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Board Lurker
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2002
04:36:48
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 Subject: The Dakota Truth!
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Within weeks of ordering a 03, 5.9, 4x4 Quad Cab I have some major reservations. Here Chrysler has potentially the absolute ideal truck for many people, ideal size and great looks. However, if you lurk around this board for very long you come up with the following picture: An outdated engine that opec loves or a technological up to date engine with no low end grunt (every day, normal driving), the most sensitive automatic out there (if you aren't obsessive with your maintenance look out) and last but not least brakes that aren't very reliable or durable!
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Duner
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2002
10:32:53
|  RE: The Dakota Truth!
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I could definately see where you could come to
that conclusion based upon all the conversations
that take place here. Unfortunately I would also
have to agree that it's probably the Dakota Truth.
Du
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jjj
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2002
10:45:31
|  RE: The Dakota Truth!
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In all honesty the 5.9 is given a bad rap. It is severly detuned and adding just a couple degrees of timing will get you about the same fuel econ. as the 4.7 in the same platform.
Brakes are not just a Dodge issue it has to do with the ban on absbestos and no real good replacement. The 03's may already have larger braking surfaces, I don't know. My dealer said I was the first one they had warped rotors with.
Alot of guys here use their trucks also either for towing, hauling, or hard driving which puts a greater stress on brakes. Should they handle the added load - yes, but to me just a minor issue.
The biggest issue with trans. is the fluid selected and this has been a Chrysler issue for years. I think they don't let the aftermarket in on all of the specs in their fluids. IMO
First new car I ever bought 99 Dakota, then traded it for the 01 Dakota QC. Dodge has a homerun with the QC.
Jeff
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adam
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2002
12:35:30
| RE: The Dakota Truth!
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i just got a 96 dak 4x4 with a 5.2 the biggest problem i have with the truck is that the back wheels wont stop spinning even when you hardly get on it i think you should go drive one then u will change your mind about the low end torque
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HSKR
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2002
12:48:30
| RE: The Dakota Truth!
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I have a Dakota R/T, and my friend has a 4.7 4X4. I get better gas mileage on average with my 5.9 than my friend and his 4.7. The brakes for the '03s are getting a much needed upgrade. You will have 4wheel disc brakes with larger front rotors which should help tremendously. I have only warped one set of rotors on mine, and those were the stock rotors after I had put 54K miles on them. I think the people who have problems with the front rotors warping have 4wheel ABS and the ABS might be what's warping the rotors. I don't have the 4wheel ABS on my truck. The tranny behind the 5.9 is pretty solid. I havn't had any problems with mine, and I just do the normal maintenance as far as scheduled fluid changes, and even those are on shcedule as far as the owners manual says. I wouldn't try to use anything other than the Dodge tranny fluid though. This is my Dakota truth on my heavily modded '99 R/T with 112000 miles on it and still on the almost stock tranny. The original tranny was replaced with 4K miles on it for the rear seal leaking due to driveline viberation that was fixed when I got the new tranny. So, 108K miles on this tranny with no problems.
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sandman
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2002
15:02:18
|  RE: The Dakota Truth!
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I have a 4.7 and it has plenty of torque. It is realy silly to compare a short stroke 286 CI engine with one that has 360 CI. The 5.9 is about 20% larger. It also has a longer stroke motor. The 5.9 makes more torque because it was designed to make more low end torque. I doubt anyone would have any problem towing up to the specified limit of the Dakota with either engine.They put the 4.7 in a fullsize Dodge Ram Quad Cab for crying out load!!!! If you are going to be constantly accelerateing with a 7000 lb trailer to about 30 mph and then stoping and doint it over and over all day long you might see a difference. Most people that tow acellerate up to speed then stay their for at least a 2-3 miles. I towed a 4000lb SUV with a compact pickup with a 2.7 4cylider from georgia to Mich and never went slower then 65. If we cant tow with the 4.7 you must have problems!!!!!!!! Chevy's base engine is a 4.8 V8. Toyota's fullsize has a 4.8 and can tow 7500 Lbs. I realy do not understand why so many people have a problem with this engine??????? I can see you haveing a problem with this engine in a Full Size Dodge Ram Quad Cab but in a Mid-Size Dakota it is realy silly. You have to admit that this engine is a He11 of alot better then the old V6!!! THeir is nothing wrong with the 5.9 it is a time tested engine. The Transmission in the behing the 4.7 is alot stronger then the transmission behind the 5.9. The bad breaks are a problem for all American Brands!!! THey do not cast their own rotors anymore. The foundrys that they are useing should be casting civil war cannons and that is about it. They are dirt floored foundrys with next to no steel control. You have to maintain the right temp and spec for the steel from the time it leaves the cupola and right up to the molds. They are not maintaining the temp. They are pouring orange iron/steel. Semi-matelic/Carbon -metalic brake pads and shoe are just fine they last 120,000 + miles on my rice burners that are American made!! So far I am more happy then disapointed with my Dakota. It does not have the build quality of a Toyota but it has more personality and was alot cheaper.
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