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visitor
Dodge Dakota
10/19/2001
01:23:50
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 Subject: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Not many posts about Dakotas this old, but I bought one at Govt auction for $2,950. Extremely clean, looks great (except for paint) and works great, except the steering has nearly 2" of freeplay. Dealer tells me I need $1,000 worth of front end work. Wonder if I should spend that much or dump it and try again? Thoughts and ideas please?
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TigerDak
Dodge Dakota
10/19/2001
12:12:01
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Forget the dealer. You probably just need to replace some of the linkage in your steering. Get under there and I'm sure you can find the problem yourself and replace whatever it is for about 10% of what the dealer quoted you. I'd keep it.
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visitor
Dodge Dakota
10/19/2001
18:41:21
|  RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Thanks. Truck looks real good so far. It's a 5 speed 4WD with 85K, nearly ding free body, new tires, extra clean, etc. Gave it a tuneup and new thermostat today to be sure to clear the smog test, and it scored VERY good. Added a new battery and muffler, and except for the steering it should be done.
Got a 2nd opinion on the steering today, and an appointment at a private front end shop. Said new pitman arm, for $150 installed. Hope it's not just a come on for bigger things...
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visitor
Dodge Dakota
10/19/2001
20:03:15
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Here is what it looks like. You can see the need for paint.
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Spyder343
Dodge Dakota
10/20/2001
20:29:09
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Wow! That is really nice looking for a '91! I really like the color. Definitely keep it!
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visitor
Dodge Dakota
10/21/2001
12:51:59
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Thanks, I like the color too. Hope I can get a decent paint match at Earl Sheib for $200 or so. The more I use this Dakota the better I like it.
Should I be concerned about replacing the timing chain at some mileage?
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visitor
Dodge Dakota
10/21/2001
22:57:34
|  RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Spyder343
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
05:03:50
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
You should maybe start a new thread about the timing chain question. The only thing I have heard is that, at least with the V6s, there is a tendency for the chain to begin to tick with deceleration. Let everyone know what motor you have to.
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Spyder343
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
05:05:56
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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By the way, like I said earlier, seriously nice truck!
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
12:23:38
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
>like I said earlier, seriously nice truck!
I like the way that blue paint glows in the rain. It jumps right out and grabs you. Hope that is retained during the repaint. Get the front end work done this week and then should be about done with the restoration.
No comments yet on the timing chain question so will start a new thread. Thanks for the comments!
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visitor
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
19:52:32
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
>You should maybe start a new thread about the timing chain question.
Good discussion of the subject under High Mileage 2.5L. Turns out it's called a timing Belt in 1991.
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visitor
Dodge Dakota
10/23/2001
19:16:26
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
NEXT QUESTION: Look at the photo above and see if you agree that the rear of the truck seems to be quite a bit higher off the ground than the front. So I measured to the bottom of the wheel wells at the fenders and the front is 33" and the rear is 36", not as much difference as it appears. The truck in the photo is not loaded. Is 3" difference too much, or should I have the front adjusted up a bit?
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Spyder343
Dodge Dakota
10/23/2001
19:45:42
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Hello again! I believe that the rear was designed to be higher than the front. Every other Gen I or Gen II Dakota that I have seen, including my own, is the same way. I was told (I honestly don't remember by who, but I believe that it was my mechanic) that the rear end is higher as a sort of suspension pre-compensation for heavy loads in the bed. Don't worry about it, it is normal.
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/23/2001
20:34:11
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Thanks for that. Guess I've been looking at too many other 4WD SUV that appear to be level.
My '96 Chev 2WD short bed has ~1.5" difference. Makes sense to me, especially with the long bed, that there be more preload than that.
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/24/2001
13:29:24
|  RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Rats! Left 4WD out in the rain (first time since I got it)and this morning it had LOTS of water inside on the floor, both sides. Was dripping off the visors. Must be the windshield leaking, badly. Fortunately the inside is mostly vinyl except for the headliner, which did not seem to be wet. Guess a bead of something?? should seal it OK.
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Spyder343
Dodge Dakota
10/24/2001
19:38:12
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Heh, I had the same problem with mine when I first got it. Turned out that water was leaking in through a grommet under the hood that passed through the firewall on the passenger side. Little caulk fixed it, and a can of lysol :)
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/24/2001
20:39:35
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Heh, that will do it.
