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6/10/2012
10:07:27

Subject: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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Okay I could use some major help here if anyone has it. I have taken my truck to 3 mechanics and almost $1000 later none have been able to fix my problem. (2002 Dodge Dakota v6)
When I accelerate the truck will miss fire like crazy and will not go; I have to push the petal all the way to the floor and after 10-15x misfires it will get a surge of power and zoom up to 3000 rpms then down shift back to 2500 and it will be fine until I slow back down or stop then its right back to misfiring. The Truck will not ideal unless I keep it in neutral or keep foot on the gas Also it does not misfire while ideal only between 1500 and 3000 rpms. Now I should also note that though 90% of the time it does this every once in awhile it does not act up. It was kicking back a CO2 error check engine light every 5 days or so. Now odd thing was that when the light was on the truck ran okay when it was off it acted up.

1st mechanic said it was the catalytic converter which made since so we replaced that. No change except the Co2 error went away.

2nd mechanic said distributor and crank sensor. replaced both those and for about 12 hours it ran okay then problem came right back.

Between the 2nd and 3rd mechanic I started getting a vacuum error; I should also note that this whole ordeal has spanded about 6 months.

3rd mechanic said it was a PVC valve issue that connected to the oil reservar; Just for kicks I replaced that and still no change. Even the vacuum error is still there. However I dont think that has anything to do with the misfiring since how this is a new issue 6 months later. I will reset the computer again today to see if it comes back.

Now just to throw out some other ideas if anyone has a thought. When I first bought the truck someone had spliced in a chip like module conecting to the engine. I pulled this out ( it already had the misfiring problem at this point) thinking maybe it had something to do with the problem. I looked up the part number that was printed on it and it was a performance chip for ajusting the shift points. Now this chip was to small to do this on its on so my guess is someone also had to go into the computer and ajust them. SO I'm wondering would I benefit from taking it to the dealer and having it reprogramed? Because corect me if Im wrong but just unplugging the battery would not do what I need it to do. Or is this even a possibility of being the problem?



daddio
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6/10/2012
10:32:58

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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First of all, what engine do you have? How many
miles? To check for codes, turn the key
on/off/on/off/on(on NOT start) the codes will
display in the odometer as PXXXX and when it's
finished or there are no codes it will display
Pdone. Check them and post back on here what you
find.



na
Dodge Dakota
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6/10/2012
12:40:58

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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What do you mean by what engine? I mean how do I
find that out other than the fact that its a V6?

Only error it returns is P125 but like I said above
it JUST started that yesterday and this has been on
going for over 6 months. But I cleared it awhile ago
and drove around for 20min and it did not come back
so the PVC valve must have fixed that.

108,xxx miles



daddio
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6/10/2012
14:51:12

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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Sorry, I missed the V6 in you original post. Is
that code P0125? Have you tuned it up lately?
The code should read P then 4 digits. P0125 is
P0125 OBD-II Trouble Code

Technical Description

Insufficient Coolant Temperature For Closed Loop
Fuel Control

What does that mean?

This means that the engine coolant temperature
(ECT) sensor indicates that the engine has not
reached the required temperature level to enter
closed-loop operation within a specified amount of
time after starting the engine.

Symptoms

You will likely not notice any drivability
problems.

Causes

A code P0125 may mean that one or more of the
following has happened:

Insufficient warm up time
Low engine coolant level
Leaking or stuck open thermostat
Faulty coolant temperature sensor
Possible Solutions

The simplest thing to do is to reset the code and
see if it comes back.

If the code comes back, the problem is likely
going to be the result of the above causes (faulty
thermostat, faulty ECT sensor, or a low coolant
level).

Other ECT sensor and circuit related DTCs: P0115,
P0116, P0117, P0118, P0119, P0128



na
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6/10/2012
17:14:49

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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Right but again this P0125 code just started a few
days ago; the truck has been misfiring for over 6
months so the two are un related. I'm trying to
figure out what is causing the truck not to actually
go when I push the gas because other than the obvious reasons its also drinking gas like crazy
with the 50+ back fires between here and work
everyday.



daddio
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6/10/2012
19:43:17

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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You've got other problems. It could be the TPS. Have you tried
a tune up?




na
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6/11/2012
07:14:57

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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What is the TPS?
No I have not tryed a tune up as of yet.

Today on my way to work it decided that it just about was not going to run. When I got to work I pulled the codes again and it retured two this time. P0152 and P0442 I looked these up so I got the jest of them. I have not got gas in the last two days so the gas cap has not been off and it;s tight; I had the CO2 sensor error before but not since the catalytic converter was replaced which was about 4 months ago. But since how the truck bounces between 1500 and 3000 rpms now at 60mph I think its safe to say there is a real problem there. Question is should I just replace the CO2 sensor or take it back to the mechanic and let him take a look because I dont really have the equipment to test it.

I guess my real question now is though can you think of a problem that would link the Co2 and the fuel vapor leak together or is the vapor leak just unrelated



daddio
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6/11/2012
13:33:17

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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The first thing I would do is give it a proper tuneup instead of throwing all of those other expensive parts at it. Plugs, plug wires, Distributor Cap and Rotor. 108K miles, if it's never been tuned up, that's probably the root of all your problems.



