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Chris V
Dodge Dakota
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10/31/2004
03:05:27
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 Subject: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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I am planning on purchasing a V8 Dakota very soon. It will be a 2001-2004. If I can get a good deal I will buy a new 2004 from a dealer.
I want a V8 because I will be towing a 2 place snowmobile trailer with it. I also want a V8 just for power and speed. I need 4WD. Here are the questions. Please base your answers on 2001-2004 V8 models..
Is my only option the 4.7 without going R/T?
What axle ratios are available?
What transmissions?
Were transmission coolers standard/optional?
What are the transfercase selections? (2wd, 4wd, 4lo)?
Any common problems I should look out for when looking at a used/new dakota?
Any major recalls or bulletins?
What kind of gas mileage am I looking at?
Answers to any or all of these questions would be great. Thanks!
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dakota owner
Dodge Dakota
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10/31/2004
08:59:22
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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Have a 03 SLT extended cab 4x4. 4.7L, 3.55 Ax, %spd auto. Has run great but gets only about 15mpg highway, with a fairly light load. No problem really loading it down, it still moves out well on the highway. Mileage sucks compared to my previous 94 4x2 with a 6 which got about 21mpg. All in all Dakotas are solid trucks. I put 238K on my last one with only one tranny replacemnt at 160K and the inevitable peeling paint. It was still going strong when I traded it. Good Luck.
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RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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10/31/2004
09:22:44
|  RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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Chris V, I'll try and answer the best I know. I
have a 02 4.7 4X4 with tow package.
Yes, 4.7 is the only V8 unless buying a used R/T
With tow package, 3.92 gears is part of the package.
The 5 speed auto is the only AUTO tranny that
comes with the 4.7. You can also go stick.
With tow package, tranny cooler is included.
Transfer is 2WD high, 4WD high and 4WD low.
Problems... Read all the posts. You'll see lots.
Major ones are, ball joints, warped rotors, tranny
problems.
Myself, I'll NEVER NEVER buy another Dakota with
a 5 speed auto. It's in and out of overdrive for
the least amount of load you put on the truck.
That's even if you're not pulling a trailor of any
size.
For what you want to pull, a V6 would do a nice
job for you BUT stay away from the newer 3.7
for now untill DC gets off their asses and
corrects the missing problem they ALL seem to
have after around 5 or 6k on them new and DC
still has no fix for them. I have been told this
is a computer problem because the Jeep Liberty
3.7 does not have this problem.
Buy a used one with the tried and true 3.9 V6 if
V6 might be what you want. I had a 90 with the
4 speed auto with OD and had no problems at all
pulling large pop up campers hundreds of miles.
I almost bought a new 05 V6, 4X4 tow package and
stick to pull my 26' Trail Lite camper. It drove
and handled like a dream and I was sure it would
of had no problems pulling my camper BUT I didn't
buy it all because of the 3.7 missing problem it
was sure to develope.
If you test drive any, check for warped rotors,
check the right side carpet for wettness and if
the tranny was replaced or feels even a little
funny shifting, DON'T BUY IT!
I'm sure you'll hear a lot more from others.
Good luck on your find.
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daffydak
GenIII
10/31/2004
11:47:30
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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As far as I now you can get 2 auto trannys with the 4.7L the 45RFE and the 5-45RFE. I have the 45RFE, and its a 4 speed. the worse mine does (unloaded) is drop out of torque converter lockup. it has never dropped into third even on moderate hills... and I have 3:55 gears and turn 31 inch tires.
the 5-45RFE is a 5 speed, and both have an alternate second gear for passing. and if I'm not mistaken, these are the same transmissions they put behind the HEMI!! also if you get a QuadCab, you can get a 5.9L. (with the 46RE automatic trans, its a 4 speed) and you can get All Wheel Drive as an option on the 4x4 dakotas...
Correcet me if I'm wrong on any of that..
00 CC Sport Plus 4.7L 4X4 Auto, 3:55 LSD
Flowmaster orig. 40 series (2 chamber) muffler, adjusted tps to .76V, ported TB, home brew intake setup w/K&N filter, more mods to come!!!
Dan
MOPAR=More Power!!
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Kowalski
GenIII
10/31/2004
13:21:44
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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Probably expect 15 mpg or a bit better from the 4.7. Gears are 3.55 or 3.92, but I don't think tow package includes 3.92 - it definitely didn't my year.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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Chris V
Dodge Dakota
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10/31/2004
15:15:36
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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RadioMan... what causes the carpet wetness?
Thanks for all the answers guys... keep em comming.
