helpful here.

ayrow · March 2001

Hey guys,

I may have solved the problem with installing tow hooks on my 2001 QC.

I spent the day measuring, drawing, drafting, and designing a couple of specific pieces of steel that will bolt into the existing holes in the QC frame up front.
I took them to a machine shop to have them made.

As a result, if all goes well, I will be able to mount standard tow hooks up there that will pass through the holes that Dodge cut in the facia. They should be plenty strong enough too.

I took the specs to the shop this morning and will receive them probably by Monday at the latest.

I keep you guys updated when I get them.

kjcdr1 · March 2001

For those asking about miles at delivery, my Q/C had 3 miles on the odometer when it rolled off the truck. The dealer allowed me to take it overnight before the purchase. I did the full inspection as indicated in Post 2178 and put 50 test drive miles on the 4.7l 4x4 with auto trans, 3.55 limited slip diff. T/H and H/D, power, & deluxe convenience groups & radio w/CD.

March 1 was delivery and pay the dealer day. The Q/C now has 533 miles on the odometer. 385 of the miles were highway driving between central PA and Columbia MD and return. Plenty of opportunity to provide the short bursts of full throttle acceleration needed to seat the rings properly. These are a real eye opener as the acceleration is fantastic.

Have added a few accessories-- vinyl tonneau cover, silver matching running boards, bug deflector, tail gate guard, and a bed rug.

The bedrug seems like a great product, but I am a bit unhappy with the installation as the part that covers the vertical bulkhead at the front of the bed leaves the top of the ribbed area exposed -- it seems to sag a bit in the middle.

If anyone else has a bed rug installed in their Q/C, please let me know if yours has this problem. Thanks. Ken

paul159 · March 2001

hi i have an 01 qc and just got a factory am/fm/cd/cass for a good price and i seem to remember there being a post with pictures of how the dash comes apart does anyone remember where that was. thanks

blubelle · March 2001

Mark16q, I ordered Factory fender flares from a dealer and got a 10% discount on them. They are fairly easy to install however you must do it when the truck is clean, dry and warm. They look good and sure do a good job of covering up the axle offset and stop the mud from being slung all over the side of the rig. After reading all the recent threads on the offset issue I guess I'll just make me a couple of lift plates with the proper offset correction alignment holes and be done with it. But have too much other stuff to do right now but maybe I'll get to it soon.

bcarter3 · March 2001

When I went to take delivery of my Dakota last October the odometer reading was 24 miles. The salesman must have seen the look on my face because before I could say anything he directed my attention to a sticker on the driver's window. It indicated that the vehicle had been turned over to Quality Control for random inspection prior to shipping. The sticker appeared genuine and I know the dealer only had the truck a short time the morning I picked it up. Just one of those things!!
blubelle: I concur with your findings. I leveled my truck, pulled off the rear wheels and did a lot of measuring and discovered, as you did, that the springs appear to be the problem. It is definitely not the bed. It has not been a priority on my "to do" list and doesn't seem to have a negative effect on anything. One of these days I'll try something.

cadguy · March 2001

I've had to start running my a/I lately and have
heard a dripping sound up under the dash. The sound is annoying as heck. No vehicle I've ever owned has had this.
I don't think that any of this condensation is leaking into the truck interior, that I've found. Can this dripping sound be gotten rid of, assuming there is no real leak? Thanks.

davewarwick1 · March 2001

My negotiating with the dealer over the $700 increase in cost over the cost at time of order has been fair at best. Warwick Dodge has offered to split the difference in the $400 over invoice. So I will pay $200 over invoice. With that, the truck is still $500 more than when I ordered. I took my dad's truck over to them which is a 98 Chevy with 13,600 miles and they bumped their trade-in offer to $12,500 from $12,000 when book value trade-in is $13,500. I was hoping that they would do better to make up for the cost increase of the quad. So I will sell dad's truck via the paper.

