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samtheman
Dodge Dakota
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10/19/2003
15:23:30

Subject: Glitches, the first 5,000 miles! Long!
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Despite lurking on this board for several years, the lure of the Dak was too much, so the problems so far are more of a disappointment than a surprise. But they also prevent me from moding the truck until I get these issues resolved! My dealership has a great attitude (their mechanical ability remains to be seen), however, every time you go there with a problem I'm using vacation time! I ordered a 5.9, full time 4x4 QC with 3.92 rear to torque up these PA hills. The engine: runs great, never pinged when it was in the high 80s. No way does it seem "detuned", has lots of moxy! However, has had this whistle thing at idle, that while searching with a hose sounds the loudest at the bracket that the alternator and AC are attached to. They replaced the alternator, still has the noise. What next? Change every pulley and H2O pump? I don't think so, guess I'll just live with it! The 46RE: Initially pretty hard shifting and strange all the way around, however, it has pretty much mellowed out. By todays standards, however, it is not very refined, e.g. accelerating down hill the shifts are kind of hard and on occasions when it has had to downshift it doesn't stay in the lower gear long enough like most trannys do now days. The potentially worst problem with this truck, however, is this strange vibration (sounds like snow tires or driving over ruff pavement) occasionally in OD going up hill. Give it more or less throttle pressure it will stop doing it. I could go up the same hill 10 times in 10 minutes and it might never do it, or do it just once, so I haven't gone to the dealer. It is really difficult to make it do it! And there is no common denominator, like % grade or temp or anything, just does it sometimes and only going up hill! It might be the torque converter but I don't really know. Despite all of this the truck is doing what I wanted it to do: torque up the hills in OD without pinging or shifting and still the sweetest looking truck made! Will update at 10,000 I guess!



Sesquash
Dodge Dakota
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10/20/2003
14:22:53

RE: Glitches, the first 5,000 miles! Long!
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I can tell you what that 'snow tire' sound exactly is----it is your rear differential. ALL Dodge diffs make that sound. You CAN muffle or get rid if it completely in the cab by removing your rear seats if you have a club-cab, or just removing the floor coverings and back wall tupper-ware, so you can lay down a baffling material of your choice onto the floor and or back walls of your cab. Do NOT use undercoat or you will not be able to live with the smell as it ages!!!

I did the baffle treatment on my 2001 club-cab and the noise was ended.

Again, that's truly all it is. ALL Dodge rear-ends have that road-whine, most notably the 3:55's and the 3:21's.

The 3:92 gear set seems to have the least of it.

They have had so many new-truck complaints from owners over this one..and yet, they STILL will not baffle-sound proof the cab. Love my Dak--hate the cheap Dodge mentality. I suppose though, that it runs through all the Big Three Board Rooms....

Cheers!

Sesquash



AndrewM
Dodge Dakota
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10/20/2003
15:47:52

RE: Glitches, the first 5,000 miles! Long!
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Sesquash, my stock 3.55 gears NEVER whined. However, now that I've swiched to 4.10s, I do hear a whine at certain throttle positions.



Sesquash
Dodge Dakota
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10/20/2003
17:21:54

RE: Glitches, the first 5,000 miles! Long!
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Andrew, you were one of the few ones, then. Most do. If you get them to swap out the rear end under warranty, then you get a diff that was hand-built by a guy in their shop just for this reason. That's all this guy does. Sets them up 'blue-printed' in a word. Too bad you have to rip the original rear and and axle out to get this detail, lol!

I'm not saying that they 'howl', but merely that you can hear the whine up through the back quarter of the cabin. Most live with and forget it. I just bought a new 2003 R/T with the 3:92's and quess what? Yeppers....there is that whine that comes in around 3,000 miles of wear. Same as my 2001 3:55's did.

Cheers!

Sesquash



samtheman
Dodge Dakota
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10/20/2003
17:37:29

RE: Glitches, the first 5,000 miles! Long!
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Sesquash, thank you for the reply! This sound is more harsh than a whine. It is a grinding, rumbling sound and only in OD while going up hill. Is this the same sound under the same conditions? Also, it did it this morning and I kept it doing it and felt around for the vibration and I could really feel it on top of the dash but not on the floor as I thought I would!



Manuel
Dodge Dakota
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10/20/2003
19:12:41

RE: Glitches, the first 5,000 miles! Long!
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All the Dodge rear-ends whine? That is a bit of a relief, I was starting to think I was going to have to get it rebuilt. I've got the 3.55 gears. How many people have experienced this?



Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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10/21/2003
17:12:10

RE: Glitches, the first 5,000 miles! Long!
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I wouldn't say all, my 3.55s are quiet. My cab is reasonably quiet too but on other vehicles with excessive road noise I've had good luck with bituthane, an adhesive backed roofing underlayment that comes in 3' rolls and commonly used to prevent ice damming in snow country. You might find some scraps for free if you know any carpenters. Very similar in appearence to the noise damping stuff they used in older Mopars and works well too.



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