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Chris V
Dodge Dakota
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11/02/2004
01:14:45
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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I went to my dodge dealer today and they didnt have anything that I was interested in. However, on my way home a honda dealer had a quad cab sitting out front so I stopped.
Its a 2001 Quad Cab SLT 4.7 Automatic
36,000 miles
bed cover
tow hitch
Good points:
Runs great.. feels very powerful
Shifts smooth
Rides smooth
No excessive road noise
Bad points:
Slight shimmy in the wheel when going straight
Oxidation on the aluminum engine parts
PRICE: $17,333
I currently own a 98 Explorer that I bought from this Honda dealer 3 years ago. Because of that they knocked the price down to $16,700 right off the bat.
If the shimmy in the wheel was taken care of does that price sound decent? NADA books it for $19,900 retail and $17,000 trade.
I dont know if this has the tow package or if that hitch was aftermarket. Is there any way for me to tell?
What gear ratio does this have?
Thanks for the help!
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daffydak
GenIII
11/02/2004
01:25:07
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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you can read the sticker in the glove box, it will tell you some of the options and the gear ratio. Is it a 4X4?? and how bad is the oxidation?? I can take some pix of my 00 4.7L for comparison of the oxidation... I'm pretty sure the valve covers are magnesium BTW..
00 CC Sport Plus 4.7L 4X4 Auto, 3:55 LSD
Flowmaster orig. 40 series (2 chamber) muffler, adjusted tps to .76V, ported TB, home brew intake setup w/K&N filter, more mods to come!!!
Dan
MOPAR=More Power!!
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Chris V
Dodge Dakota
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11/02/2004
01:35:18
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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Yes, it is 4x4 (Not AWD. I heard that was an option)
It was getting dark when I looked at it so I didnt do my thourough look over yet, but the alternator and a/c compressor had some oxidation on them. That was the first thing that stood out when I opened the hood (other than "V8" on the airbox :)
On a side note... I test drove a 2005 with the 4.7 today and I was not impressed. This 2001 is much more responsive and powerful than the 2005. Maybe because it was new? The only thing I liked better about the 2005 was the ride quality.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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11/02/2004
03:00:01
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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"Bad points:
Slight shimmy in the wheel when going straight
Oxidation on the aluminum engine parts"
Better have the front suspension checked out by a good alignment shop if you feel the steering wheel shimmying. It could be that the front rotors are warped and the truck needs a brake job or worse yet the ball joints and other suspension components are bad $$$. Even if a brake job fixes the shimmying problem, better have the front suspension looked at, Dak's are known for bad ball joints.
I wouldn't worry about the oxidation on the engine parts, the valve covers are magnesium and won't look nice and shiny like cast aluminum. Plus, someone might have cleaned the engine with a caustic engine cleaner like Castrol Super Clean and made the aluminum look oxidized.
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Kowalski
GenIII
11/02/2004
16:40:57
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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Might feel quicker due to lower gear ratio. Things to look for on factory tow pack - auto transmission cooler, pentastar logo on trailer hitch wiring cover.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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Chris V
Dodge Dakota
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11/02/2004
17:22:05
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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I looked at it in the day light today and the oxidation isnt bad at all. For some reason last night it looked much worse.
Today I took it to my friends shop to put it up on the lift. He formerly worked as a dodge mechanic for about 6 years. We went over the front end and everything seems tight. The brake pedal is smooth. We blamed the shimmy in the wheel on the chopped front tires. They are chopped pretty bad from lack of rotation. The dealer said they would put a new set of tires on and if that didnt fix the problem they would replace whatever else it needs. My friend said everything else looks great and theres not a drop of oil anywhere.
The The gears are 3.55. Would this have a limited slip rear and open front?
The tow hitch appears to be stock. It has the 7 pin round connector but I dont recall if it said pentastar on the cover. There is a transmission cooler (its big too!).
Anyway, it looks like I will be the proud new owner of this in a few days as long as things keep going the way they are.
Thanks for all the information guys. Keep it comming.
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daffydak
GenIII
11/02/2004
17:24:53
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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it might also feel a lil quicker because the gen 4 is slightly heavier. was the 05 a Club Cab or a Quad Cab? I totaly agree with everything said in the previous posts about the 4.7L... I wouldn't worry about the oxidation on the aluminum at all. mine has some on the alternator and a/c compressor, as well as the upper radiator hose connetion where the bleeder screw is.. also another note on the auto transmission behind the 4.7L; It's a "learning" transmission, it tailors the shift points to your driving style. it dosent drasticly (spelling) change the shift points, because mine would shift at the rev limiter all the time! J/K :-P What a FUN truck!