Think mine is a windshield leak since the truck was not moving during the 2 days of rain. Now I feel the forward edge of the headliner is damp. Maybe have to pull the windshield and put in a new seal. It has to be a really BIG leak that extends all the way across the front of the winshield.
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Spyder343
Dodge Dakota
10/25/2001
02:45:18
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Yeah, that sounds like a windshield :( I also had a leak in the driver's side upper rear corner of the cab (where the screws from that outside trim piece between the roof and the seatbelt pillar meet). Every time it rained real hard, my seatbelt would get wet and musty! Finally took out the headliner and used some liquid steel to seal it up...and another can of lysol. I hate leaks! Hope you find yours soon, they can really be annoying!
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visitor
Dodge Dakota
10/27/2001
23:09:34
|  RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
>and a can of lysol
Tell me about Lysol. Why do you use it, and how?
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Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
10/27/2001
23:33:33
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Hey guys, My 1990 Dak has a problem of leaking on the drivers side. Any pointers on how to stop it? I keep a bottle of Feebreeze in the back because I live in S. Fla. Rains alot. Thanks for the help.
Joe E.
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Spyder343
Dodge Dakota
10/28/2001
02:14:29
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Lysol is used to treat the usually fairly musty odor that accompanies water leaks. I just don't like my truck cab smelling like a swamp, so I use(d) a lot when it was leaking. Doesn't stop leaks or anything ;)
Hey Joe, where is the leak occuring on the driver's side. You know, where is it getting damp?
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Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
10/28/2001
12:24:20
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Hey, my floor fills up woth H2O. Mostly by the kick panel. I think it might be the air vent. Seems like the H2O is less when I have it closed during a rain. I really sucks though. Another guy told me to check the plastic liner in the door. He said sometimes, water runs down the window and goes through the seal and into the door. If that liner is slit, the water could pass right through the bottom of the door into your truck. Is this possible? Thanks for the help. I need some bad.
Joe E.
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visitor
Dodge Dakota
10/28/2001
13:19:01
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
>Lysol is used to treat the usually fairly musty odor that accompanies water leaks.
Guess I just have the leak, but not the odor, yet. Where do you spray it, directly on the formerly damp headliner? Or on the formerly wet floor and sun shields and panel also??? Thanks.
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Spyder343
Dodge Dakota
10/29/2001
02:38:02
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Visitor - I would spray the lysol on the headliner, yes. It will kill mildew and other organics that produce that annoying musty smell (yeah, you are lucky you don't have it ;) ). You could also just spray it into the air in the cab and close the door to get the smell out of the air. Just don't spray it on plastic or the dash board. If you leave it there, it will stain the plastic white (learned that the hard way!)
Joe - I don't know where that leak could be coming from in all honesty, but I have a few suggestions. There are three grommets through the firewall below the clutch fluid reservior (on manuals), just above the main wire harness, and to the right (driver's side) of the brake master cylinder. There is also one for the speedometer cable the runs below and to the right of the brake master cylinder. They enter the cab through the firewall behind the kickpanel and 3-6" above the edge of the carpet to the left of the steering column toward the parking brake pedal. Give those a check to see if they are all tight (when I went to look at mine to tell you where they are, I even found one loose!). I don't know if it is the air vent, because I believe they are all linked together, meaning that the two floor vents originate at the same place, and if the driver's side vent was leaking, the passenger's side would be leaking too. I am willing to bet it is one of those grommets though.
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Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
10/29/2001
16:57:07
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Spyder343, Thank you for the info. And thanks for taking time out of your day to look at those grommet locations. I will definitly check those. Your advice about the air vents seems right. I never thought about both sides having one. Anyways, thanks for the help.
Joe E.
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visitor
Dodge Dakota
10/29/2001
19:38:11
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
>I would spray the lysol on the headliner, yes. It will kill mildew and other organics that produce that annoying musty smell
Thanks! I'll give it a (preventive) try.
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Spyder343
Dodge Dakota
10/30/2001
01:53:25
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Hey visitor, don't use too much! Just a bit will work.
Joe, did you find the leak?
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visitor
Dodge Dakota
10/30/2001
11:13:00
|  RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
>Hey visitor, don't use too much! Just a bit will work.
OK. Thought maybe I was supposed to drink it.
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Spyder343
Dodge Dakota
10/30/2001
17:54:22
| RE: 91 Dakota 4WD
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Message:
Heh, whatever makes you happy, I guess! :)
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