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V8 Dakotas
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ERIC
Dodge Dakota
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9/28/2004
12:01:48
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 Subject: pinging
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Message:
Hi guy's,
Need a little advice here. Iv'e got a 97 ex-cab,dak 4x4 5.2ltr,3.55 gears, auto. Since I put my 33" thornbirds on she pings under load. I ran some techron fuel system cleaner awhile back and it seemed to help. Now a few months have passed and it's back. The srange thing is it's not all the time.I really noticed it start again when wheelin. Was trying to make a new side entance to a trail and was working it pretty hard. My buddy said he could see arking through the wheelwells, but apon further inspection I found nothin wrong with the wires. When I let off the fuel that last time it pinged it's way back down to idle and has been there ever since. I changed the plugs about 6000 miles ago, but put some champions the kid at autozone recomended. Could those plugs just be crap?{yes I gapped them} Any help would be appreciated since snowmobile season is right around the corner and I need to pull my trailer to northern Maine.
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RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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9/29/2004
04:57:58
|  RE: pinging
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Message:
My guess is, the wheels are overloading the
system. I believe you're gonna have to get a
programmer for the trucks computer and *tell* it
it's got 33's.
Logic tells me that is the problem because you
had no problems untill you installed the 33's.
I had a 98 4X4 just like your 97. It was a great
towing rig, not a mud runner. The 5.2 is a great
engine but was not cut out to rip up the streets
unless you built it up a heck of a lot.
Good luck
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Ken
Dodge Dakota
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9/30/2004
21:03:14
| RE: pinging
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Message:
The 318's are known for knocking, especially if you have a load on them (like larger tires). This is a BAD thing for the engine if you don't fix it immediatly.
Try running Higher octane to start with (this will help the prevent detonation). A lot of times, with these engines, you won't really notice the knock until you get it under load. When I switched to a Hypertech PCM, it wouldn't knock until I put my trailer on, than it knocked like crazy (reason they say it's not to be used while towing).
Take out the Champion plugs and put in some autolite 3923's. Autolites have shown to run better in our engines, and the 3923's are a colder running plug, so that will help prevent detonation. Unless you're running an aftermarket ignition system or supercharger/nitrous, run them at the standard gap .040"
Switch to a 180 T-stat. That'll help keep the engine running colder, which also helps prevent detonation. Actually keeps it at the running temp it was designred for. However, during the winter, you may not want to do this. If you do a lot of highway driving, you'll be lucky if you get anything more than lukewarm heat. City driving is usually pretty good though.
This probably isn't part of the problem, but make sure you have a quality Distributor Cap, rotor, and wires. If any of these were bad, you'd be getting a mis-fire, not pinging, but it helps to keep the engine running like it was designed to.
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Ken
Dodge Dakota
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9/30/2004
21:06:58
| RE: pinging
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Message:
Almost forgot. One other possibliity is a blown intake plenum gasket. Take off the air hat, look down into the Throttle body. If it looks like there's some oil buildup there, than that's your problem. That'll be at least a 1/2 day job there, unless you really know what you're doing :-)
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ERIC
Dodge Dakota
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9/30/2004
21:31:27
| RE: pinging
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Message:
Already took a peek in there, thankfully it was pretty clean! Changed the way my wires were routed the other day and so far it is better. Not completly but better. I'm gonna try changing the plugs to the autolites and getting good wires, seeing as though I didnt change wires last time. Will change the thermostat in the spring and move the iat sensor this weekend. I recently cut the hole front of the airbox out and removed that piece of rubber next to the radiator on pass-side. Hoping to have enough $ for 4:10's in the spring with truetrac front diff and ez-locker in the rear. hopefully the gears will eliminate the rest of my problems.
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