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Rick
Dodge Dakota
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5/10/2003
04:17:03
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 Subject: '89 Dakota intermittent starting problem
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My truck wouldn't start a few days ago. After many tries it started and ran fine.
It did it again the next day too.
Yesterday it just wouldn't fire. My Mechanic friend hooked his computer to it and ran it threw some tests like fuel pump on...fuel injectors on...etc. When he finished testing...It started right up and ran great. Today I drove it 30 miles and shut it off. Now it won't start again. I tried for 3 hours. If I put gas in the carb it tries to start long enough to burn that fuel off...But nothing after that.
Suggestion was the auto shutdown relay, but we're not sure. Any suggestions??? I hope to buy new relays tomorrow but hate to waste the money if it is something else.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Rick
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TigerDak
Dodge Dakota
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5/10/2003
16:02:25
| RE: '89 Dakota intermittent starting problem
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What about your ignition, like the coil? Have you run an onboard diagnostic check using the CHECK ENGINE light?
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Rick
Dodge Dakota
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5/11/2003
00:28:02
| RE: '89 Dakota intermittent starting problem
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I figured the electrical was counted out due to the fact that it WILL fire up when gas is poured into the carb. Just long enough to burn that fuel off.
By the way, I brought a mechanic buddy with me (30 miles) today to help me get it running. When we got there the damn thing cranked right up without touching a thing !!
All he was good for was a ride...HAhaa
So, after it sat all night and most of the next day. It started on it's own. Any ideas now?
Thanks,
Rick
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TigerDak
Dodge Dakota
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5/11/2003
11:30:16
| RE: '89 Dakota intermittent starting problem
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OK, if you are putting fuel directly into the fuel injectors (its not a real carb), and the engine turns enough to burn out that fuel, then that sort of limits this to probably your fuel pump. Your injectors are not seeing fuel coming into the system.
Here is what I would do:
Along the bottom of your driver's side door, inside the frame, you will find the fuel filter. Disconnect the fuel line that goes ***in*** to the fuel filter, and leave it open and exposed and hanging there. Turn the key to the ON position, and try to start the truck. Check to see if you have fuel leaking out of the fuel line. If you dont, then your fuel pump is bad or the fuel sock inside the gas tank is clogged, which would ruin your pump anyway. If you do see fuel leaking out, then that eliminates your pump being the culprit.
So, if you ***do*** see fuel coming out, do the same thing but this time disconnect the fuel line where your fuel is exiting the filter, and turn the key on and try to start the truck. Then check to see if fuel is making it through the filter and spilling out. If you do see some, then its not your filter, either. If you dont, then your filter is clogged.
Once you have done all this, I would double check your ignition. I went through this same exact scenario this past December. It was my fuel pump. Replaced it and truck ran great! I have 160,000 miles on my 1989 4x4 so I guess it finally died on me.
Here is where to go if you want to do an onboard diagnostic check:
http://www.geocities.com/ryankane/FaultCodes.html
I printed this page out and keep a copy in my glove box. If ever anything goes wrong, this is the first thing I check!
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Rick
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2003
04:04:41
| RE: '89 Dakota intermittent starting problem
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Thanks again for the info and the site address.
My thinking is that if it WERE the fuel pump ( which I replaced last year) Why would it run so good when it DID crank up? Wouldn't a bad or clogged fuel system be bad all the time?
It seems to happen only when I have driven a long distance. It started 3 times today with no problem,But I only drove a couple of miles each time. The problem seems to be only when it has been driven 30 or 40 miles. When it gets really warmed up !
I now find that the resistor that controls the a/c fan is shot. It only blows on low and medium. And the thermostat seems to be leaking a bit also.
I HAVE noticed that when I start out driving...The temp. gauge goes really high at first and then levels out. Is there anything in the temperature of the engine that could cause this problem?
Thanks Again,
Rick
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TigerDak
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2003
14:11:59
| RE: '89 Dakota intermittent starting problem
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That could be your temperature sensor. it sits on top of the intake manifold, near the front. You need to do the onboard diagnostic in order to see what the computer is telling you. your problems are just like mine used to be. I have had my truck now for 4 years and I have played this game many times. do the onboard diagnostic and tell me what codes appear.
