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Chris R.
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/16/2003
23:20:12
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 Subject: Plugged Cat, timing?
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Message:
I'm puzzled as to what would be the source of my recently very poor mileage. I've lost over 7 mpg (and a lot of performance)in the last 6k miles, and there's no service light (which I would expect if it was a sensor or something significant). About 10k miles ago, I did some mods (cap & rotor, autolites, wires, s-bolt, dynomax muffler, intense performance intake) and got really good performance and mileage for quite a while...then it's slowly degraded for the last 6k miles. Performance is very weak compared to a few months ago. Plugs read good, no light, doesn't run rough...how can I isolate the problem w/o a $500 servicing? My thoughts were a plugged up cat or timing off?
Thanks in advance, Chris
- '00 Sport+CC, 5spd
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Jon
Dodge Dakota
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2/17/2003
09:54:18
|  RE: Plugged Cat, timing?
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You can hook up a vacuum gauge to test the cat, but if it was plugged the truck would feel like it was bogged down and it wouldn't want to rev past a few thousand rpms, even in neutral. I doubt the timing is off i think it's computer controlled on the 2000's?
A slipping clutch could cause bad gas milage and performance.
-Jon
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Chris R
Dodge Dakota
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2/17/2003
16:37:16
| RE: Plugged Cat, timing?
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Message:
Thanks for the feedback. How many miles should I expect to get from stock clutch? It doesn't feel bad, but hard to say I'd notice slow wear.
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Deep Purple
Gen III
2/17/2003
19:11:18
| RE: Plugged Cat, timing?
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Message:
Chris it sounds a lot like your plenum gasket went south. Check the forum for ways to test for this condition. If your under extended warranty, have dealer check. Good luck.
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Jon
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/17/2003
19:19:44
| RE: Plugged Cat, timing?
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Message:
There is no normal life expectancy for a clutch, it depends on how your drive. I have seen them last from 4,000 to 200,000 miles. It could slip even if it's not worn out. If you beat on the truck a lot it could get glazed and slip, or if it gets contaminated with oil it could slip. I just ordered a new clutch disc for mine because oil leaked out the back of my intake manifold gasket and down onto the clutch, which happened to be a brand new racing clutch i put in a month ago. My original clutch was slipping because the throwout bearing was hanging up, even though the factory disc was hardly worn with 80K on it.
If you accelerate fast in a like first or second gear does it seem like the rpm's are revving up faster than normal even though the truck isn't accelerating very fast?
Does the truck seem to shudder when you slow down to almost a stop when it's in a high gear?
Also a repair manual should give you some tests to see if the disc is worn out.
There could be a few other things that can cause low performance and gas milage but i had the same problems your describing when my clutch was slipping. It might be worth it to pay a dealer to atleast diagnose it for you, depending on what it is you could still fix it yourself, and who knows, maybe it will be covered under warrenty.
-Jon
-Jon
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Chris R.
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/17/2003
23:44:56
|  RE: Plugged Cat, timing?
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Message:
Probably the plenum gasket...definitely a film of oil in there. What else should I consider doing at the same time?
- Chris
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