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jason roozee
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2003
09:13:38
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 Subject: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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I am looking at a Dodge Dakota 1998 4x4 V6. It has 154,000 miles, I am assuming mostly highway miles.
I never have purchased a truck before, yet alone a dodge. How relable are these trucks? Should I expect a bunch of problems with such high milage?
It seems to be well taken care of..
What should I look for that my be bad?
Thanks Everyone,
Jason
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J and J Auto
GenII
9/26/2003
10:28:09
|  RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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Just be sure the tran's shifts good and check the
operation of the 4 wheel drive,
A lot of times on an older truck you need to
remove the 4X4 shift lever boot and soak the
linkage with oil, they get stiff.
Otherwise if it runs good I have seen a lot of
V6's with 200,000 250,000 miles with no probs.
Oil presure should run about the middle of the
guage.
Larry
J&J Auto
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meno
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2003
12:20:09
| RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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buy yourself a good tool kit and make friends with your mechanic.
They're reliable for the first 50,000 miles
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J and J Auto
GenII
9/26/2003
13:55:19
| RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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Message:
Don't let the boy's discurage you they are dam
good trucks.
With a little work you can make them very economical
Thw 318 came out in 1964 before that they had a
poly 318
The lower ends on these motors are very strong
and will take a 100 shot of nitrious and hold
up.
Larry
J&J Auto
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jason roozee
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2003
14:43:41
| RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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Thanks!
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jeremy
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2003
16:16:18
| RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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Larry, i see you said that oil pressure should be in the middle. Mine is all the way to just under the max line. Should i be concerned?
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jason roozee
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2003
16:50:56
| RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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Having high oil pressure is better than having no oil pressure.
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S. Hardy
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2003
17:27:14
| RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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The factory gauge doesn't read anything close to the mechanical gauge I put on the truck.
When I installed the mechanical gauge I also replaced the sending unit because I was having loss oil pressure.
My oil pick-up tube was clogged with sludge, I later discovered.
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daveo
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2003
19:38:52
|  RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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jason roozee,
I bought my '96 in March of this year. It had 124,000 on it. It now has 135,000 on it with hardly any probs. The only problem was I had to replace the oil pump, after that no problems.
It runs like a new one and I'm gonna keep it till it dies.
If the price is right, I'd say go for it!
Daveo.
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J and J Auto
GenII
9/26/2003
20:38:19
| RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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Message:
No high oil presure is nothing to be concerned
about.
My V6 also will run 70psi when crusing but I put
the motor togather with very tight clearances.
You may as well say its blue printed
Most will run between 40 and 60 psi while crusing
40 being the middle of the guage. now if its
running 1/4 the way up I would first check it with
a anolog mecanical guage because these factory
guages are not known for being the most acurate.
But still better than an idiot light that comes
on when your oil presure dropes below 7 to 10 lbs
Larry
J&J Auto
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dbworks
Dodge Dakota
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9/29/2003
22:04:30
| RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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I wouldn't have too many concerns about high mileage on these trucks. The auto trans's are known for longetivity, and the engines kick for a long time. I personally am on my 5th v6 dakota, and my first one made it to 180,000 miles. The only thing I found that is a problem down the line other than the usual stuff, is the gas tank sending units disintegrate after a while.
And you can always go to the junkyard and get a better pair of used heads and throw them on, if the valves are talking to ya...
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jason roozee
Dodge Dakota
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9/30/2003
09:05:08
| RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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Thanks everyone. I purchased it. It runs real nice. No real poblems.
Theres a little bit of ticking, and I noticed, on both sides, theres some holes on the headers where it looks like there should be a bolt?
Also, when I go from 30mph - 0, I get a little "thump". But it doesn't happen if I was to go from 10mph - 0mph... It seems like it just happens when the transmissions shifts from 2nd to 1st (it's an automatic). Any ideas?
Thanks all for your help!
Jason
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rick
Dodge Dakota
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10/06/2003
21:18:59
|  RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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Should have no problems. I just picked up a new 2003 tonight, and traded my 94,V6,4x2 club with 238,000 miles on it. Still runs strong but couldn't pass up the rebates. Plus I needed brakes, rotors, and a psteer pump or rack so.... I'd love to find where they wholesale it and buy it back as a spare! It still has lots of life in it! Hope the new 03, 4.7L, 4x4 holds up as well. I'm going to miss my old one!
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J and J Auto
GenII
10/07/2003
21:54:00
| RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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Message:
I would see if you can find out when the trans was
seviced last, fluid and filter change.
There is a lot of movement needed while shifting
on the V6 trans because they used 1 less plate
in the clutch pack and the will thump a little
because off the extra travel to enguage.
Amsoil synthetic trans fluid will make it less
noticeable, filter and 6 qts fluid and yes it
will blend with the old fluid just fine.
Don't get it flushed just drop the pan and change
filter and refill with either +4 chrysler or syn
amsoil, a filter kit with gaskit is only like $6
at auto zone
On my 95 there were 3 bolts missing right from
the factory broke off, if it dont leak don't even
worrie about it they are mating metal surfaces
with no gaskets and very rarely leak
The small clicking noise is probably the timing
chain hitting the cover these motors are well
known for that noise, all 3 daks I bought new
did that almost from the start.
Glad to hear you like the truck and if you do the
regular maint it will last a long time
Larry
J&J Auto
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shank
GenII
10/07/2003
22:04:21
|  RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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Do a search of the boards on the "Tranny Bump" it's fairly common and I can't remember the solution.
Bad news on the Holes.... Broken Manifold bolts are very common in that year model. Search this also and you will find the solution.
With the Engine Off, Pull the Air Cleaner, Open the THrottle manually and Look down inside. A Lil Oil is normal. A good coating of Oil then the Bellypan Gasket needs to be changed. Do a Search on "Bellypan or Plenum Gasket" and there are multiple posts on how to fix this. About $22 and 3 hrs of wrench turning.
GET A TRANNY COOLER! If there's not a tranny cooler on the front of the radiator, Invest in 1 quickly, it will add years and miles to a tranny lifespan.
Pull the Distributor Cap, How much wear & corrosion? This is a good indicator of when the last tune-up was done. Fairly new than you should be fine, Arc Marks & Corrosion then you need a COMPLETE Tune-up. Cap/Button/Wires/Plugs/PCV Valves/Air Filter/Fuel Filter/Engine Flush/ Synthetic Oil/GOOD Oil Filter. If you replace the Plugs use Autolite 3923's instead of the stock 3924's. NO PLATINUM High dollar Junk! Cheapies work better.
Just curious, How much? Even though it may sound bad, You still got a dang good truck.
Good Luck & You found the right place for advice on repairs & Mod's. Take some time reading the prior postings, you will learn a college degree's worth of info about the Dak.
Shank
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AdidasCJ
Dodge Dakota
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10/08/2003
07:43:15
| RE: Buying a Dakota w/High Milage
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When i picked up my truck. 97 3.9 auto w/90xxx miles on it, i now have over 101xxx, what i did after i got it was i kinda did a complete over hall on it, went had the oil changed, raditior flushed, diferantial, tranny, I had the distubitor, rotor, cap plugs, plug wires all replaced. I put new break pads on, new filter and it runs stronge!!!! and if the clicking your talking about is the same i have its just you can hear the valves onpening and closeing.
I would recomend changing all the fluids canuse you dont know when the last owner changed them.....
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