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shoestring
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2004
00:38:08

Subject: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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Ooookay guys, I reeally did it. I power washed the engine compartment today, and apparently hit the electrical\got too close or something. I used the fan tip so the pressure wouldn't be so high. MY TRUCK IS MESSED UP!!!

1. It isn't holding charge correctly, the truck barely started.
2. It will not shift correctly, it acts like a truck would act with bad spark plugs or bad gas.
3. It won't pass 60mph.

NOW WHAT>????!!!!



Shoestring
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2004
00:43:45

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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oh yeah, also, the check engine light is on.



Old Fool
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2004
01:19:43

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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Dry under the distributer cap. Nuff said.

Later,



kj
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2004
01:54:09

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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Which engine do you have?



daffydak
GenIII
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8/15/2004
03:02:18

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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what engine/year?? if you have a distributer cap (like old fool said) dry it out. not to mention your plug wires/boots (both ends)
if you have the 4.7L, you may have shorted a coil pak!

try to pull the check engine code like this (withoug cranking the engine... key on, off, on, off, on) then your digital odomiter should tell you the codes
(it says "P-DoNe" if there arent any codes) this does not work on all dakotas, but theres only one way to find out.... (it works on my 00, it did not on my 98)

just my .02

Dan

MOPAR=More Power!!

Kowalski
GenIII
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8/15/2004
08:19:38

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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Mine also says P-done after displaying a code, this doesn't always mean there isn't a code; you have to pay attention to get the code.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way

daffydak
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8/15/2004
08:50:53

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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this is true, thanks kowalski. i forgot to mention that :-)

Dan

MOPAR=More Power!!

shoestring
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2004
15:42:59

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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It's a 97 5.2. I'm going to try air blowing both ends of my super conductors this afternoon. What does "distributor cap" refer to?Thanks for your help.



daffydak
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8/15/2004
16:35:28

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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where all your plug wires go to, from the spark plugs (its up behind the throttle body) its kind of a PAIN to get at, as its tucked slightly under the cowl. I found it easier to get at (on the 98 I had) to remove the purge solonoid on the firewall (leave all the hoses hooked up, just unbolt it and set it off to the side) it is secured by 2 10mm bolts. the distributor cap is secured by 2 phillip's head screws.. there may be water in the cap, and on the rotor as well....

hope I helped

Dan

MOPAR=More Power!!

Shoestring
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2004
17:52:58

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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I let the truck run for about a half hour, disconnected all of my superconductors and reconnected them. I didn't touch the distributer cap and the truck is running normal again. I disconnected the battery to reset the check engine light. The test of time will tell. Thanks guys.



mayIask
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2004
18:23:49

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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What the hell are superconductors.?



me_too
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2004
19:04:59

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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yeah, what the heck is a superconductor doing in your engine? These this run at -180 Celcius and are used in extremely rare applications like magnetic levitation.

Please clarify. Specially if I have some in my truck (be worth a lot more if I did)



daffydak
GenIII
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8/15/2004
22:10:42

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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they are a spark plug wire (MSD SuperConductor)

Shoestring; I'm glad to hear it's running fine again. It was probably misfiring on multiple cylinders (that would probably throw code P0300 - random misfire detected)

Dan

MOPAR=More Power!!

01quadcab4x4
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2004
22:19:21

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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chances are since you have a 97, that your cap and wires are bad. Once they dried it ran fine. If you want to test them try this. Get a spray bottle and fill it with water. While the engine is idling, spray the distributor cap, if the engine bogs down your cap needs replacement. Do the same for the wires. If you end up changing the cap, pay the $5 and get the rotor that goes under the cap. Should take about 1-2 hours to change the cap,rotor, and 8 wires. Let us know what you find out.



shoestring
Dodge Dakota
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8/16/2004
00:13:07

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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Yeah, good idea quadcab, I'll try that tomorrow. One more question though.

When I pressure washed, a couple of areas on my headers lost the stainless finish and have developed a light coating of rust. Is there something I can brush\spray on to hold the rust back without looking tacky?



daffydak
GenIII
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8/16/2004
07:24:49

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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ugh.. I don't know about that. maybe you could paint them with high heat engine paint, and put header wrap on (that will also help to keep your underhood temp dowm)
oh when you go and buy a cap/rotor, I reccomend that you give napa's cap/rotor a try. they have brass contacts, for better conductivity :-)

just my .02

Dan

MOPAR=More Power!!

dan
Dodge Dakota
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8/16/2004
14:57:07

RE: Power washed engine compartment HELP!!!
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I did this once and it happend to me, turns out it was the speed output sensor on the forward tranny housing.

Simple little part, screw out, screw new part in and it worked fine.

That's what happend to mine.



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