| From | Message |
Tyler
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2009
20:19:54
|
 Subject: Head Gasket at 100k?
IP: Logged
Message:
I've got a 2000 Dakota 3.9 4x4. I came out to my truck one morning and noticed a small amount of coolant on the street. I drove the truck thinking it was just out of my overflow. Well the next morning the puddle was bigger. Then one of my buddys brought to my attention I was puffing white smoke. I stepped it down and it got worse billowing white smoke. I shut it off checked the oil and theres no coolant in it that I can make out anyways. My grandfather told me it is more than likely a head gasket? The truck only has 98,000 on it and in the past year the water pump went out and the power steering pump. Its getting to be a headache. How much is this gonna cost to fix. I heard 1000-1500$ for head gasket replacement. Does that sound about right? Why is all this stuff failing? Ive never heard of head gasket problems before 100k. Im sure the heater core will be the next to fail. Its turning into a lemon real quick!
|
Tyler
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/05/2009
09:57:32
| RE: Head Gasket at 100k?
IP: Logged
Message:
Bump this to the top
|
daddio
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/05/2009
10:31:52
| RE: Head Gasket at 100k?
IP: Logged
Message:
Did you overheat the engine when the waterpump went? If so, there is the root of the problem. Head gaskets usually don't just fail on their own.
I don't know if you bought this truck new or not but it seems that your cooling systems problems could be from lack of maintenance and not because the truck is a lemon.
|
Tyler
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/06/2009
00:05:49
| RE: Head Gasket at 100k?
IP: Logged
Message:
Its never been hot or overheated. The water pump just siezed up one day this winter and chewed up the serp belt in the process. I got the truck from my uncle with around 35,000 on it. Its been babied syn fluids all around and all the scheduled maintence ever since that time. Thats why Its baffling to me.
|
daddio
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/06/2009
20:08:45
| RE: Head Gasket at 100k?
IP: Logged
Message:
"Its been babied syn fluids all around and all the scheduled maintence ever since that time."
That's the key. Did your uncle do proper maintenance for those first 35k miles? Also, it did not overheat when the waterpump went out?
I've got 101k on my '00 nad it's given me great service. Just regular maintenance. In fact, I still have the original plug wires on it and it still averages around 21mpg combined.
Blowing head gaskets has not been a common occurence reported on here. It could get quite expensive a repair if a shop is going to do it. If you could do it I bet it could be done easily for have of what you've heard.
|
well
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/07/2009
10:27:12
| RE: Head Gasket at 100k?
IP: Logged
Message:
Babbied & syn oil are good
However
they do nothing for a cooling system
which needs to be taken care of
(flushed & coolant changed)
@ 129,000
My cooling system had been serviced 3 times.
The water pump still working like a charm,
I replaced it when i did the timing chain.
(but it was still working great)
|
Tyler
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/07/2009
12:36:32
| RE: Head Gasket at 100k?
IP: Logged
Message:
No it didnt overheat when the water pump went the water pump gear just siezed jumping my serp belt and chewing it up. It woulda done it after the pump went out a year ago. This is just a fluke. I got a price on what its gonna cost. 800 bucks for the repair that includes the head gaskets,resurfacing the head,and grinding the valves. May as well do that with the head off. Of course it pays to know a few people. Otherwise it would have been alot more im sure.
|
| | P 1 |
|
Post a reply to this message:
Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages
|
