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Tribal
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2005
13:10:38

Subject: '04 3.7L Bad Design w/the sparkplugs??
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I've got a '04, picked it up for just under $10k. Its a 4x4 and was new on the lot. Had 31 miles when I drove off the lot with it.

Well, here is my problem, twice now the truck has been back to the dealership due to ''water/mud'' within my sparkplugs. I've been told, that the plugs are set into the block more then normal and mud/water get into em and there is nothing I can do about it, except stay out of the mud/water. I was also told not to power wash at one of those do-it-yourself cashwashes my engine.

I cant buy this story, but right now, I got no choice.

Anyone else with an '04 3.7L sufferin g the same problem?

Anyone know of anything aftermarket I could use to help prevent this from happening?

I already have wheel well gaurds on order, but I want to know if there is more I can do..

Anyone got some helpfull advice?



02 DAKOTA BOY
Dodge Dakota
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3/27/2005
07:18:07

RE: '04 3.7L Bad Design w/the sparkplugs??
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you didnt say what kind of problem you are having but im assuming you are having some sort of engine miss. im not sure what your local dealership is trying to pull but definately sounds like a b/s story to me. for starters, a brand new 04' 4x4 for under $10g's sounds way too cheap. possibly there was something wrong with the truck from the begining. possibly a flood vehicle or something. second, mud and water gathering around the spark plug ports should not cause any problems at least until you try to change plugs around 75 to 100 thousand miles because the plug wires have rubber seals that seal out water from getting into the wire/plug connections. ive seen vehicles go through water/flood situations where water was up over the spark plugs in the engine. as long as water doesnt get into the distributer or airbox, they will keep running. you better do some checking into the history of this vehicle. there was some reason it was sold so cheap! hope this helps and good luck!



Tribal
Dodge Dakota
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3/27/2005
21:14:41

RE: '04 3.7L Bad Design w/the sparkplugs??
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OK, well, no, the truck was way cheap. I work for Mercedes (used too) and they have special discounts that all there employees get. So, basically, I paid for my truck, what the cost was when it rolled out of the factor. All the extra goodies that were put into my truck, I didnt pay for, plus I also got all the dealership bonus/cash back/ect crap as well. Soo, the price I paid was fair.

The problem I am having is the sparkplugs get filled with water/mud and then the truck miss fires. And when I say its bad it is EXTREMELY bad. The last triip it was at the dealership, I was told basically, I had 3 cyclinder miss firing. Guess thats not so good with a v-6...

Anywayz, anyone else have this issue with 3.7L and water and miss firing? Anyone know how I could possibly close up the wheel wells to fix this? Any other suggestions out there?



Slow4x4Dak
Dodge Dakota
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3/28/2005
00:25:37

RE: '04 3.7L Bad Design w/the sparkplugs??
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Switch the the bosch +4 platinums and see if the problem still exists. My guess is your plugs are gapped wrong and your dealership is bsing you. Like
"Dakota boy" said, it would be almost impossible to get mud/water in there and that wouldn't even cause it to misfire. I would've expected a person who works for mercedes to know it takes more than a spec of mud/water to break an electrical current.



rhino_rkw
Dodge Dakota
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3/28/2005
14:23:14

RE: '04 3.7L Bad Design w/the sparkplugs??
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I have an 04 3.7. Never had that problem. I was out in the dry lake bed not to far from Vegas after it rained for I do not know how long, had mud on the roof in the bed. The only thing that stopped me was the 2wd. Got stuck in a big way. You would be surprised what you can do with snow chains in the mud on a 2wd. ( Yet I still needed to be pulled out. ) Back to the question at hand. I think you got a lemon, or your Screwship is exactly that screwing you.




93dak4x4
Dodge Dakota
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3/28/2005
21:03:58

RE: '04 3.7L Bad Design w/the sparkplugs??
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if your problem is what they say it is then i have your solution. go to your local store and get "dielectric Grease" and fill all of your plug wire ends with it and then put them back on. the grease is a conductor and will keep your connection while providing no space for mud to stop your connection. then to prove the dealer wrong squirt a hose at your spark plugs while the engine is running...that will tell ya if they are full of $hit or not.
I powerwash my motor all the time, heck i have powerwashed cars while they are running....its meant to be able to run wet.



Dominick
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2005
23:19:35

RE: '04 3.7L Bad Design w/the sparkplugs??
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sounds to me like the dealership is bs'ing you



Tribal
Dodge Dakota
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4/03/2005
11:04:09

RE: '04 3.7L Bad Design w/the sparkplugs??
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The saga continues.....

Well, I pickup my truck after 3 days of it sitting at the dealership.

This time, they replaced all spark plugs and wires (for the 2nd time) and they also replaced the cat convertor. The told me the cat was 'clogged with mud/water' and was also causing the miss fire. I asked them if I could see the cat and they told me it was thrown away after the repair was made.

The screwship didnt charge me anything for the 'repairs' but, I doubt this is going to fix the problem. I figure now, they are replacing parts, just to replace parts.

Parts that have been replaced thus far on my '04 3.7L 7000miles 4x4 truck
plugs x1
plugs & wires x2
cat convertor x1
hood latch x1

I'm now persuring the LEMON LAW. So, will see what happens now.





calikota
Dodge Dakota
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4/03/2005
13:12:46

RE: '04 3.7L Bad Design w/the sparkplugs??
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I have a 04 4x4 with the 3.7 and I've gone through small ponds at about 35 mph and no problems. The underside of my hood and the entire engine compartment had crusty residue from the muddy water and still no problems.



scott1981
Dodge Dakota
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4/03/2005
14:13:54

RE: '04 3.7L Bad Design w/the sparkplugs??
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i have forded creeks with my 04 3.7 4x4 and also power washed the engine bay multiple times never having any problem. they are bsing you, i would just take it to another dealership. it is not worth your time to keep screwing around with the assclowns at your current dealership. also where are you finding the wheel well guards? i want some for the front of my 04 to help keep water and mud off the engine but havent found any. thanks for the info, hope you get this resolved



Tribal
Dodge Dakota
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4/04/2005
16:53:38

RE: '04 3.7L Bad Design w/the sparkplugs??
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I got the wheel well gaurd from a local shop, but I have bought them for my old '96 dakota from this web site: ww.jackit.com/bodylifts/gap_gaurds.htm



J and J Auto
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4/05/2005
00:05:31

RE: '04 3.7L Bad Design w/the sparkplugs??
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Sray them down with silicon spray it will seal
out the water from shorting

Something is wrong with this picture the 3.7 has
a coil over design

Larry
J&J Auto

1 eye
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2005
22:56:15

RE: '04 3.7L Bad Design w/the sparkplugs??
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I have to agree with Larry at j&j.

I was thinking of doing a slight tune up of plugs and wires and stuff when I hit the 36 grand marker on my 03, 3.7 and found out about the coil over, needless to say I have left them alone and will wait until I get more mile and a loss of power and mpg.



jjoohhnn6
Dodge Dakota
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6/16/2005
21:56:52

RE: '04 3.7L Bad Design w/the sparkplugs??
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i have an 04 dakota and the large white fan that is attached to the engine is not there but there is a slightly smaller fan in the front behind the grill that is an electric and my dealership told me that half way through 2004 they decided it was not necessary on the 3.7 v6, and so they stopped having them. However on the 05 dakota there is the large fan that is attaqched to the engine and no electric, any suggestion's would help.



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