Dodge Dakota ForumDodge Dakota PhotosDodgeDakota.net Membership
  Forums   Forum Tools
03:09:51 - 03/29/2024

V6 Dakotas
FromMessage
Alicia
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

2/17/2006
20:33:18

Subject: Zero Oil Pressure Nightmare
IP: Logged

Message:
I've got a 2000 Dakota Quad cab, ran fine until about 3 weeks ago. Got an oil change and now all the sudden I start the truck and get zero oil pressure. Sometimes after a few minutes, the pressure goes back to normal. Sometimes it doesn't. Cold weather, warm weather (for Michigan) makes no diff. Today at about 20 it worked. Yesterday at almost 50, it didn't work. One run to grab kids from school 4 blocks away I got the oil pressure at zero and then back to normal at LEAST 6 times. Sometimes it stays fine the whole trip, sometimes it's at 0 the whole way. When it doesn't work, I'm getting a "clicking" or "ticking" noise, I'm assuming from the engine getting no oil. When it goes back to normal (About 40) the clicks stop. Oh and another thing, when the oil pressure is at 0, my gas gauge drops at LEAST a eigth of a tank. When the pressure goes back up, the gas gauge goes back to where it was supposed to be. Checked the oil. Well over the full line. Been told the oil sensors on the Dakotas are junk, but...can someone tell me WHERE it's located on the Dakotas? I've got a wrench monkey friend with no experiance on Dodges, sigh. I can't afford to run it to the dealer and get blasted with a $400 "check-up". Thanks for any help! Ali



spt
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


2/17/2006
21:11:38

RE: Zero Oil Pressure Nightmare
IP: Logged

Message:
It is located at the back of the motor near the fire wall by the distributor. I relpace mine awhile ago using a 15/16(I think) deep socket. The unit cost 30.00$ from the dealership.



97Dakota3.9
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


2/17/2006
21:13:30

RE: Zero Oil Pressure Nightmare
IP: Logged

Message:
Mine did the same thing. Easy fix. It's one of 2 things:
1) The sensor needs to be replaced.
2) More likely than the first choice - a piece of trash got found its way to the galley that leads up to the oil pressure sensor and is basically blocking the flow to the sensor, so it reads 0.

The fix: go to local automotive store (Advance or where ever), get an oil pressure sensor socket for under $10. The sensor is behind the distributor sticking up out of the block at the back. Remove the sensor. Lay an old rag over the hole also being sure not to knock dirt down in the hole. Start your truck for about 5 seconds, then turn it off. Oil should shoot out of the hole when your engine starts and hopefully shoot out the debris that is in the passage. Screw the sensor back in the block. Drive it for a day and see if it stills randomly reads 0. If so, replace the sensor.

Good luck.



OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


2/17/2006
21:17:09

RE: Zero Oil Pressure Nightmare
IP: Logged

Message:
First off STOP DRIVING the truck till you resolve this. The clicking does indicate no oil and sounds like you have put some distance on this truck with zero oil pressure. Not good. If you actually have no oil pressure all these times there is no question you have done serious dammage internally, rod bearings, mains etc. The sender is located by the distributer. You need to replace it with a mechanical guage just long enough to determine if the oil pressure actually is going to zero. If it isn't then thank your stars and replace the sending unite with a new one. If you realy are losing oil pressure then you can figure you have the SLUDGE problem, plugged oil screan and or bad oil pump. This calls for pulling the pan. If you do pull the pan check rod bearings and mains for gulling. No gulling your good to go. Gulling will tell you there is other serious dammage in upper engine also. reguardless your looking at replacing the engine or a rebuild job depending on how bad the engine is. Your going to need a good mechanic with knowledge you can trust here. Good luck. Think your going to be needing it.

So many problems .... So little time



Gregg
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


2/18/2006
13:43:58

RE: Zero Oil Pressure Nightmare
IP: Logged

Message:
OB speaks great truth. Shut down when you detect "clicking", that would be the rockers ticking from no upper engine lubrication. Operating the engine under zero oil pressure is a metal to metal condition and is early death closing in. Take that bugger out of service until properly checked over or budget for a new engine.



OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


2/20/2006
21:19:01

RE: Zero Oil Pressure Nightmare
IP: Logged

Message:
She must have got stranded far far from her computer. Or lost interest in our opinions. Oh well

So many problems .... So little time



OB-One
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


2/20/2006
22:48:56

RE: Zero Oil Pressure Nightmare
IP: Logged

Message:
In a galaxy far.. far... away.........



Darth Vader
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


2/21/2006
02:48:05

RE: Zero Oil Pressure Nightmare
IP: Logged

Message:
Luke I am your Father



schmidtmike
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


2/25/2006
15:17:33

RE: Zero Oil Pressure Nightmare
IP: Logged

Message:
I'm willing to bet it's a short to voltage. The fuel gauge and oil pressure gauges have odd readings at the same time, which would lead me to believe there is a short between the two somewhere in the circuit. The ticking noise I can't really explain, maybe a figment of her imagination.



Kracker
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

2/25/2006
16:50:26

RE: Zero Oil Pressure Nightmare
IP: Logged

Message:
It's hard to say... I think all of the replies to this post have covered all the bases, hopefully the ticking was just an imagination thing... I know about that... It sounds like one of those problems that give you a hell of a run for your money when your trying to solve them...

Kracker



   P 1


Post a reply to this message:

Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages


Name:
Email:
Notify me when I get a reply to my message:Yes  No

Icons:            

          

Subject:
Message:
 



Home | Forums | Members | Pictures | Contact Us

This site is in no way affiliated with Chrysler or any of its subsidiaries.