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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
11/27/2001
10:09:18
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 Subject: Important! Please Read!
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Message:
This information is for owners of 1997-2001 Dodge Dakotas. Be Sure to have your drainage hose from your Condensor coil checked and clean on a half year basis. Recently I have suffered horrible damage due to the clogging of this hose. Unfortunately this hose in question is in a hard to reach location and is prone to clogging due to its positioning, this also makes it difficult to clean without raising the truck up. Clogging of this hose and cause your condesor coil to rot out due to excess water build up. Some owners may notice a musty smell or a aroma of stagnant water when using their AC or defoggers, this is a indication that your drainage hose is clogged. Other warning signs may include the appearance of water puddles on the inside cabin floor of the front passenger side. If not addressed this problem can cause the Condensor to rot out and short out electrical systems, and possibly cause serious damage to the HVAC system.
This is what happened to me. The drainage was clogged. Although I asked repeately what the smell was, and why water was getting on my floor mats. The dealership said it was nothing to worry about. The condessor rotted out and leaked all over my heater blower motor. This caused the motor to burn out. My repair costs were as follows. My dealership then later admitted that the clogging of this drain hose was a common problem and that it should be cleaned every couple of months.
Drainage Hose replacement - 35.00
Condensor Coil Replacement - 375.00
Heater Blower Motor replacement - 350.00
AC system recharge - 30.00
5 or 10 minutes of your time having your Drainage cleaned will save you lots of money. So please contact your dealership or mechanic and have this problem addressed immediately.
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Knobbyman
GenIII
 
11/27/2001
10:22:03
|  RE: Important! Please Read!
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WOW! thanks for that info. Could you explain where the drainage is or show a pic that would be awsome. I'm sure anyone could have thought of a better place to put that $800+.
'01 Graphite QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
http://www.knobbyman.com
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C-Whit.
Dodge Dakota
11/27/2001
10:33:37
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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If It's a common prob, then why did the dealer not fix it for free?
my wife had a Neon and the head gaskets blew at 39 ,000 miles. Dealer would not co-operate with us. I,ve had constant problems with my Dakota, and little help from the dealer. Even though the dealer network stinks, and Dodge builds a crap product, I still love my truck. My wifes Honda CRV has close to 30,000 miles with no problems to mention! Good Luck Y'all.
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Josh Lee
Dodge Dakota
11/27/2001
10:38:55
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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HOLY SH!T...!
And I have that smell when I turn on my AC! I am gonna drain it and check it this weekend, if I can figure it out...
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
11/27/2001
11:59:59
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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Here is how to find your drain hose.
Your condensor coil is located to the RIGHT of your windshield washer fluid reservoir. It will be a black cylinder with AC pressurized tubing leading into it. There should be a small rubber hose towards the back of the coil. This hose leads down in between the fire wall and the heat shield. The problem is the end of this hose is located in a location that is impossible to reach with any sort of rod or by hand. Dismantling your coil and cleaning the drain from the top to bottom will probably be your only hope. Meanwhile use bleach or vinegar on your coil to remove the rot and stagnant smell. Kills 2 birds with one stone. My mechanic at the dealership admitted that this problem is more prevelant in 97-01 dakotas than any other dodge product. Hope this helps.... ask any more questions if you have them.
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joe
Dodge Dakota
11/27/2001
20:39:22
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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Mr. sleepy how about the 02's? same problem?
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tech3win
Dodge Dakota
11/27/2001
21:04:32
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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Just to clarify a few things:
The tube that needs to be cleaned is called the Condensate Drain tube. It's purpose is to drain water from inside of the HVAC unit that drips off of the Evaporator. Inside the HVAC unit is the Evaporator not the Condensor. The Condensor is the other coil located in front of the Radiator. The round cylinder is the Accumulator. There is no drain on the Accumulator part itself. The condensate drain is located on the firewall, down low. On my 99 it's a plastic tube, about 3/4" long and 3/4 to 1" in diameter that comes out of the firewall and is right behind the transmisson dip stick. You can see it from above.