I made the mistake of negotiating a deal for the quad and ordered the truck and let them put down" $400 over invoice" on the slip vs. the cost that we negotiated. They said that the cost may go up by $100 or so and that would be it. In fairness to the salesperson, that is what I did. Please learn from my mistake.

I would love to tell them to stick the truck but for various reasons, just want it over with, so I will pick up on Monday - weather permitting. As for what I think about Warwick Dodge, wanna take a guess.

dave

okwildcatter · March 2001

Dave,

There's a reason dealers have the reputation they do... Out of curiosity, when did you order your Quad? My order went in around Feb. 12th (a week after I actually ordered it, the dealer obviously doesn't care if the truck is delivered before the rebate expires). They still have no clue if the truck has even been built yet, much less a delivery date. Haven't heard anything about a price increase yet. I've put up with a lot of BS from this dealer so far, and I'm quickly running out of patience. Hope the Quad is worth the headaches....

J

sscckk · March 2001

I ordered my truck on Feb. 15th. It was shipped on March. 9th. and should be at the dealer by March 23rd. So I am told. My price was locked and I was told that I get my choice of rebate combination whether from the date of order or date of delivery...which ever is better for me...and it is in writing. Has to pay $100.00 over invoice for this privilege! I bought my last car 7,000 below MSRP.

ayrow · March 2001

I've got the original OEM air box out of my 2001 QC for sale on Ebay if anybody is interested.

The link is:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=571093191

gjble · March 2001

Last Wednesday night it rained pretty good in Atlanta and Thursday afternoon when I got in to leave for work I saw the passenger side floor FLOODED,I was really surprised at the amount of water there was. I literally scooped it out by the handful The water seemed to be directly under the floor level heater outlet.
Today I tried to duplicate the rain with a water hose but could not recreate the leak. Is there any way this water could be coming thou the a/c-heater system?
I have an appointment with the dealer 3/30/01
I am of course(sadly) talking about my 2001 Dakota.

slclark8 · March 2001

Has anyone been able to purchase a power module for the 4.7.? Mopar performance have a listing but no module yet. I need one.

victx · March 2001

http://carrola.home.texas.net/dodge/DakStereo.html

davewarwick1 · March 2001

J

My truck was ordered on Feb. 10. and arrived this passed Tue. (March 13). The dealer told me that there was a price increase in the quads before I ordered mine but they did not have the updated costs nor did they know of a price increase. Lucky for me that I found out when they called and said the truck is in. I have loved the looks of the quad since I first saw them and it took me this long to order one in most part to the lack of interest in going through the ordering/negotiating process. I hope the problems I have with the truck are few to none.

dave

txqc2000 · March 2001

You should perform a search on the DML. I recall seeing a posting for a shop in AZ that sells the Mopar PCM's for around $250.00. You can also check with KRC Performance: http://www.krcperformance.com

Lastly, you can go for a custom PCM flash by the company that actually did the programming for Mopar: Mike Leach & Co. 714-639-5220. However, it'll cost you around $400 plus shipping. You'll also be without your PCM for a couple of days since you would need to send the original to them to be flashed.

Good luck.

badassbob · March 2001

I guess the moral to these "Invoice + $XXX" Horror stories is DONT DO IT!!!!!

Always negotiate for an EXACT Dollar amount and make sure none of these dealer loopholes are written into the sales agreement...In my opinion, dealers/sales-persons who use this sales tactic are not worth dealing with in the first place

Remember....It is the Dealers/sales-person's JOB to be as up-to-date on pricing policies and the current COST...NOT YOURS!!!!

If a dealer agrees to a sales agreement, things are SIGNED, and they find out AFTER-THE-FACT...Then i think the dealer should be man/women enough to admit they made a mistake and LEARN from it...NOT try to pass it off to the customer they just made a deal with...

There are plenty of dealers and dealerships out there who would never even consider telling a customer that there has been a price increase and they now have to cough up more money than was originally agreed upon...and THOSE are the ones worth giving our buisiness and patronage to..

