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greg
Dodge Dakota
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12/20/2005
11:26:14
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 Subject: long story..."short" problem
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hey guys, im back (its been a couple of months cause of school). Anyways, im having a slight problem with the engine temperature. over the summer i installed a 180 degree thermo, and relocated the iat to the intake. I noticed slight performance gains, but nothing suprising. I also need to mention that my truck engine light has gone on before because of my overdrive solenoid, it works, but somehow it sticks everyonce in a while because of my performance chip. Well its winter now and ive noticed that my engine stops heating up b/w 165 and 170 (halfway b/w the 130 and 210 markings) and the overdrive gear is really sticking (sometimes i pull out third gear past its shift point for over 30 seconds). By the way i have an auto if you haven't figured it out.
Here is my problem. My check engine light just came on. I am going to get it checked today, but in the mean time i relocated my iat sensor back to where it was (and pluged the intake back up) and it really helped my shifting (im not pulling it out like it was), but my engine still only heats up to 170. The thermostat was a 180, and it was a stant (i think that is how you spell it). Has anyone had this problem?
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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12/20/2005
11:47:44
|  RE: long story...
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i had that problem with my '00 3.9 and went back to a 195. right now mine is running about 185 even w/o the clutch fan. i also used to get a code (p1842 i think)for engine too cold for too long. but it never set the MIL light. you may want to put a 195 tstat back in there.
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greg
Dodge Dakota
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12/20/2005
12:02:04
| RE: long story...
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I had a feeling that is what is was. Its a real pain in the a$$ to do (draining all the coolant, flushing, refiling, etc). Thanks for the tidbit, though. I'll probably wait till summer, though. To cold to do it now. I get the light cleared just as soon as i verify that is what it is
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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12/20/2005
12:11:50
| RE: long story...
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just a guess, but could it be the coolant temp sensor? I'm on my 2nd one in the last year. The one I just replaced I got at autozone (came with 3 month warranty). Somehow it got wet or something, when I went to disconnect the electrical connector, the plastic portion broke. I checked it after getting the sensor out and the wiring inside was corroded.
I just replaced it with one from advance (fixed my backfiring) and it has a 1 year warranty.
- Dan M
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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12/20/2005
12:18:17
| RE: long story...
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greg, i did day mine did NOT trip the light. you may want to check the codes to see exactly what's causing the MIL.
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toolfan
GenIII
12/20/2005
12:19:15
|  RE: long story...
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greg some people install a 160 degree themo and have no problems. i thought about putting in a 180 but my truck runs between 180 and 195. i think your fine with the themo just dont beat on it until its warm. and the trans deal i have no clue on how to help you.
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greg
Dodge Dakota
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12/20/2005
12:19:48
| RE: long story...
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I may be a newb, but i thought the thermostat regulated the coolant. I've never heard of the coolant temp sensor (nor do i know where it is located). Sorry, but first time truck owner here.
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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12/20/2005
12:29:00
| RE: long story...
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The coolant temp sensor should be located next to the tstat housing - it is a 2 wire connector. The 1 wire connector is the sensor gauge, it sends the temp to the gauge inside the cab on your dash.
The coolant temp sensor would be responsible for setting the MIL for running too cold.
The PCM uses the signal from coolant temp sensor to assist in adjusting fuel delivery. This is why my truck was backfiring on cold mornings, PCM was causing truck to run too rich based on bad/incorrect signal from coolant temp sensor.
Welcome to the wonderful world of EFI.
- Dan M
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toolfan
GenIII
12/20/2005
12:58:01
| RE: long story...
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i think i know what you are talking about Dan M!
that makes sense and that could be your problem greg.
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greg
Dodge Dakota
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12/20/2005
13:04:21
| RE: long story...
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thanks for all your help toolfan, daddio, and Dan. im off to autozone to get the code checked out. I understand that temp thing, and it does sound like it could be the problem. Hope that will fix the problem
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greg
Dodge Dakota
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12/20/2005
14:16:59
| RE: long story...
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well, just got back from autozone. It was NOT the temp at all. It was the 3rd/4th shift again (i think it is the 3rd time that I have tripped that code). I ended up buying a coolant temp sensor anyways, but I guess im going to have to drain the coolant in order to replace it, so I wait till warmer weather. Autozone won't clear the codes, so i have to disconnect the battery for 15 min, bla, bla, bla. Oh well, thanks for the help anyways.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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12/20/2005
14:32:54
| RE: long story...
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now i really see why i got a 5spd manual.
greg, what year is your truck?
on my '00 i don't disconnect the battery to reset the PCM anymore. i got tired of resetting the colck and radio presets. now i just unplug the connection on the PCM that's closest to the firewall for a couple minutes.
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crow318
Dodge Dakota
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12/21/2005
07:51:26
| RE: long story...
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I wouldn't worry too much about what your temp gauge reads. If you look at a manual there is a huge range of resistance for any given temperature. Two trucks can run the exact same temp, but show up to a 15 degree difference. Thats why they only put three temps on the gauge. The thermostat also does not control the max temp the engine runs at. Once it opens, it looses its control. In the summer, it would probably open and the temp would continue to rise until a balance was reached with the cooling from the radiator. A 180 thermostat could still run at 200 all summer.
Now that its colder, the radiator does more cooling and the truck is most likely running right around the open temp of the thermostat. Keep in mind, what you think is 165 could easily be 180.
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greg
Dodge Dakota
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12/21/2005
10:27:06
| RE: long story...
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well daddio, i already did it, but yes it is a pain to reset all the radio presets.
crow, thanks for the info, i understand what you are saying. i guess i don't have to worry too much as long as it is within the range on the temp guage. as for my check engine light problem, the code was reset, but i still have the overdrive problem. I guess im going to have to speed big $$$ in order to have my overdrive solenoid replaced (by the way i have a 99 3.9L)
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