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muckpond
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/02/2003
12:56:00
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 Subject: temperature gauge spikes
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Message:
Hey. I just stumbled across this site and hope you can help
me out.
I've got a '00 3.9L 6 cyl Dakota. For the last month or so,
the temperature gauge spikes once on almost every single
trip.
About 5-10 minutes into the drive, the gauge will just
shoot from midline up into the red -- not a little at a time,
but just zips right up there. It will hover in the red for
about 30 seconds to 1 minute and then zips (again, not
slowly) back down to about midline. On most trips, I don't
hear anything more from it.
I'm a complete newbie to truck repair, but I've rebuilt a
house from the ground up and am determined to learn this
inside out as well. Any suggestions you've got would be
welcome.
Thanks!
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Jon
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/02/2003
22:51:25
| RE: temperature gauge spikes
IP: Logged
Message:
Since it is moving so quickly its most likely an electrical problem, not an actual temperature problem. Could be anything from a bad gauge to a bad sender to a problem in the wiring harness. Since it's an intermittant problem it will be a pain to diagnose correctly without just guessing and throwing parts at it. My first step would probably be to check the resistance of the temp sending unit and see if it's in spec, then i would check the resistance of the wires in the harness and see if they change when i wiggle the harness. Usually a temp gauge that is pegged at "hot" is a short to ground somewhere in the circuit. A broken wire would read "cold". To check the wiring you will need to get a manual with an electrical schematic, then figure out how to understand the schematic :)
Of course since it only happens once each trip it could be a problem in the gauge that causes it to max out for a few minutes only when the truck is at a certain temp.
This may not be the best problem to start learning truck repair with, intermittant electrical problems suck!
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Rick
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/10/2003
04:00:31
| RE: temperature gauge spikes
IP: Logged
Message:
My '89 dakota does that too.
My Mechanic friend suggested a sticky thermostat may be the problem. He thinks it would be worth trying to replace it first to be sure. Just a thought...Hope it helps.
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