My 2cents

CHAD
Greensboro, NC

paul159 · March 2001

thanks very much for your pic's of the stereo install it should hopefully keep me from breaking anything.i checked out the rest of your site and the price on the reese hitch's seemed good i'll have to get mine there.

steve234 · March 2001

I seem to notice that the best dealers have the fewest problems with vehicles. I just took 'Q' in for its second service call (the first was a slight pull to the right). The brakes had a off/on pulsation in the front. I wouldn't have bothered at this stage, but with only a 12,000 mile brake warranty, I couldn't wait. No problems with the dealer. Went for a test drive, but the problem was not real obvious. They went ahead and turned the rotors and put new pads on. In and out in less than two hours. They said that the rotors had a slight warp. I can honestly say that they earn their five stars. it is a pity that more dealers don't realize that good service makes money in the long run.

nato1 · March 2001

I don't own a Dodge, but I have owned many in the past.
Make sure your condensate drain is clear. I have had this problem. It used to be located on the firewall on the passenger side near the bottom. Should be a soft rubber hose that drains down. If leaves/dirt/water (frozen) block it up, the rain/snow that collects on the windshield flows down through the vent/grate at the bottom of the windshield (fresh air intake) and collects in the bottom of the a/c,heater core box. It should drain out, but if it's plugged, it'll empty into the passenger compartment. If you dare, you can take a bucket of water (COLD!) and throw it on the windshield, you should be able to find the drain.
Hope this helps.

stnick · March 2001

Check post #1759 above for the oil slime parts. I too had a ranger before the Quad. Mine was a 95 4x4 and it had switch on 4x4 with auto locking hubs. I know that when it was in 2x4 the axles on it did not turn, unless the hubs were engaged. On this one you had to back up 10 feet to disengage. As far as wear goes, G.M. has been using a system I think thats similar to the Quads, and now Rangers have changed now away from locking hubs. Guess we'll see how they do

bobs5 · March 2001

Anyone have a LEER cap on their truck? If so, how do you like it?
The closest dealer for caps carries the LEER products and I was wondering if they are any good.
Thank you,
Bob

gjble · March 2001

Thanks for the information.I am thinking the leak is something like you described. I will check further.

tegwj · March 2001

I have an '01 2wd QC, 4.7 auto, tire & handling group (i wonder if the wheels & tires are somehow related to this problem).

Under conditions I have not yet identified concretely I get a very faint high-frequency vibration in my heels as I'm driving. It has happened on the highway and around town, at varying speeds, both going straight and turning. It does not happen consistently, nor is it tremendously objectionable. But I notice it and that's enough to warrant the inquiry.

Possibilities I've guessed:

1) an irregularity on one of the front tires
2) something in the suspension bushings???
3) some weird harmonic thing in the engine/gearbox assembly?

It doesn't appear to have anything to do with temperatures (ambient or operating) nor does road surface appear to matter much. So it's a bit odd.

I welcome any suggestions. I know that asking the dealer about it will be fruitless without a better understanding of the cause.

twj

egaquaman · March 2001

Other than a separated seam at the tailgate (due to freezing) I love my bedrug. It fits perfect. I do however have a pace edwards roll top so maybe the fit is slightly different than with no cover?????

ozark · March 2001

At 36,000 miles I have had few problems. At about 33,000 the brakes began to pulsate when I applied the pedal. Turning the rotors seem to have cured the problem. Was not fixed under warranty. (Only good for the first 12,000).

At 34,000, I had problem with a loud squeaking-squawking noise in the front-end. Dealer replaced the sway bar bushing and it seems to have fixed the problem. I am still hearing squeaking noises from the undercarriage and will probably take it back to the dealer.

Around the same mileage, noticed binding in the power steering when turning hard in either direction. Again, the dealer replaced the power steering rack and the problem seems to be solved.

After a year, I still am in love with the truck. For my family and our life style, it is the perfect vehicle. I am still a little anxious about the long term but I have my fingers crossed. DC really has no real competition in this market niche. Nissan, too small. F150, too big.

