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Figols
Dodge Dakota
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6/13/2005
10:53:30
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 Subject: Farewell Dakota world
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Let me just start off by saying that this site is amoung the most useful (and amusing) automotive message boards out there. There is a couple of posters on here that seem to genuinely know something (which is rare in the automotive world).
I finally had enough. I sold my '00 QC and bought a new Sierra SLE 4x4 Z71 ext cab. I couldn't take the constant repairs with the Dodge anymore! I've had very good luck with GMC in the past years (usually well over 200K miles w/o ANY problems!) and with the current problems with my Dakota along with the GM discount, it made it the perfect time to go back. I got the GMC for LESS than I paid for my Dakota 5 years ago!!
Here is a short list of problems I've had with the Dakota since day 1........ 3 wheels were never balanced from the factory, 3 different PCM upgrades, fog lights replaced in the first month for heat cracks, cracked again 1 year later, a/c stops blowing out the vents at will(since new!), NON STOP SQUEAKS!, fan clutch (30K), ball joints (65K), right tierod end (40K), steering rack (50K), right tierod end again (65k), BRAKES, BRAKES, BRAKES!! 4 sets of front rotors, 2 sets of pads, 1 set rear shoes, front u-joint (60k), rear u-joint (82k), muffler rotted out (65k), hydraulic valve lash adjuster tapping (started @ 60K), front seal leak (80k), headlights turn off at will (bad wiring), left front wheel bearing (80k), LSD shot (70k), pinion bearing shot (80k) which is the straw that broke the camels back!! and numerous other stupid problems!!
I traded it in with the bad rear end, wheel bearing and engine noises. Cleaned it up really nice to eliminate the oil drips and I got $10K on the trade. I couldn't drive it past 50MPH on the way to the dealership because of the vibration from the pinion bearing.
All of these problems from a truck that had only 83K mostly highway miles and was NEVER raced, off roaded or otherwise abused in anyway. I've never even lit up the tires intentionally! I must of gotten a Friday or Monday truck! What ever the reason, it only made sense to unload the roach. Too bad because I did really like the truck and I did have high hopes for it.
Anyway, It's been real, it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun (being a Dakota owner). Check out my Ebay auctions for my left over Dakota stuff!
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Dex
Dodge Dakota
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6/13/2005
12:49:18
|  RE: Farewell Dakota world
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I have a 2000 QC 4x4 3.9L and have not had one problem. You have to wonder why one truck has all your problems and another doesn't have any.
I even get 20mpg @ 65mph.
My wheels will probably fall off when I'm going 65mph after this post
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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6/13/2005
12:56:47
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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sorry to hear you had a bad experience with your dak. my '00 has been trouble free so far.
i hope you have better luck with your new GMC than i had with my last one('96 4x2 Sierra x-cab) that one was a piece of junk. unlike the '83 S-15 i owned before that. ran that thing 150K trouble free miles before i sold it.
good luck
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GTO/Kota
Dodge Dakota
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6/13/2005
14:31:34
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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Best of luck in your new truck. I'm amazed you got 10k on your trade for a 00 Dakota. Blue book for a trade-in on a 2000 QC with 80k+ miles comes out in the mid-9's. Sounds like the dealer gave you quite a deal, unless you owed much more on it than 10,000. Anyways, best of luck to you.
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Figols
Dodge Dakota
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6/13/2005
16:32:43
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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Daddio, I had a '90 Sierra ext cab 4x4 with the 305, the worse motor to get back then! I had 290K miles on it when I sold it in '96. I had to replace the auto tranny at 185K miles, but other than that NO problems! The engine didn't even leak or burn oil! I know people with the same 305 that had nothing but problems. Most commonly was cracked blocks. I guess I got lucky with that one. My '96 Sierra 4x4 ext cab 350 had 180K miles (I think) when I sold it. Only changed a water pump on that one. After those two trucks you can see why I'm unhappy with the Dakota. Not to mention my older GMC's & Toyotas! And I really used those trucks as trucks. They weren't as well taken for as my Dakota was.
GTO/Kota, I REALLY busted balls to get $10k for the Dakota. In addition I had the fiberglass cap and a 1 year old Snow-way plow mount (which is good for here in the Northeast). I also had all the receipts from parts and warranty work + the body and interior looked as good as new. I paid cash for the truck in '00 so there was no lein for the dealership to pay off, which I'm sure helped me get top dollar. I also stopped at a few dealerships to see what they would give me. One didn't even want the Dakota!
Not only did I get top dollar for my trade & the rock bottom price ($37K truck for $26K), but I also got a 5 year 100K mile drivetrain warranty AND a free bed liner! GM REALLY wants to move their inventory!
BTW, I anticipated a lot of bashing. I'm glad to see that we can all be adults.
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Scott1981
Dodge Dakota
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6/13/2005
17:38:44
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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My dad has always had great luck with chevy trucks, chevy vans are another story for my family though. I dont blame ya one bit, if my dak was the POS yours was I would have dumped it long before you did. Sounds like you deserve some good luck with this new truck, I hope it works out for ya
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jd
Dodge Dakota
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6/13/2005
18:28:34
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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Well, sh1t happens good luck on your new truck. It's good to see you buying an American truck. My chevy g30 work van has 265,000 no problems.