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durtydog
GenIII
11/28/2001
19:31:49
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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hey sleepy thanks for the info please post a pic of where the hose is so we can service this problem.
98 club cab sport 5.2
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kota on 20s
GenIII
11/29/2001
00:48:18
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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ok, im a little confused. do you just flush out the hose, or wash the whole black canister inside and out with bleach? if so how do you take it apart?
Eric
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
00:49:08
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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I will see what I can get my hands on, I have a friend that works for MSX maybe he can get me some schematics or something. Can I post a pic if I'm not registered?
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kota on 20s
GenIII
11/29/2001
00:50:49
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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i dont see why not
Eric
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DeaPee
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
01:12:36
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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I'm not cleaning mine any time soon. I'm going to rebel -- if it breaks then let it break. Trucks are meant to break, right? I rust-proofed my truck, and I think I filled that tube up with rust-proofing anyway. Who needs a heater? I'll just wear gloves and a scarf -- goggles if I have to. Can we get a picture of that drain tube? -- not that I'm going to clean it, just so I know.
- Dave
- 01 RC SLT 4x4 3.9 BLACK
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MJ
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
01:25:25
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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I have a 2001 4.7L and I can't find this condensor coil or any hose that leads to the fire wall. The only thing to the right of my windshield washer fluid reservoir is my radiator. I know where the drain tube come out of the firewall, cause I can hear condensation dripping for it to hot parts of the engine below...it must not be plugged, right? Can anyone with a '01 direct me to the condensor coil and drain tube? Thanks.
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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
02:04:25
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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Thanks for the info! I wonder why I get puddles of water on the passenger side floor board. I need to fix this before my truck takes a crap. Please give us updates as to how we can correct this ourselves.
Kevin
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
10:53:10
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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Kevin, I think I might have bad news for you. I called and got in contact with a Tech at my dealership and asked him why there was a puddle on my passenger side mat. He said the reason for the puddle was because the coil had rotted out and the puddle was actually Refrigerant! If you have this excessively large puddles when running your defoggers on humid days or your AC, you maybe already have problems.
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Bill
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
13:14:47
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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If refrigerant, it should evaporate, not leave puddles. It should only be a liquid under pressure! The tech at the dealership may not be a mechanic, probably a service advisor. Those guys usually aren't smart enough to be mechanics.
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
14:03:50
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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Yes you are right, the refrigerant should evaporate, so I guess it must be the condesate caused by the disfunctional condensor. My other thought was it could possibly be the oil charge that your AC system has but that is doubtful because the puddle i had was not oily in its consistency, if anything it smelled completely clean. But regardless of the chemical makeup of the puddle, it shouldn't be there in the first place.
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CW
GenIII
11/29/2001
14:30:40
|  RE: Important! Please Read!
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134a is only a liquid at -18F and lower. In other words it will evporate right away. The puddle you refer is just water that condenced on the fins of the evaporator and collected in the heater housing. It couldn't drain because of the drain tube mention earlier is probably blocked. It is normal to have water condense on the evaporator because it is below ambient air temp. I will look on my truck and try and give a description as to where the drain is.
2001 4.7 5sp RC 3.92 LSD sport plus
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Bluethunder
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
15:37:51
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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There could be another reason why your finding water on your passenger side floor board.
Myself and many others on the DML have had this water prob and in our cases it was rain or hose water coming in through the pass side door weather stripping...Just another thing to look at...never put all yer eggs in one basket;)
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Marc
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
18:55:58
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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I found that "hose" on my truck. It's more like a hard plastic grommet. It was DIRECTLY behind my tranny dipstick. It was very clean, but it's extremely easy not to notice it. What stupid engineering, i mean, the least they could have done is give it a bright orange or yellow colour to make it easier to spot. Anyways, thanks Mr. Sleepy for the GREAT tip!!