00 CC Sport Plus 4.7L 4X4 Auto, 3:55 LSD
Flowmaster orig. 40 series (2 chamber) muffler, adjusted tps to .76V, ported TB, home brew intake setup w/K&N filter, more mods to come!!!
Dan
MOPAR=More Power!!
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Chris V
Dodge Dakota
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11/02/2004
18:47:35
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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Any of you guys with the flowmasters have sounds or videos?
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daffydak
GenIII
11/02/2004
23:48:56
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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graphitedak has some sounds/videos of his 03 Quad Cab 4.7L with the flowmaster 40 series muffler, and stock piping. it sounds similar to my system, but I don't have any good recordings of it.
his site is www.paysonarizona.net
then click on the "my projects" link.
enjoy :-)
00 CC Sport Plus 4.7L 4X4 Auto, 3:55 LSD
Flowmaster orig. 40 series (2 chamber) muffler, adjusted tps to .76V, ported TB, home brew intake setup w/K&N filter, more mods to come!!!
Dan
MOPAR=More Power!!
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redline
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2004
11:48:17
|  RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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$16,700 sounds a little high. With the current high price of gas, I'd think they'd be happy to move it off the lot - you'll not be happy with the gas mileage. My 2002 4.7 QC 2WD gets 13mpg in-town with the A/C off. It sometimes gets 17 on the highway with the A/C off; that's at best. At $2/gallon and a 24 gallon tank, you'll need an armed guard with you to carry enough cash to the gas station every week to fill it up - maybe 2X/week if you really drive it any distance.
I've already replaced rotors & ball joints and had the brake caliper bolt threads strip and I've only got 31K on it.
From working on my own vehicles for the last 30 years, I can tell you that the quality is not there in a Dodge. The underneath is rusted, behind the bumpers; it looks worse that the 6 year old Ford I traded in. Bolt heads round-off, fasteners inside and out bread and crack; rendering them useless and expect rattles; lots of rattles. The truck rides nice down the highway though, I'll give it that.
Good luck and take the time to look around at other makes. If you are willing to accept the bad gas mileage, at $14,700, you'd be more in the ballpark... test drive it and drive it to another dealer and ask what they'd give you for it. I bet you'd be surprised what you could get for it.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2004
23:11:42
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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If they dropped the price $600 just because your a return customer, they will come down more. I bet they will drop $2000 off the price if your good at bargaining. They have a lot of markup in used vehicles hoping to get close to thier sticker, but willing to go down to get them off the lot.
When I bought my 00 CC 4.7 2wd 2 1/2 years ago they wanted $14,8XX, took it home for $12,500. But, that was after leaving the lot and having them call me at home agreeing to my price. Eh, what ever it takes ;)
I like redline's thinking, take it to another dealer and ask them what they would give you for it in trade, I think you will be shocked. My buddy traded in his POS 03-04 Focus stationwagon when he bought a F350 last week. They gave him less than 1/2 of what he paid 9 months ago, but then again, it was a POS econo box Ford.
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WTF
Dodge Dakota
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11/05/2004
10:14:13
|  RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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Hey Radio Man, et. al.,
What the *&%$ is a STICK?
Are you trying to start a fire or something?
What a *^%&*$%&! Only a 5 speed auto, or a 'stick'?
WTF? A 4.7, 5speed, the REAL ONE, not some computerized, oh, only slip this much, and we'll call it a gear! the only 5speed until this year, in the MANUAL, OR STANDARD! It's not a freakin' stick!
I think it's pretty hilarious, that all you auto boys and girls have to shift it on the steering column.
You could have a stick, bring some matches too.
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HUH
Dodge Dakota
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11/05/2004
14:13:57
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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Boy, somebody is showing thier ignorance.
Stick = manual = standard, who cares we know what he's talking about, there's a freakin "stick" poking through the floor of your truck.
Don't feel too sorry for all us auto "men", we let the tranny do the shifting for us. The 545RFE uses 2nd gear on the upshifts, but used alternate 2nd on the down shifts, different gearing, so they call it a 5 speed (4 speed with 2 different different 2nd gear ratios).
rag on "stick boy"
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Kowalski
GenIII
11/06/2004
07:13:16
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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That's not why they call it a 5 speed - that's how my 4 speed 45RFE shifts. The 5 speed 545RFE really does have 5 forward ratios PLUS the alternative second gear.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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Chris V
Dodge Dakota
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11/11/2004
00:47:02
| RE: Buying a V8. Need answers.
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I bought that 2001 Quad Cab. It has 36000 miles on it. What kind of warranty was offered in 2001? The 7/70? Whatever was offered, is it transferrable? Is there some number I can call or website I can go to with the VIN to find out?
Thanks.
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