Oh yeah, for the record. Factory Ordered 2000 Quad 4x4 Sport, Red,4.7, 5sp. LSD, cruise, trailer tow, , Tire and Handling pkg, big mirrors, skid plates, no power doors and windows, no power overhead group.

Average MPG is about 17.

Bpeebles if you are out there...Why is cleaning the throttle body important at 30,000 miles or is that just a dealer scam. Thanks in advance for your comments.

trippinglizard · March 2001

Does anyone have the mopar factory ordered air deflectors for the dakota? I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT DRILLING INTO THE HOOD!!!! Has anyone had any rust problems or other complaints? Would I be better off buying a Bra for the the front end?
I would have the service deparment install them . . . I'm not going to trust my tool time skills to a fresh paint job! PLEASE HELP

wantone2 · March 2001

As some of you know from my previous postings, I also went through this increase from the dealer in Fort Myers, FL. Only they came up the next day after signing the deal and said the increase was over a thousand dollars more. I told them to forget it and give me my deposit back. They agreed and said they would have to mail me my deposit. This was three weeks ago and I am still fighting to get Gulf Coast Dodge to give me my deposit back. I am filing a complaint against them with the Better Business Bureau tomorrow. This Dealership is the ultimate in sleezy dealerships.

ayrow · March 2001

Well, I put the Herculiner, do-it-yourself liner in my 2001 QC this weekend.
Took a ton of work. Had to rough down the insides of my brand-new painted bed (ouch) and then paint in the liner. Cost about $100 for the stuff at Super K-Mart.

What do I think???

Well, so far, it looks fantastic and seems to provide the durability promised. I'll let you guys know as soon as I am able to put it through it's paces later on next week when I have to haul a bunch of plywood.

-Ayrow

nathan_johnson · March 2001

Sorry to hear about the dealership problems. I wanted to add my opinion about the Better Business Bureau... they are less than helpful (a nice way of saying worthless). I am not quite sure how many complaints it takes to move a business from the standard "The number and type of complaints are not unusual for a company in this industry" to "Run for your life". I have had a great response when dealing directly with the State Attorney General. My state (IN) has a form you fill out and submit and they then contact the business. Hope this info helps.

jeffghs · March 2001

Just an update on the assembly line, It is moving quite well.
I ordered my '01 Quad on 12 March, and I called today to check status, not expecting to hear that it was being built today, with a ship date of 22 March. Now I would say that's pretty fast. I also checked on the rebate status for those of you who are worried about that, and Daimler Chrysler confirmed the rebate is good until 30 April, not 03 April as many dealers are still listing.

BTW, ordered 4x2 SLT Plus 4.7 auto LSD, Taupe leather, Forest green, HD, Tow pkg, etc.

My only dilemma now is my C.U. has a sale on loans starting 15 April (between 5-7%). If Quad comes in, it's gonna be a hard wait.

okwildcatter · March 2001

Jeff,

I ordered my Quad on Feb 10th, and as of today it has still not been built! Thanks for confirming the rebate extension. The GM here thinks the order fell through the cracks, or that a particular option is holding everything up. The only options I ordered that I don't see on the dealer lots are the two tone and 4 wheel antilock brakes. All in all, ordering has not been the most pleasant experience...

J

sscckk · March 2001

That is ridiculous. Mine was ordered with all those options and then some on Feb. 15th and I got the call to come and get it today.

ayrow · March 2001

Ok here's a strange question,

I climbed under the rear of my 2001 QC yesterday and right under the tailgate is a section of the frame that moves. In other words, there is a round piece of the frame, at the end of the frame, on the rear of the truck, running parallel to the tailgate, that seams to rotate freely on a spring-like mechanism. It is a tube about 3" thick and about 2' long, that on most vehicles, would be solid and welded to the frame.

This is not. If you rotate it with your hand, it springs back to center.

WHAT IS THIS AND WHAT IS IT FOR???

