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Fraze
Dodge Dakota
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1/11/2005
16:42:09
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 Subject: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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Hello,
I am currently truck hunting and really like the look/style of the Dakota and am now ready to buy. I have decided on a 2000-2003 Used Dakota with the 4.7, I am hearing alot about bad gas mileage and engine issues, but nothing specific or concrete so I was hoping to get an unbiased opinion here. Is there anything I should be looking out for in specific? and what kind of mileage can I expect from the 4.7 (how may KM's to tank etc) I live in Canada. Thanks for any info that you can provide!!
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01Motorsport
Dodge Dakota
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1/11/2005
17:01:45
|  RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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The 2001 Dakotas got a new dashboard layout, and the 4.7's that year a larger 68mm throttle body (65mm in 2000). The '01's had 3 catalytic converters, while the 2002's had only the "third cat". Some of the 2003 4.7's started having the Jeep HO intake manifold. If fuel mileage is a priority, a Regular Cab with a 5-speed is the ticket. I have a '01 RC 5-speed 3:92 4.7 modded that gets 17 mpg "spanked", and 20 "grannied", and 104,000 mostly trouble-free miles. The biggest factor with any used vehicle is the previous owner's attention to TLC.
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Kowalski
GenIII
1/11/2005
17:37:48
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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Seems to boil down to what some consider "bad milage" for the most part. I get 15 mpg (you'll have to do the metric conversion) without even trying to get good economy. I consider that good milage for a truck with decent work capabilities.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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Wolverine
Dodge Dakota
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1/11/2005
17:43:23
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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Specific issues that come to mind that I've read a lot about but never had:
Ball joints going bad,
A/C system leak onto passenger side floorboard,
Brake rotors warping easily (I'm feeling this a bit)
Transmission "clunking"
Again, I haven't had serious problems with these (yet?). Mine is an 01 Quad Cab 4x4 with 3.92 gears (as illustrated by 12 bolts on the xfr case instead of 10, right guys?). Just turned 50k miles. I get about 13-16 miles per gallon / 280-310 miles between fill-ups, but I live in Northern California with 100+ F summers (and 4x4). Been using synthetic oil since 32k miles. I got it used in August '03 for $20k out the door with extended warranty, spray-in bedliner (very nice feature), SLT Plus trim, with 27k miles.
As I understand, there was a significant quality increase between the '00 and '01 years. I think '02 and newer have 4 disc brakes. I have front discs and rear drums. I've heard that the mileage difference between the 4.7 and 5.9 isn't that significant compared to the displacement, so decide how you want to use it; 4.7 will ramp up better at higher rpm, 5.9 will tow better in the low range. Enjoy! Definitely a smooth truck. I love mine.
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04sport
Dodge Dakota
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1/11/2005
21:23:36
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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I have an '04 4.7 CC 2wd 3.55 5spd and if I baby it it will easily see high teen gas milage but on average I get about 11 MPG. I also haver nitrous on the truck so obviously that doesn't do wonders.
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mopar nut
Dodge Dakota
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1/12/2005
00:28:30
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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I have a 01 QC automatic with 3.92 gears. At 110 km/hr I get around 19 to 21 mpg. At 120 km/hr I get 17 to 19mpg. Things get ugly if I'm fighting the wind. Way too much fun with short-bursting the 4.7 in the city, so I don't even calculate the mpg.
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Kowalski
GenIII
1/12/2005
08:34:32
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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Wolverine - what you have posted about the gears is wrong. I don't understand why this misconception is being repeated; I've corrected it before. The number of bolts on your rear end housing will only tell wether you have the 8 1/4 or the heavier duty 9 1/4 rear. For example, my truck has the heavy duty rear with the 3.55 gears.
Quality differences through the years seems to be give and take. Larger throttle body and larger brakes through the years, but the heavier duty rear is no longer available; and don't the dashes have less gauges now ?
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01Motorsport
Dodge Dakota
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1/12/2005
09:42:43
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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Wolverine: There is a sticker inside your glovebox with the factory rear end ratio listed on it.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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1/12/2005
09:59:12
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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Kowalski, the 9.25 rears are still available. i just turned in a '05 QC SLT i was given as a rental while my '00 was in the shop. It had the 9.25 w/ 3.55 LSD. And the only gauges were a Tach and Temp. the SLT didn't even have a trip odo.
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Pugs
Dodge Dakota
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1/12/2005
12:02:06
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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I got a 2002 (no they didn't switch to 4 wheel discs - i have disc/drum) with the 4.7 and a 5-speed manual. The 2002's also have 3 cat's. I drive it pretty hard sometimes and get on average about 400 - 420 KM's on about a 63 Litre fill up. As for the balljoint issue...don't worry, if it's 2wd, the uppers will be warranty'd for 10yrs or 160K KM's. If it's 4wd, it'll be recalled. I have 3.55 gears...so if you're concerned about gas...don't get the 3.92 rear end ratio. Other then that, i have 78k KM's on my Dakota, have only had it for a year (bought with 59K) and I have no complaints! Hope this helps
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Kowalski
GenIII
1/12/2005
16:41:39
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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Thanks daddio - for some reason the heavier rear is no longer listed as an option on Dodge's site to build a new truck. I could understand their not offering it on the full time 4x models since the torque is always spread between 2 axels, but though it odd to no longer have that option on the others. Perhaps it is just their oversight ?
