What I need to Know... - Dodge Dakota Forum

Subject: What I need to Know...
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I'm trying to sell my ranger, and I'm looking at some 5.2 Dakotas (1995) any well know problems? how are the automatic Trannies?-dependable? Balljoints? Engine? leaking of oil by the filter?
-thanks,
JN

Luc
Dodge Dakota
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4/20/2005
19:15:19

RE: What I need to Know...
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I have a 99 5.2, 4x4, auto and a 96 Ram 5.2 before that, both are great trucks. Most common problems I had with mine are trannys leaking around main seal on my 99 and had to have the tranny rebuilt on the 96. The engines are great never any know problems except for oil consumption which is caused by intake manifold gasket(plenium), not very expensive. Ball joints where an issue on my 96 around 80,000. Now i'm at 80,000 on the 99 and the boots came off some but still work fine, hopefully they fixed this problem on the 99's. Gas is consumed pretty quickly but I dont care about that, its worth the performance. With my 99 I had a problem with the water pump blowing out twice but it was caused by a bent fan being put back on by the dealer. Dont go to dealer for problems. Otherwise I would not own another truck, I like Mopar. I work at a very slow store that is going out of business thats why I have all this free time.

DodgeDakota?
Dodge Dakota
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4/21/2005
00:54:44

RE: What I need to Know...
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thanks, I'll have to look into those things before I buy, my biggest concern is the tranny-how much is the fix?
-thanks

jay
Dodge Dakota
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4/21/2005
10:50:32

RE: What I need to Know...
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it costs a damn fortune when they blow, but the a518 is basically a torqueflite 727 which was a good tranny. the a518 in the dakota lasts forever, but when it goes, it hurts your wallet.

DodgeDakota?
Dodge Dakota
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4/21/2005
12:43:34

RE: What I need to Know...
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is the a518 in the 5.2 1995? Is it a concern that the tranny will go out?
thanks

jay
Dodge Dakota
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4/21/2005
13:10:32

RE: What I need to Know...
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yes its in the 95. no its not a concern.

bert
Dodge Dakota
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4/21/2005
18:37:43

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These Dakotas are fabulous and take a lot of abuse. I have owned 4, 2 V6's, and 2 V8's. My first was a 92' 4x4 CC/V6/5spd. That was the truck I had in highschool. I owned it for 3 years and my friends and I tore the crap out of it. We went offroad with other Jeeps everyday after school and it did well. Only mods were cranking the torsion bars and 2" blocks in back with a glasspack. Bought it with 40,000 miles and drove it till 80,000. Also used as a work truck on the ranch. Only thing I had to replace was the distributor because it filled with mud.

Second was a 97 dodge dakota RC/V8/5spd/posi
This truck smoked mustangs and some early corvettes. Mods were full exhaust system inluding headers, MSD ignition, JET chip, 19lb injectors, 180 thermostat, traction bars.
14.4 @ 98mph at Tulsa Dragstrip. No problems except for a water pump blowing out. Unfortenately, I rolled it into a creek one night. Funny thing is that it still ran and I raced a early 90's corvette with it all messed up, roof cave in, grass sticking out of the doors and so on. You should have seen the look on that guys face when I beat him. (only by a carlength) Good truck.

After that I owned a 96 dakota CC Auto V6. Very nice and no problems. 60,000 miles when I sold it.

Now I own a 98' dakota RC 318/5spd/3.55no posi :(
I bought it with 21,000 and now have 90,000 miles on it. Exhaust, MSD wires, and K&N filter kit are the only mods. Very bad traction problems at the track (no posi) Could only manage a 16.1 at 88mph. The mph doesn't quite match the 1/4 time because of it. Water pump went out on it about 45,000. Something about those water pumps. Anyways, still orginal clutch (no slippage yet). This truck has been beat to hell to. I have a lead foot along and along with that my wife wrecked the side of it. So now, with a baby on the way and a new career, SRT-8 charger will be in the garage and the truck will be in process of full restoration with a 408 supercharged motor and 6spd tremec.
Check out www.krcperformance.com for great parts!

Great great trucks no matter how you drive em.

jay
Dodge Dakota
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4/22/2005
10:35:25

RE: What I need to Know...
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sounds good

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