Bob Lincoln
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6/12/2012
08:12:37

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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There is no CO2 sensor, it's an oxygen sensor. Tune it up as daddio said. If that doesn't fix it, it could be a bad timing chain. If this is the 3.9L V-6, they had issues with the chain wearing. There is a redesigned part that the dealer can install.



na
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6/12/2012
11:14:31

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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I meant O2 sensor sorry; I will be getting a tune up
today then we will see. I have had a few people tell
me could be the timing chain but I mean at the risk
of maybe assuming to much after 3 mechanics it just
seems to me that one of them would have thought to
check that. Other than scratching their heads and
saying "I don't know what to tell you" But yeah
thanks for all the help so far; I'll do the tune up
then the O2 and if its still acting up I'll take it
to someone for the timing belt.



daddio
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6/12/2012
13:03:43

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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It's highly unlikely that it would be the timing chain. Leter models such as yours has the tensioner on the chain installed from the factory. Unlees the previous rarely changed the oil and the chain has premature wear. I've got 154k on my '00 3.9 and it runs like new.



na
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7/10/2012
12:38:53

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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Okay; So I had the tune up done a few weeks back
and it didn't change anything. In fact its been
getting worse and my gas millage is OMG I'm
getting about 6-7mpg now.I took it to yet ANOTHER
mechanic and he could not figure out what was
wrong either. He said it may be the transmission.
But I really don;t feel like its the transmission
because why would it ideal really rough when
parked not even in gear if that was the problem?
He did however point something out I did not know;
He said that my model truck has 3 catalytic
converters; The one I had cut off and 2 others
connected to the engine at the start of the
exhaust.
My truck now kicks back 3 errors; It still has the
CO2 error along with the small evap error but now
it kicks back P0303 which is cylinder 3 not firing
and I forget the other actual code but its a med
evap leak. I researched all this on the net and I
found a number of post where people had all these
errors and the same problems as me and it turned
out to be the catalytic converter next to the
engine being clogged. At this point I feel my next
best option is to replace all 3 catalytic
converter's but when I look on the internet no one
really says "this exhaust system here for sale has
three catalytic converter's" So if someone could
take a look at the link below and tell me if I am
correct in assuming that this item has the 3
catalytic converter's OR could someone point me to
where I could find one? Thanks again in advance
for everyone's help. and further more do I HAVE to
have all 3? Oh and its 2002 Dodge Dakota SXT; 6
Cyl 3.9L

www.autopartswarehouse.com/details/QQDodgeQQDakota
QQEasternQQCatalytic_ConverterQQ20012003QQEAST2038
8.html




daddio
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7/10/2012
20:41:52

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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"It still has the CO2 error", you mean O2. What is
the code you"re getting? If it is the O2 before the
cat con it will wreak having with your mileage.



Docster
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2012
23:39:49

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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PRAY, it works.



dakownr
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2012
23:14:12

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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have you changed the tps out yet...? The misfires sound like symptoms of a bad tps. the horrible mileage sounds maybe like the 1st O2 sensor. I'd try the tps first- if it doesn't fix the problems, it still shouldn't looked used and will be returnable. It is also about $20 cheaper...



Jeremy
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9/19/2012
23:52:12

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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Walker exhaust systems sells the part you need. Two pre cats
into a Y pipe followed by the third cat. I just ordered one from
rock auto for $316 shipped.



Amanda Johnso
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11/14/2012
03:34:20

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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I am having the same problem as you are. I have the same
year and make of your truck. I just got 2 of my front catalitic
converters replaced because they were clogged really bad and
replaced the 02 sensors in the front.. And I'm still having
problems.. Somebody mentioned to me about a tps sensor
and also a tune up.. So I will try these and see if it works.



assylum
Dodge Dakota
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11/29/2012
21:46:09

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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That guy with the v6 needs the heads replaced cause theyre cracked at the valve seats. there i just saved you a whole crap load of time talking about nothing. i recommend getting reman completely assembled heads preferably made in the united states and not mexico. that will fix the problem guaranteed be sure to change out your plenum gasket while you in there.



Grimm
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1/18/2013
16:57:08

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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I would agree with assylum until this week. I
replaced the entire top end of a 2001 3.9L V6 with
the same issue, brand new heads and valves, new
chain and tensioner, everything is new except the
bottom end. All new sensors including map, tps,
all 4 o2 sensors, cam + crank pos, air + coolant
temp, new fuel injectors, new y-pipe with all 3
cats, I've tried everything. Even put a
remanufacured pcm in the truck, no results. Still
backfires like crazy as soon as coolant temp
reaches about 65 to 70 C or 150 to 160 F. Just
below operating temperature. Nobody seems to be
able to find out what's going wrong. Unless
someone's gone through this and found the issue, I
suggest ditch the truck while you're ahead.



nicole
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6/18/2013
01:31:45

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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I have the same truck...same issues, replaced plugs, coil, fuel pump, purge, tps, map, and im about 1400 into these little things, misfires when I first take off from stop?? misfires cylinders 1 and 3



Jeremy
Dodge Dakota
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6/18/2013
01:41:02

RE: 02' Dakota misfiring like crazy
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Nicole I promise if you replace the O2 sensors with bosche
and replace the cats you'll be as good as new.



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