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wierdkid
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2006
01:12:06
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 Subject: hard to start when wet and cold
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I notice when i start my 97 3.9 ext cab dakota in cold wet weather (and only this weather) its a really hard to start. I need to stay on the starter and pump the gas a good twenty seconds (pumping when the revs kick up helps a bit). any ideas on what might be causing this?
I already know the check valve on the fuel pump is bad but leaving the key at on for a sec before starting takes care of that.
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2006
02:45:01
| RE: hard to start when wet and cold
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Message:
Most likely it's your sparkplug wires. moisture/High humidity causes weak dried out wire insulation to leak.Warm dry weather or hot engine well allow them to work atleast good enough to start/run. You can tell by having someone crank the engine while you watch i total darkness. You well see the spark leaking. Also in thedark with engine running, run your fingers slowly along the wires. Bad wires wil makeyour fingers glow blue.
So many problems .... So little time
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2006
13:30:49
| RE: hard to start when wet and cold
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I would also put on a new cap and rotor. Water, carbon, and dirt builds up in there.
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wierdkid
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2006
14:21:44
| RE: hard to start when wet and cold
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thanks for the help. if I am going to do that might as well do the plugs too, I think they're about due. on that topic, any tips for getting the spark plugs out? The little collars around the plugs make it practically impossible for the spark plug socket i have. Does somebody make a thin wall one?
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ucimaplaya2
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2006
19:18:22
| RE: hard to start when wet and cold
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The spark plug sockets I have from a craftsman tool kit fit just fine in my collars. But you can remove the collars. Supposedly if you squeeze them, they collapse down the split in them and you can just pull them out.
Whats this business about your fingers glowing blue when you touch the plug wire. All thats ever happend when I touched a wire that was leaking spark was I got a hell of a shock. Now that I think about it I did see a blue dot in front of my face, but I couldn't see much else for a few seconds.
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wierdkid
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2006
23:24:42
| RE: hard to start when wet and cold
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Now that i'm thinking about doing this, anybody have any suggestions on plugs and wire? preferably plugs under $3 ea. I was also wondering if those E3 plugs actually do what they advertise or if they're just a joke(either way i probably wont buy them).
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2006
23:25:40
| RE: hard to start when wet and cold
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Yep . Your correct. I forgot to mention that BUT. You only get bit IF the wires are absolutely terrible or wires from 50's-60's or older when Wires were terrible early on .The wires need to be connected....... I've done this in my shop for years and seldom got bit . Between no bit and bit there is a stage where your fingers tingle so you got a good gage in your finger. Bad part is all these conditions indicate shot plug wires.
So many problems .... So little time
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ucimaplaya2
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2006
23:28:21
| RE: hard to start when wet and cold
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IMO, all those plugs are worthless. I have tried Bosch Platinum 4s in my 5.9 and got nothing but pinging. The best plug in these motors is the cheap Autolite 3923s. They have a slightly colder heat range than the stockers, and that clears up the pinging problem these motors are known for.
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ucimaplaya2
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2006
23:31:22
| RE: hard to start when wet and cold
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Message:
Ok then, thats good to know. Yeah I have been bit, and the worst part is my boss did it to me intentionally. He had it happen to him, and then he told me "hey go check the plug wires on that side and make sure they are tight. He knew there was a wear mark in one of them and just wanted to get me. Then we got one of our other co-workers.
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