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DC
Dodge Dakota
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1/30/2008
12:27:55
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 Subject: Will not reach operating temp
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my brother has a 1999 RC 3.9 and for some reason the engine will not reach full operating temperature. There is no coolant in the oil and there is no oil in the coolant. The thermostat housing is new and I put a new thermostat and gasket in it and also the fan clutch was just changed like last week. I'll leave it in second gear when I drive it at 50mph and the temp goes up a little bit but as soon as I let off the pedal the temp dramatically drops back down. Also the truck seems to be sluggish while driving and from time to time after it has been sitting for a few hours it will make a backfire noise from inside the engine bay when you first start driving. Any ideas to what is going on? Thanks for any help!
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miltonwaddums
Dodge Dakota
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1/30/2008
13:07:06
|  RE: Will not reach operating temp
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Not sure of the cost, but you try the temperature sending unit and its wiring (make sure there is nothing grounding out).
Also, you might try the thermostat. Was the new one installed in the proper direction? Maybe it was just bad from the factory.
I'm not an expert by any means and I'm just throwing out ideas.
Good luck,
Jay
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DC
Dodge Dakota
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1/30/2008
13:34:50
| RE: Will not reach operating temp
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I'm quite sure it was installed properly, it is the third one in the past couple years. First one I changed, second one changed by a mechanic, and now the third I personally did, the first one worked fine but that was before the truck started acting up like it is now. The one that the mechanic put in and the last one I put in have made no difference.
would the temp. sending unit cause the engine to bog down though and backfire from the engine bay?
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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1/30/2008
14:39:06
| RE: Will not reach operating temp
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are you getting any codes? if it is actually running that cold and it's a '96 or newer you should be getting a code (P1492 i think) for engine running too cold for too long.
the coolant temp sensor can make it run bad. the temmp sending unit is the one for the gage. it too could be bad.
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DC
Dodge Dakota
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1/30/2008
14:43:37
| RE: Will not reach operating temp
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there have not been any codes, the last time I had one was because of the speed sensor but I fixed that years ago.
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dakota49
Dodge Dakota
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1/31/2008
15:12:22
| RE: Will not reach operating temp
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I'm thinking a bad thermostat, I know you said you put in a new one.... but you still could have gotten a bad one. Try putting some cardboard in front of the engine and see if it gets any warmer. If so, then I would go for another thermostat.
Good Luck
Dakota49
1988 3.9 4X4 5speed
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Mikey
Dodge Dakota
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2/01/2008
20:18:55
| RE: Will not reach operating temp
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D.C
I know this sounds weird, but try turning off your heater blower altogether for about 10-15 mins of driving and see what happens. If your gauge comes up to operating temp, then try turning your blower motor back on (it worked for me, and I don't know why).
I think that it may have something to do with bad circulation ie: your coolant is staying in your heater core for too long and it's getting cooled too much by your blower motor fan. I know that you shouldn't have to do this every time you get inside your truck to go for a ride but it might help get you through the winter.
Let me know
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DC
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2008
11:19:49
| RE: Will not reach operating temp
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It is not a bad thermostat, already tried two new ones.
My brother doesn't drive with the vents on, the knob is always in the off position, when I drive it I will turn the heat on and if I give it enough gas, heat does come through the vents. but it doesn't even warm up when he drives with them off.
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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2/05/2008
08:14:41
| RE: Will not reach operating temp
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"It is not a bad thermostat, already tried two new ones." It COULD still be a bad thermostat. What brand are you using? Try a Cooper (formerly Robertshaw) from a dealer. I had two bad thermostats in 3 months, Stant brand, which used to be good. It's been 2 years now with a replacement from the dealer, and no issues.
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dakota49
Dodge Dakota
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2/05/2008
18:01:46
| RE: Will not reach operating temp
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Could be he needs to flush the heater core, if you do, use a water hose and flush it both ways.
Good Luck
Dakota49
1988 3.9 4X4 5speed
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DC
Dodge Dakota
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2/05/2008
21:07:14
| RE: Will not reach operating temp
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the first thermostat a couple years ago came from Advance, second one I'm pretty sure came from the stealership when the techs put it in and the third came from Autozone.
I have not flushed the heater core, where I live we are in a critical water drought, so if we get caught doing anything outside with our water...it gets shut off.
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DC
Dodge Dakota
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2/13/2008
09:44:38
| RE: Will not reach operating temp
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could it be possible that their is a bad valve causing the backfire inside the engine bay?
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