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Big Un
Dodge Dakota
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6/13/2005
19:22:40
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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Good luck! But I believe I see your Dak problems, SNOW PLOWING. My bro-in-law USED to plow with his big bad Chevy for many years, but after numerous and expensive breakdowns, he's finally had enough. Plowing has to be the hardest thing for any vehicle.
Hope you have better luck with the GM product.
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novadak
Dodge Dakota
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6/13/2005
20:14:49
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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good luck w/ the GMC. Hope things work out well for you.
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KJS
GenIII
6/13/2005
22:02:34
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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So far all's i had to fix on my 2000 quad was the heater core at 75,000 miles, knock on wood! overall my truck has been pretty good no real bad problems to report.
My truck looks like it was in a knife fight, and lost! http://www.cardomain.com/ride/1275365
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STS
Dodge Dakota
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6/21/2005
16:35:55
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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Well, another poster "Joe.C" did the same. He's GMC Seirra is a 04 with a vortech 4800. What engine option does yours have?
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Figols
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
11:08:57
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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Look at that, I still scan the boards and I don't even own a Dodge anymore! I'll still be lurking every now and then and post some responses to those that are having trouble with their Dakotas in areas where I've experienced trouble(which is almost everything!).
Thanks for all of the well wishes!
In any case, "Big Un", the snowplow was only on for 1 1/2 winters and was only used for my driveway which is paved, but 1/8 mile long. I doubt any trouble was due to it. I bet I only plowed a total of 10 times.
STS, I bought a SLE 1500 ext cab, with the new all aluminum 5.3 that puts out 310hp and 345 lb/ft of torque. So far I only have 700 miles on it and on my second fill up I got 16.9 MPG on mixed driving with the a/c on. Decent mileage and lots more power! Why can't Dodge accomplish that?
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Joe.C
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
17:36:04
|  RE: Farewell Dakota world
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Well the reason is simple.. There just to over blowted and just to dam F-ing heavy. Rediculious for a 1500 seires truck. Also the 05 modle Dakota truck has the same problem. gained more weight than power.
Also the 5300 (or 324 cid) is rated at 295 HP and 335 lbs toruqe.
5300 Vortech
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Joe.C
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
17:40:12
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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Of course I got the 4800 Vtech and fell just stonger than a older 350.
•285 hp @ 5200 rpm
•295 lb-ft torque @ 4000 rpm
•Fuel efficiency — 16 city, 21 highway (2WD); 16 city, 19 highway (4WD
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Kowalski
GenIII
6/22/2005
17:48:24
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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Big Un - time to get your vision checked ? No problems due to plowing with mine ...
Figols - glad to hear you'll be looking over our shoulders here and helping with what you know.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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Figols
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
18:22:24
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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Joe.C, The 295hp 5.3 is an iron block with alluminum heads. I have the all alluminum version rated at 310hp. My sales brochure listed both 5.3's and lists the higher compression with the alluminum block. I guess it's now like the 6.0 in which there is a 300hp version and a 345hp version. I bought my truck off of the dealers lot and it just happened to have the alluminum version in it. I didn't even know it existed until I saw it on the window sticker.
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JD
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
18:22:59
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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I heard the new 5.3 has 310hp
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Figols
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
18:31:18
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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New links. The Chevy and GMC site don't seem to have the specs up on the new 5.3 yet, but they do list it as the 5.3 HO and it's listed as an option on some models.
http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado/features/
http://www.gmc.com/specs/specs_content_files/specs_engines.jsp?brand=sierra&vehicle=1500
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Joe.C
Dodge Dakota
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6/23/2005
15:31:39
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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Figols,
The 5300 aluminum block built for the SSR roadster and not even a option for any GM work truck. But now I think they offer a H.O 365 cid motor instid of the smaller 324.
Ok the 310 HP version is avalible for the SLT Sierra but you get the same amount of toruqe which is rated at 335 ftlbs. SLT specs
Also Cast iron block are much better for a work truck since it involves stress like towing/hualing or in your case, snow plowing.
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Figols
Dodge Dakota
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6/24/2005
14:28:03
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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Who said anything about a work truck? If I wanted a work truck I would've bought the work truck model and saved a few thousand $. I bought a SLE. The SLT comes standard with leather and I hate leather seats!
From what I can tell the new 5.3 HO is available on the 1500 ext.cab short bed 4x4 SLE models and for '06 it will be standard in the SLT. Why? I don't know. All I know is I wanted a 1500 ext.cab short bed 4x4 SLE with the 5.3 and tow package and that is what I got. I didn't even know it had the HO 5.3 until I looked at the window sticker a little closer AFTER I made a deal to buy it. Really I would've been happy with either of the 5.3's. The fact that it happen to have the HO model didn't and wouldn't have influenced my purchase at all.
Another thing I found out is the HO weighs 100 lbs less than the iron block and was designed to handle a lot more power than the 310 hp that it puts out. It should be more than durable enough to handle the car trailer I tow and the occasional snow plowing of my driveway (1/8 mile black top...no big stress there).
Cast iron better than alluminum?? That's an old wives tale. Cast iron is much much cheaper overall and that is why it is most commonly used.
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so
Dodge Dakota
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6/24/2005
15:58:39
| RE: Farewell Dakota world
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Who cares?
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