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Lowerd1
Dodge Dakota
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7/28/2003
16:48:21
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 Subject: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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My step father owns a 1995 V6 Dakota 5speed and it runs like crap.
Down in the lower RPM's the 6cyl has no power and does not seem to run right but get in the upper rpms and the truck sounds alot smoother and runs alot better but still doesn't have much power. Even at idle it sounds like a V8 with a lopey cam in it. The gas mileage is bad also because it get 180 miles to a tank of gas.
Can anybody point me in a good direction as to the problem? I don't know much about the dodge V6 so I can't help him, which is why I am here.
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J and J Auto
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2003
00:09:54
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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When is the last time you gave it a tune up and
replaced the O2 sensor.
A good place to start.
Larry
J&J Auto
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Lowerd1
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2003
09:45:25
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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The Plugs and wires were replaced a year ago along with the Fuel Injectors being checked and replaced because he had gotten some bad gas. The tank was also checked and cleaned. A mechanic said then the truck was fine but the truck is getting worse and worse.
I figure a good tune up could not hurt. What all do you think should be replaced?
New Wires
new plugs
O2 sensors
Air filter
PCV valve
Distributer Cap & rotor
Gunk Motor Flush with oil change and Oil filter
What are some good plugs and wires for the V6 Dakota? I know on some vehicles you can't use certain kinds so I don't want to make that mistake.
I was also going to have him take the truck and have the Catalytic convertor checked since its never been replaced. It does not smell like its bad but it can't hurt to have it checked.
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2003
12:56:56
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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That list looks good, but also add fuel system cleaner and clean your TB and all around it. I have a 92 and it idles just like you described. I got a V8 TB and cleaned the IAC (as larry suggested) and it idles smoother, not perfect, but a substansial improvement. I also suffer from power loss in the mornings. Right when I crank my truck I can put it in drive on flat ground and it won't move until a few seconds, still havent figured it out yet, but no big deal.
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Lowerd1
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2003
14:09:40
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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Joe your problem sounds like a Dirty Trans Filter. My 78 Silverado did the same thing of when it was cold you had to wait alittle before you could put it in drive and actually have it engage. Changed the auto trans filter and it was fine after that.
Thanks for the help. I will clean the TB and IAC then.
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2003
14:36:03
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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Thanks lowered1, but I replaced it w/new fluid about 10k miles ago and am about to do it again. I just bought some Amsoil ATF and a new filter. While doing this I will also adjust the bands, Im searching this website right now looking for tips and torque specs. I guess Ill go pay the $100 deposit at auto zone and get the $20 torque wrench.
I also ordered rearend fluid, which did not ship with the ATF, wtf??? hey, as long as it gets here they can waste money on shipping if they want. I'll let you know if tranny is smoother after the synthetic fluid. I may do it now or wait til tonight or tomorrow. Good luck
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Shank
GenII
7/29/2003
20:43:16
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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Joe, sounds like you have no Torque Converter Lock-up. You get engine codes 37 or 15?
try this website, VERY Informative.
http://www.minimopar.net/fault/index.html
Good Luck,
Shank
If it don't work hit it with a hammer, Still don't werk? GET A BIGGER HAMMER!
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2003
21:16:16
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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Shank, you just told me I had no codes. I posted the "fault codes" thread. 3flashes-5flashes-3flashes. Thats all I got from the check. Just the first minute in the morning I get nothing, then gradually gets stronger. I get lockup at 50mph if that is similar to what you are saying. Thanks for the link, Ill explore minimopar.
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Shank
GenII
7/29/2003
21:19:01
|  RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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I had the same problem until I replaced the speed sensor on the tail of the tranny. Never showed any fault codes but had a good feeling this was the culprit. Worked for me & hopefully it will for you also,
Good Luck
Shank
If it don't work hit it with a hammer, Still don't werk? GET A BIGGER HAMMER!
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2003
21:26:00
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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I mean the engine lacks so much power that it wont move the truck. I think tranny is fine. It shifts real nice now (so far, Ive driven 5 miles). I have 138k miles and just swapped to amsoil atf and adjusted the bands and moved the tv cable slightly(for earlier and softer shifts). The kickdown band was difficult so I estimated it. i used a torque wrench on the lowreverse, but the kickdown had a square bolt, so a socket wouldnt work perfectly. Anyways so far I am satisfied with amsoil and will keep you up to date to see if we can all get better mileage and smoother shifting.
Shank, what did the speed sensor do for you??? What problems did you have before changing it?
Hey lowerd, did you fix the problem.
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93Dak4x4
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2003
23:24:16
|  RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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have you even thought about your timing chain? in my 93 i had to replace it because i had over and inch of slack in it. i got terrible gas mileage, had no power, i had to nearly punch it to go 50 up a hill. but i changed that and i had a real big improvement. it also smoothed out my idle tremendously. whatever you do dont have the dealer do it, the parts only cost 50 bucks not 250 like they say. other then that i dont know what to tell you....replace it with a double roller chain, not the stock piece!
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2003
00:06:39
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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93dak, did u do the timing chain yourself?
Maybe the engine has sludge in it and when it warms up it flows freely. after a few hundred miles, fresh oil becomes pretty dark.
