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Josh
Dodge Dakota
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2/01/2003
18:58:08

Subject: Psychotic Truck Behavior
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Hey everyone,

My '94 2wd 5spd V6 did something awful last week. While I was driving to work, all of a sudden the speedometer dropped to 0 mph. Stepping on the gas revealed that the truck was no longer running, it was coasting. So I pulled over and tried to start. It turned over really strong, but it wouldn't start.

I haven't had a chance to look at it (no garage in this 5 degree Ohio weather). I would go thru the normal diagnostic of checking for fire and checking for fuel pressure, but a few things perplex me:

1. The speedo dropped to 0 mph while the truck was running. If it was a no fuel/no spark/simple ignition circuit problem then the speedo should have been operational.. or should it?
2. For the past 2 months or so, on *some* occasions the tachy would jump all over and never stay stable when the truck was running;
3. Attempting to pull codes using the On-Off-On-Off sequence does not work; the Check Engine light lights dimly on the second off (really dimly, you can barely see it - but it lights brightly during the light check sequence) AND the upshift idiot light lights dimly after everything is shut off.

Now... apparently, whoever had this truck before me had one of those DUI boxes where it won't let you start the truck if your blood alcohol level is above a certain amount... so there's a little bit of "voodoo wiring" splicing into the ignition and start wiring under the dash. I already had to repair a no start problem where it wouldn't crank because of a voodoo wire coming unattached.

$64,000 question: Is this a wiring problem OR should I just replace the SBEC? Dealer wants about $189 for it. I wonder if the voodoo wiring nuked the SBEC?



chris
Dodge Dakota
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2/01/2003
20:28:28

RE: Psychotic Truck Behavior
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the 93 speedo was cable driven
94 quite possable it was electric.in the fuse panel in the cab there should be a fuse for the insterment cluster might be #16.
given your past wiring problems for now stick to getting it straightend out . theres really no sense in replacing a PCM only to have the wiring screw with it.
the tach has a module attached to the cluster PCB its probably your cause of the needle moving like it does
the dim lights in the dash are a classic ground problem in most DC circuts. there are a couple of grounds in the dash on the right side

but i gotta tell ya ive got 10 pages of schematics opened up in front of me and i can see alot of possiable problems. your best bet is to grab a haynes manuael and start going through that voodoo wiring. if you cant read schematics make friends with some one who can fast. its really busy under the dash .i cant help you from here . but if you have questions i'll get some answers



SDakotaDude
Dodge Dakota
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2/01/2003
23:37:23

RE: Psychotic Truck Behavior
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A DUI box? How does that work? And where can I get one?



Dakota03
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2003
13:12:08

RE: Psychotic Truck Behavior
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A DUI box makes you blow into a tube and it measures your blood alcohol content and if it is too high it wont let you start the vehicle. It also requires you to blow into it every so often while driving to make sure you didnt have someone else blow into it to start your car. I dont know if you car just get one, most people who have them were forced.



chris
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2003
13:27:05

RE: Psychotic Truck Behavior
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the easiest way to get one is to get the biggest bottle of wiskey you can find and go cruzin
after youve torn out a mile of gaurd rail and wiped out a couple of police cruisers
the cops well gladly supply you with one



SDakotaDude
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2003
14:54:55

RE: Psychotic Truck Behavior
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Ahh, i see. Not quite a voluntary accessory.



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