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DeaPee
Dodge Dakota
11/30/2001
00:19:24
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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What?!?! Couldn't Dodge have invented a better place to drain this stuff to than a part of your vehicle that gets covered in mud and road debris every single time it rains? What were these guys thinking when they placed this here?
It's going to be a pain to clean the piece even every six months. Maybe we could take this drain tube and place it in a better location... Just a thought from a non-mechanical, drunk guy though.
- Dave
- 01 RC SLT 4x4 3.9 BLACK
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
11/30/2001
08:50:05
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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Your welcome, sorry for not being able to provide more a mechanical description of things but I'm not a expert. I am however someone that knows that very few of you would want to spend $800+ on a repair that shouldn't have to be made.
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R. Niznick
Dodge Dakota
11/30/2001
16:50:28
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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Hey, I work HVAC service engineering and this is a common problem with any A/C system. Might I add to check your domestic household A/C system as well..especially if you utilize central air. I can get into indoor air quality and all kinds of other stuff if anyone wants to know. But, if the condensor drain pan remains clogged it can start to accumulate algae and all sorts of scientific unidentified plant life!!!! Take care..Mopar or No car.
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Wayne
Dodge Dakota
12/02/2001
20:12:13
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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After I take someone for a ride in my Dakota, there is always a puddle of water on the passengers side. It is usually yellowish in color. How do you explain this? :-)
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Chris W
Dodge Dakota
12/03/2001
09:06:10
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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Hey, Wayne, maybe youre scaring the piss out of the people youre giving a ride to!! :-}
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Steve H.
Dodge Dakota
12/03/2001
12:44:49
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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Could be a heater core leak. I just had mine replaced 2 months ago. Same symptoms (leaks) plus it had a bad coolant/antifreeze smell. 95 CC Sport.
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Wayne
Dodge Dakota
12/03/2001
19:01:20
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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I think you are right, Chris. That would explain the brown stains on the seat and fingernail marks on the dash. Guess I should learn how to drive.:)
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BB2DAK
Dodge Dakota
12/06/2001
13:49:50
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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Message:
The musty smell problem is also referenced in
Dealer, TSB's and Recalls forum.
http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/dea/139.html
Check out this TSB repair info.
Found this in the TSB and Recal fourm
http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/tsb/1997/24_11_97.htm
2001 Quad Cab SLT+ 4.7L, 5-Spd, 3.55 Lsd
ARE Cap, ArmaCoat Bed-liner, Pilot PILPL119X Fog Lights
Autolite 3923's, IAT Adjuster, K&N Drop-in w/modified intake
http://members.aol.com/bsbets/truck/intake4.jpg
http://www.dodgedakota.net/albums/viewer/101.htm
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Chris W
Dodge Dakota
12/06/2001
14:00:04
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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Hey, Wayne, do you have that musty smell around the passenger seat area of youre truck too?? LOL :->
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NizateCizain
Dodge Dakota
12/06/2001
17:24:21
|  RE: Important! Please Read!
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umm I have this problem too but my dak is a 94 CC v8 with 125K. So hope that means this drainer thingie is in the same location as the new daks... my pickup is known for pissing on peoples feet when I run the A/C and in heavy rain. The water is perfecly clear and smells nothing like coolant or oil, so I hope its just the condesation. Thank you guys very much, this helps to solve one of the greatest mysteries in my universe!!!
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Wayne
Dodge Dakota
12/09/2001
09:20:14
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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Chris,
Not exactly what I would call "musty". More like a $hi......well you get the idea. Is my drain plugged?
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Chris W
Dodge Dakota
12/09/2001
12:21:32
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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Ahh, nothing like a sick sense of humor.:-]. Werent we supposed to be talking about a HVAC problem? Oh that problem? sorry my truck doesn't have an HVAC problem. Later Wayne.
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Wayne
Dodge Dakota
12/09/2001
13:57:05
| RE: Important! Please Read!
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You are right. L8er.
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