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Lance Drolet
Dodge Dakota
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11/30/2001
12:31:38

Subject: question
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I'm having problems with my '99 Dakota and I wonder if anyone can shed some light.
For the past two days, it's had much trouble starting cold. It feels like it's getting no gas. When it does start, it idles rough for about 10 minutes and then it's fine. At the same time I noticed that the temp guage goes from the mid point to the red very quickly (about 2 seconds) and it doesn't seem to matter if the truck is really hot or cold (it happened once after driving for about 5 minutes). Has this happened to anyone else? Can anyone offer up any suggestions?
Thanks in advance....
Lance





Lattimer
Dodge Dakota
 Email

11/30/2001
14:06:49

RE: question
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sound like you temp sensor is bad. That can cause the computer to send the wrong signals.

Just my guess.

Shawn



Zaurusman
Dodge Dakota
 Email

11/30/2001
19:42:48

RE: question
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I'll second Shawn's post. A friend of mine had this very problem and the temp gauge pretty much verifies it. His gauge would move about and his engine would have trouble starting too. It didn't run too poorly, but it was summer and he'd just run it a couple hours previous so it hadn't completely cooled off, either. Ruined his gas mileage. It makes perfect sense, too, because w/o knowing the engine is cold the computer would not play "choke" and the engine would have too little fuel.

Anyway, the temp sensor is by your thermostat which is where the big hose off the radiator meets the front of your engine - to the driver side and behind that hose according to the shop manual for my '98; I just ran out to look at mine (in the dark) and the thing's hidden from under-hood light and probably a pain to get to.

Hope this helps.
--
Zaurusman
'98 RC Red Sport V6 5spd 3.21 15x8's
http://www.tiborsrealm.com/Dakota/Index.htm




Lance Drolet
Dodge Dakota
 Email

12/03/2001
09:19:11

RE: question
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Message:
Well, as it turns out, you were all (mostly) right.
I picked up a temp sensor at my local dealer and commenced to try to put it in (in the dark...) I didn't have a socket long enough and I could only manage about 1/16 of a turn with a box-end (it's a pain to get to alright). So, I decided to plug it back in and reconnect the battery and try to limp the truck to the hardware store to buy a deeper 1/2" socket. After plugging everything back in, I turned the key and it kicked over like a champ and I haven't had the problem since. Weird huh? The only explanation I can think of is that the plug wasn't making good contact with the sensor and when I reattached it, the connection was made.
Oh well, live and learn...
Thanks to all for your help.



Zaurusman
Dodge Dakota
 Email

12/03/2001
11:28:27

RE: question
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Message:
Doh! Hope you can return the sensor. Talk about an inexpensive repair if so! :-)
--
Zaurusman
'98 RC Red Sport V6 5spd 3.21 15x8's
http://www.tiborsrealm.com/Dakota/Index.htm



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