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KTN-99 Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2007
11:40:39
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 Subject: 99 Dakota - Overheating Issues
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Hi All. I've got a 99 Dakota 5.2L V8 with 72k miles. I had my serpentine belt and fan clutch repaired about 2 weeks ago. Since then my truck has overheated 3 times. Only once of the three times was the radiator levels dangerously low. There doesn't seem to be any fluid leaks, and I had my radiator and caps all pressure tested.
I took it to a dealership and they told me I had to replace my radiator because it was clogged. I can't imagine it's completely blocked off because I can drive it to work and around town without an issue.
Can anyone suggest a process or any products that I could use to help clean out some of the deposits in the radiator? I'd really like to try anything before replacing the entire radiator.
Thanks for all suggestions.
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little jer
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2007
13:02:01
| RE: 99 Dakota - Overheating Issues
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hope they got the belt on right and the water pump is rotating the correct direction. lol If your coolant level gets low you have a leak somewhere in the system. It just might not be big enough to puddle or be noticable. Causes of overheating can be bad radiator cap, blown head gasket, low coolant, bad water pump, air in system, or leak of coolant. Have you used some stop leak in the radiator and gunked the system up? It's funny that it happened after a fan clutch was put in. Maybe it was a defective one?
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2007
13:14:41
| RE: 99 Dakota - Overheating Issues
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if you're running low on coolant, there IS a leak somewhere. fan clutch repaired? i believe you mean changed.
anyhow, before changin the rad, i'd try to find the leak and fix it, then flush it and change the t-stat.
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KTN-99
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2007
13:52:36
| RE: 99 Dakota - Overheating Issues
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Thanks. Yes, I meant to say I had the fan clutch replaced. I've never put anything in the radiator other than coolant. I've been checking the ground under my engine almost every day, and have never seen any thing on the ground. Not even a couple drops. I've also been checking the coolant levels and it is consistently full.
How would the water pump have gotten reversed?
Is flushing the radiator something I could do in my garage? Or would it be best to have a shop do it for me? My experience doesn't go much beyond changing my own oil and basic knowledge of the engine.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2007
14:10:35
| RE: 99 Dakota - Overheating Issues
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hopefully you didn't get a defective clutch fan. did you have any problems before?
as far as the flush, i know Prestone makes a kit you can use with good instructions. not hard at all. just properly dispose of the old coolant. or you could check at local shops to get an idea what it costs to have done professionally. i think somewhere around 50-80 bucks.
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KTN - 99
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2007
16:45:59
| RE: 99 Dakota - Overheating Issues
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No, I never had any issues before the clutch was replaced. Both a dealership and a family-friend mechanic who did the repairs both said it needed to be replaced. The technician at the dealership pointed out a clicking noise coming from the fan that he said was the symptoms of the problem. After the repair the clicking noise is much more consistent. I used to only hear it when I was accelerating heavily or going up hills. Sounds like a bad clutch perhaps?
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little jer
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2007
18:28:59
| RE: 99 Dakota - Overheating Issues
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Even new parts can be defective. Even more so if it is a rebuilt part. I had a clicking once and the repair shop said I needed a new air pump. After replacing the pump it was still there. Turned out to be a radiator hose clamp I had dropped behind the water pump and it was making the clacking noise when it hit the belt or pulley. Could it be your water pump is going bad? May be leaking some causing u to lose coolant. And could be causing overheating.
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