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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Wolverine
Dodge Dakota
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1/12/2005
19:01:35
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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Thanks Kowalski & 01Motorsport. This is my first truck, and I appreciate accurate info. I clearly have a lot to learn.
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Selcher
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2005
10:20:44
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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I have a 2002 also. It does in fact have the two precats and the main cat. As well, I have front discs and back drums. The discs are very poor and I've already replaced all of my brakes, front and back. Mine is a 4x4 with H.O. Cams, MBRP cat back duals, homebrew intake and Jet Stage 2. I filled up last night and put 68 litres in it after getting 405kms with a mix of snow covered roads and sporatic use of 4 wheel drive. My mileage is better in the summer. Good luck.
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QuickSand
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2005
12:10:12
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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Dakotas came with 4w disk brakes starting in 2003, if I remember right. Very happy with my 2002 QC, even with the ball joint and warping rotor issues. I figure that's why they make aftermarket goodies, right?
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dlkirk03
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2005
18:01:10
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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I have a 2000 Dakota 4.7L and I love it. The things to watch out for are as mentioned the upper ball joint (the recall that was issued said that the warranty covered them 10yr or 100k mi) and for some reason the door lock doesn’t work all the time. The rotors are too small and they will warp it is pretty much inevitable but the good side is the break pads seem to last forever. But in all reality if you want good gas mileage you are not going to get it with this truck because once you put it to the floor that is where you will want to keep it but if you want gas mileage go buy a Honda.
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Big Ed
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2005
19:51:34
|  RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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Hi Fraze, I have both an 00 cc 4x and an 02 sport 4x both with 4.7's 4x4's. the 2000 is experiancing noizy rear at 35k. I've changed the dif oil and added the friction mod but still noisy as hell. Other than that, I've had no problems. Someone else had to change axel bearing to get his quite. LOVE MY DAK"S!!!!!
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Dale Simms
Dodge Dakota
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1/25/2005
14:55:58
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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Just bought a 2003 4x V8 QC. I love it! But, took it in to check oil, brakes etc. My truck has gentle rolls when brakes are applied when coming to stop sign. They say it is NOT the rotors and are checking the rear end as we speak. Any thoughts as to what it could be? I'm female and want to make sure the dealership thinks I have some idea of whats happening.
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phizgigd
Dodge Dakota
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1/25/2005
17:44:09
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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I just recieved a letter from Diamler Chrysler regarding the ball joint issue on my 01 4.7l slt quad cab. The letter says that the problem is moisture causing premature corrosion. They have extended the warranty on the ball joints to 10yrs or 100k miles rather than recall all of them.
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woody
Dodge Dakota
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1/26/2005
00:48:32
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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Here is a little tip to check for excess moisture with the 4.7 Best in the winter time (30-50 degrees). Drive the truck for a short while, about 20 minutes at a time for a few of days. Then after about a week, right after you have finished driving, open the hood and take the cap off of the oil filler tube.
This process has yet to fail on my 2000 4.7 RC 5-speed. I always find a milky substance building up in the tube. I also have found that when I notice the engine starting to stumble on a regular basis, there is a build-up starting to occur. I now just clean the tube out on a regular basis and it seems to help some on the idling issues.
I believe that due to the 4.7 having aluminum heads and many other plastic parts, the engine does not have a good chance to truly heat up and burn off this moisture. I do not believe the engineers at Dodge truly reasearched all of the real world possibilities.
I have used regular oil and now use synthetic but I still have the same build-up, so the oil does not make a difference (against popular belief).
I still love my truck and it is truly fun to drive.
Also I usually average between 16mpg and 20mpg all depending on my driving habits.
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KenK
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2005
04:40:37
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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Love my 02 4x4 except for the rotor problems. The truck has 22k miles and this was'nt covered under warranty. I'm so dissapointed, while I also have a 1990 model at 180k miles and haven't had any major problems (knock wood). Also, am very upset with the customer service at Don Wiers - Reno Dodge!!!
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Dan
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2005
15:57:00
| RE: 200x Dakota w/4.7
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OK, my turn... I have a 03 Dak with the 4.7. The engine is great and worth the gas. Parts are starting to come out to upgrade the engine and chassis (i just installed the superchips tuner). 03 and 04 models have the larger 4 wheel disc brakes and the problems of the rotors seem to have been handled. If you buy a 03 or 04 that was assembled past january 03 then the ball joints have already been handled (they switched to a new type), at least thats what I was told. If you are looking to get a 4 wheel drive and want to lift it, then go with the 02 or older models since they do not make a decent lift for the 03 and 04s. At least for the 03 and 04s, they have electronic switch transfer case ( which I like a lot). With that 4.7 you will probably want to get a limited slip rear differential, if it does not have one then go out and get one put in, because the engine is a mighty little beast with a lot of torque. The last suggestion I have is to get either a club cab or a quad cab. The space inside to put stuff is great, I will never have a single cab truck again unless it is just for playing in the mud. Well, some of this might have been covered earlier in the post, but I hope it helps.
Dan
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