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96 v6 2wd
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2003
17:47:10
| RE: '89 Dakota intermittent starting problem
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I HAD A SIMILER PROBLEM WITH MY '96 IT TURNED OUT TO BE ACCOUPLE THINGS. ONE WAS THE COIL. THE OTHER WAS A BAD POSITIVE WIRE FROM THE POWER BOX UNDER THE HOOD. NOT SURE IF '89'S HAVE THE SAME WIRE PROBLEM. ALSO COULD IT BE A BAD CAT. CONVERTER. MAYBE IT IS PARTLY CLOGGED CAUSING TOO MUCH BACK PRESSURE
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Rick
Dodge Dakota
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5/13/2003
05:41:08
| RE: '89 Dakota intermittent starting problem
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TigerDak,
I think you may be right about the Temp. Sensor
It seems to happen when it has been driven a long way.
I drove it for the past 2 days and had no problems with it starting. But, I have only gone a couple of miles each trip.
I also noticed the resistor that controls the a/c fan is out, And has some burnt wires.??? I only get low and medium fan now. Don't know if that has anything to do with anything...
But the temperature thing ties in with a lot...I notice the temp. gauge shoots up real high at the 1st of a trip, And then levels back out. Thermostat may be screwed up. Another thing I remembered is that the A/C was running on most of those trips where it refused to start afterward.
May only be the a/c made it run hotter??? I have no clue.
As far as the codes go, The computer didn't show any !!!!! Thats the confusing thing.
He did say something about code 34 though. Again I don't know what was happening there.
I will have him run tests again tomorrow though. If he finds any fault codes there, I'll let ya know.
Thanks again for all the help. I appreciate it.
Rick
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TigerDak
Dodge Dakota
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5/13/2003
13:56:41
| RE: '89 Dakota intermittent starting problem
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The computer can't sense everything; its not a complete comprehensive diagnostic. But it will save your butt when other things come up.
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Rick
Dodge Dakota
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5/14/2003
04:24:54
| RE: '89 Dakota intermittent starting problem
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Ok !
It crapped out again today after it got hot.
I drove all over town and never shut it off until I got to the mechanics shop. There I killed it and it never started again.
What we finally figured out is that the fuel pump is fine until it gets hot. After that it won't start up again. The computer says nothing is wrong and power is there at the gas tank. Just doesn't turn the pump on.
The fuel pump has a lifetime warranty so tomorrow I will drop the tank and do it all again.
I guess those aftermarket pumps aint so great.
If this doesn't do the trick, I'll let you know, But after all the testing we did today, It looks like the fuel pump is the problem...Ain't that a kicker???
Thanks for all the help,
Rick
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Rick
Dodge Dakota
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5/15/2003
05:08:33
| RE: '89 Dakota intermittent starting problem
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OK !!!
I think it's fixed now. I spent 5 hours under it today dropping the tank and installing a new fuel pump (again) It seems the pump gets hot and won't kick back on.
Once it cools down (in about 24 hours) it runs again. Until yesterday when it finally bit the big one ! I was told that it is now suggested that you always keep the gas tank 1/2 full at all times. Seems the extra gas helps disapate the heat from the pump.The gas in the tank actually cools the pump. Ain't THAT a pisser? :>
Just passing it on !
I will test it on a long trip tomorrow to be sure that is the problem. But after all the testing we did, It points to the fuel pump. :< Bummer
If this didn't fix the problem, Just spread my ashes over Lake Texoma....hahaaa
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Rick
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2003
04:40:42
| RE: '89 Dakota intermittent starting problem
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THAT DID IT !
Have driven all over the place for 2 days now ...even had the a/c running and it never missed a lick!
The fuel pump was the problem all the time.
It ran fine until it got hot and when hot, would not spin.
Hope this helps someone else who finds these problems...Thanks for all the input guys.
Rick
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TigerDak
Dodge Dakota
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5/18/2003
12:44:46
| RE: '89 Dakota intermittent starting problem
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did you replace the filter sock along with the new pump? Also, might as well replace the fuel filter while you're at it if you havent already. When I replaced my fuel pump, the fuel indicator on the dashboard changed a little. Maybe that was because of the new fuel level indicator that was inside the new pump. How much did you pay for your pump?
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bobby
Dodge Dakota
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10/30/2012
20:18:07
| RE: '89 Dakota intermittent starting problem
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What about when it will run if u put gas
in the tbi and stay runing but as soon
as u turn it off it won't start on its own
???
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