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dkota
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2003
00:18:44
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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just advance the timing on it. Look up on how to do this. It is very easy.
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J and J Auto
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2003
00:18:59
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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Did you check you cat it may be pluged and the
symptom would be a big lack of power
Larry
J&J Auto
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2003
00:44:32
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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I have no cat on my truck. I think lowerd doesnt like us anymore. You cannot advance the timing on my truck. Unless you do a mod like IAT which would cause it to advance, I guess.
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J and J Auto
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2003
00:53:10
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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Well what kind of exh set up do you have, if you
have no cat you may be losing power because you
do not have enough back presure
I don't run a cat but I have a heavly moded motor
for me it was a matter of flow but on a stock
motor or even slightly moded you need the back
presure or you lose a lot of low end
Larry
J&J Auto
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dcxer
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2003
13:30:01
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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Check the intermediate shaft for wear.If it's bad replace the shaft and the bushing in the block.Once again sounds like you are running near the edge of the 5 degree window the distr(cam sensor) must run in to work.
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Lowerd1
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2003
16:34:37
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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I am still here. Well I have not checked anything on his truck yet because I had to lay carpet today. I have been telling him everything I here from here though. He needs to have his cat checked but he hasn't yet.
I haven't talked much here because I am really busy with other jobs and vehicles, plus I am still a college student and classes start soon.
I do look forward to readying around here and learning more and more about the Dodge dakota though.
Thanks alot.
As for the dealer thing, he already learned that. He had them replace the intake manifold gasket, clean the gas tank, and change the fuel injectors because they said that was the problem and it didn't help much at all. So he payed all that money for nothing.
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wadak
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2003
18:06:38
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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Between my son I we have had 5 dodge dakotas 2 87's, a 92 and 93, now a 97. On the 87 my son had it's a v-6 with auto, it started to loose power and mileage. I actually disconnected the o2 sensor, the pcm ran at some predetermined level. The power came back up and mileage dropped even futher. We replaced the O2 sensor and power and mileage returned to normal. On the 1992 and 1993 around 75 to 80 thousand miles the O2 started acting up causing ruff idle and power snd mileage began to fall off. After replacing O2 sensor mileage and power returned to normal. Larry from J and J Auto nailed when he asked if you have changed your O2 sensors. I have owned 3 dodge v6 caravans, the same thing happened to them with the O2 sensor. My daughter dodge shadow had the same problem with the O2 sensor. The moral of the story change out that O2 sensor between 50 and 75 thousand miles and save yourself alot of headaches, even if it runs good now, it's good preventative maintenance. When in doubt change it out!
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2003
22:38:12
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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thanks wadak. I didnt think I had an O2 sensor since the cat was cut before I bought the truck and the check engine light never came on. I'll check at autozone and see how much it costs. I hope its not a hassle to change, should be easy. After I did a few mods (180, V8 TB, amsoil atf) I got 15mpg. I just recorded it, but it was a lot of short trips and a lot of romping. My goal is 20+mpg highway driving, so Ill check the O2, even though I got no fault codes.
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Buck
Dodge Dakota
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7/31/2003
21:31:26
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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Ive got the same problem Joe has got....First thing in the morning when I start it up and pull it into reverse it runs horrible. Kind of acts like a miss.If I give it about half throttle it comes out of it. Also does it after work...same thing. Once it runs for a minute it acts fine and runs great. I also suffer from no power in the low end. I did the IAT relocation and cleaned the IAC and TB(didnt remove but did my best). It helped some but still seems real doggy in the lower end. '95 4x4 V-6 93,000miles. I havent changed the O2 sensor yet so that might be my next move
Thanks
Buck
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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7/31/2003
21:56:07
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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hey buck, let me know if u do the o2 sensor and if it does anything. Im going to autozone tomorrow and Ill check pricing, if decent ill do it and let u know. It used to sound like a big cam in the morning, especially when I had just the dynamax(now i have it and a turbo tube). It would lope and the whole truck would rock, it was pretty awesome til it warmed up.
But wouldnt having cut the cat make the engine light come on, or at least store a code?
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J and J Auto
Dodge Dakota
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7/31/2003
22:11:06
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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They are like $60 at autozone and its made by
Bocsh and are good sensors.
They recomend replacing them every 60,000
A bad one can make your truck like crap, low
milage and power loss is a good indicater that
its bad, just be sure your cat is not pluged.
Larry
J&J Auto
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Shank
GenII
7/31/2003
22:40:35
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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In the morning when I 1st started the truck & put it in reverse, I had to take it up to 3,000+ RPM to make it move.
Really P1$$ed Off the neighbors @ 4Am when I left for work with my GlassPacks.
I can't remember who told me to do this but it was somebody on this board. Worked for me. ( I think it was J&J, ALL HIS FAULT! :p )
Good Luck,
Shank
If it don't work hit it with a hammer, Still don't werk? GET A BIGGER HAMMER!
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wadak
Dodge Dakota
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8/02/2003
07:01:34
| RE: 1995 V6 Dakota problem?
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By the way, when changing your O2 sensor, ask about the socket for changing it out its a modified 5/8's or 13/16's socket. If you don't have one get one.
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