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spt
Dodge Dakota
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8/26/2004
00:47:11
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 Subject: shifting
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Message:
I have a 1988 Dakota 3.9l 4x4 5 speed. Under the gas gauge I have little arrow lights that come on when I am suspose to shift into a different gear up or down. According to manual I will recieve the best gas mileage and performance if I shift when these lights tell me to. The problem is if I shifted when these lights said so I would in 5th gear at about 40 mph. I was just wondering if anyone else had this setup and if it works? Thanks
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greyDAK
Dodge Dakota
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8/26/2004
08:45:40
| RE: shifting
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the idiot shift light is just a guide, but if you follow it you will get the best mileage based upon what the engineers programmed into the computer. I know exactly what you mean, I would be doing a walking pace in 5th if you followed it to the T - but if you dont, you wont get the optimum gas mileage.
Generally, I follow it when I am doing the grocery thing, going to work, picking up the kids etc. But when I'm alone in the cab, and the night air is cool, and there is a bunch of other big kids playing with thier toys, the little yellow light is ignored absolutly. Gas mileage, not when your shredding yer tires! YEHAW
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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8/26/2004
10:41:16
| RE: shifting
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just do like i do. keep the gas on the floor and the light won't come on! j/k. like greydak, i follow it when i want, and when i don't want i do as i described.
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mhall02
Dodge Dakota
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8/26/2004
11:43:30
| RE: shifting
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Your 5th gear light comes on at 40 mph? Wow, in my '91 it comes on at around 45-50, mine must be geared higher than I originally thought, or yours is pretty low. I usually follow it except for when merging onto the interstate, if I have to push it I ususally don't go into 5th till around 60. The light for shifting out of first comes on really quick, sometimes I just skip first, if I'm rolling a little or on a downhill incline, doesn't seem to lug it too much.
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spt
Dodge Dakota
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8/26/2004
12:31:16
| RE: shifting
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I thought my shifting light was not working properly, but it sounds like other peoples indicator works like mine. Mhall02, I will check as to exactly when the light comes on for 5th gear on my way home tonight and get back to you. I was approximating the 40mph fiqure.
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spt
Dodge Dakota
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8/27/2004
11:51:07
| RE: shifting
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Hey Mhall02 my shifting lights do not come on at all now. I took my battery out this weekend to clean it and the posts, so that probably did something. I looked in my owners manual and it said if you take your battery out,you need to drive the truck out for a drive and get into 5th for a few minutes so the computer can relearn when to send a signal for the shift indicator lights. I will have to go to the highway soon and hit 5th.
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mhall02
Dodge Dakota
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8/27/2004
12:19:03
| RE: shifting
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Actually, I checked mine again and it lighs up at 50+ mph to shift into 5th (51-53?). And the shift into second lights up around 10 mph. I follow it pretty closely and average as bad as 15 city to as good as 21 all highway (once or twice). Can't seem to break 21 mpg, I just bought the truck last March so I have no idea what these pre-mag 2 wheel drive 3.9s are supposed to get fresh out of the factory, mine had 113,000 when I got it and now it has 132,000 miles.
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spt
Dodge Dakota
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8/27/2004
14:44:03
| RE: shifting
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I have 299800 km(about 187,000 miles)I average about 18 mpg city/higway. If I am doing striclty highway driving I get 22-24 mpg. I have done no modes to my truck and it is a 4x4. I have not followed the shift indicator as of yet but I might give that a try and see what happens. My manual also has a chart that tells what speed you should be at when you shift into a different gear, I could post that if you would like.
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mhall02
Dodge Dakota
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8/27/2004
17:12:54
| RE: shifting
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Sure, post 'em. Wow, 22-24 highway? Mine is bone stock as well, I did put a NAPA brass cap and rotor on when I gave the vehicle a tune-up in Jan., but other than that nothing unusual. My have to clean the throttle body one day, I read on another topic this may help with the gas milage. Are you in Canada? I noticed the km vs miles units, just wondering. I'm in the St. Louis MO area.
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spt
Dodge Dakota
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8/29/2004
00:56:36
| RE: shifting
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Yes I am in Canada, Southern Alberta area. Cleaning the throtle body does make a difference. I cleaned mine recently and I noticed a big difference with gas mileage, it did nothing for the performance of the truck however. The gas mileage for the highway is just strictly a long high drive and keeping under 70 mph. In town with a little highway driving I average around 18 mpg. My shift indicator light still is not working, maybe the computer is slow learner.
Here is the recomended shift speeds for a 3.9l
for a 2wd:
1 to 2 17mph
2 to 3 27mph
3 to 4 35mph
4 to 5 41mph
for a 4x4
1 to 2 15mph
2 to 3 25mph
3 to 4 40mph
4 to 5 45mph
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Kota01
Dodge Dakota
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8/29/2004
16:59:12
| RE: shifting
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In my 01 the light comes on at 40 to go into 5th but if i am climbing a hill i cant shift I will just loose all my speed. but on flat and down hill it will get going in 5th
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spt
Dodge Dakota
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8/29/2004
23:53:16
| RE: shifting
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I know what you mean. My truck is not what you call fast, has a hard time spining the tires on gravel lol. I need all the revs I can get to make it up some hills. But, the truck does very well off road going up hills.
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mhall02
Dodge Dakota
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8/30/2004
15:44:04
| RE: shifting
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Humm, light comes on at 40 and the manual says shift a 2x4 into fifth at 41, maybe my light is screwy? I'll try shifting into OD sooner and see if I can get a lil better MPG, although, for long highway trips I don't shift out of 5th, it doesn't lug down that much and I don't mind it dropping a few mph up a hill. Thanks for the info.
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spt
Dodge Dakota
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8/31/2004
00:13:29
| RE: shifting
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If I shift into 5th before I get to 55 mph my motor lugs alot. I can stay in 4th until 60 mph and even then the motor does not seem to be reving high. I do not know what gear set up I have, the next time I am working on my truck I will see if I can find out.
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