I have never seen anything like this on a vehicle before?
My guess is that it allows the frame to flex.

Am I right?

Thanks.

trippinglizard · March 2001

Does anyone have the mopar factory ordered air deflectors for the dakota? I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT DRILLING INTO THE HOOD!!!! Has anyone had any rust problems or other complaints? Would I be better off buying a Bra for the front end?
I would have the service deparment install them . . . I'm not going to trust my tool time skills to a fresh paint job! PLEASE HELP

niddersbach · March 2001

Can you help me decide if I received a good bargin . . . minus the cost of shipping overseas!
I figure i paid about 24000 US dollers for a Dakota quad cab 4x4. CD player . . . V-8 engine, and steering wheel with leather wrap.
This person gookitty seems to be of great help perhaps you can help me!
Is white a good color for truck . . .?

bobs5 · March 2001

If at all possible, could you take a picture of the coated bed, and the loaded bed full of plywood. I am curious how well a Quad can haul plywood as well as the durability of the Herculiner product.
Not sure as to which kind of bedliner to get. Right now, I am leaning towards getting the bedrug.
Thanks,
Bob

bobs5 · March 2001

It sounds like a pretty good deal. How does it compare to the invoice price? We would relate to the deal better if it were stated "I got this truck for $$$ over invoice before rebate, etc".
Color is a personal choice for many people. I have the medium bronze. To me, white is a color which requires a lot of maintenance to keep it looking clean.
Good luck with your truck.
Bob

bobs5 · March 2001

I think this is something the dealer will never find unless it is a constant repeatable problem.
It can be caused by almost anything. Tires, suspension, harmonics, motor or transmission mounts.
Good luck

bobs5 · March 2001

I would get that dealership on the ball and track down your order. The GM should be able to tell you what the heck is going on. If the order problem was due to incompetence by the dealer, then I would insist they make it worth your time, like a free extended warranty or something.
My truck took 5 weeks from order to delivery. At the time, 2 tone was not available with the bronze color.
Good luck,
Bob

earl1z19 · March 2001

You do not need to worry about rust because the hood is FIBERGLASS. The bug deflecters that use the 3m adhisive are much better and will not come lose at any speed. Give it a try you will like it.

Anyone looking for a Bedrug should go to TNT services in NH. I got mine for $288 and $12 freight. They can ship anywhere and have the best price I have found. The thing is awsome and any bafoone can install. Their number is 1-877-924-4224.

bobs5 · March 2001

How did you find this outfit? Is this their web site:
http://www.tntserve.com/
Thanks.
Bob

bobs5 · March 2001

Good question: What is the round piece under the tailgate. Maybe some kind of a vibration dampener? Hopefully one of the people with a service manual will look it up. Inquiring minds need to know.

dodgetrukn · March 2001

Hey Bobs5! Should soon be back on the road shortly with a quad this time! Do miss my '98 extended cab (demolished as you know). Loved the '98, will miss the 318!
Read a lot of posts, and hope NOT to encounter some problems I've seen.
Later for now !
dodgetrukn (also dodgetrukn on AOL's IM)

bobs5 · March 2001

Welcome back Gerry!
Don't worry about missing the 318. The 4.7L hauls nicely.
Bob

earl1z19 · March 2001

I was given their name from someone on the board. That is indeed their website. I was a little suspicios at first but you can trust them. I placed my order on Friday 3/9 and had it in my hands on the 14th.
Let me know if it works for you!

bobs5 · March 2001

Thank you for confirming the web site. Darn good price if you ask me.
I am still checking out local places for caps.
One of them handles snugtop caps and carries bedrugs.

Whats the general consensus on Snugtop products?

steve234 · March 2001

I am getting a bug deflector pretty soon and have found that the best are of two styles. Some models are all stick-on, which I am not impressed with their long term reliabilty. The other is where they loosen the grill and pinch the deflector between the grill and hood. This seems a lot better design. The eybrow pieces are stick on w/one screw.

Dodge Dakota - Quad Cab

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