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John Martin
Dodge Dakota
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10/20/2005
14:10:25

Subject: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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Hey guys, new to here and I got a problem that's really eating at me.

Ok, ever since I bought my Dak (A 1998 Sport, 5 spd, 5.2) about 4-5 months ago, it's run just great. I drove it everyday.
Well with gas the way it is I decided to by a more fuel efficient car and drive the truck when needed.
Well, I parked the truck and drove the car for a few days. These were some very rainy, wet, and cold few days that it sat parked.
When I went back out to start it, it idled like crap and would just continually die on me unless I pressed on the gas. It'd never done this before.
So I got it up to the garage to clean the battery terminals that were a little dirty but it still gives me the same problem. Now that it's been almost a week, whne I start the engine it will rev high for a sec then drop back down. The needle will jump just a tiny bit for a few seconds then seem to idle ok. Now when I take it for a cruise down the street and back, when I throw it in neutral it idles like crap again. When it settles down and seems to be idling normally again, I noticed that whne I rev the engine, the idle goes back down almost to the point where it's going to die, then returns back to normal. If I rev the engine higher, the closer it will come to dying when it drops back down. When it's about to die the lights and everything dim. I will say that for those few days I did have my cell phone charger plugged into the 12 Volt recepticle, so it was drawing a small amount of power off of the battery, but I don't think it would make a difference becasue it was such a small amount, but I'm no expert.

This is really starting to bother me, if anyone could help me I would appreciate it. Let me know if more info is needed.



John Martin
Dodge Dakota
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10/21/2005
12:54:22

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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Nobody has an idea? Could the battery be shot? Alternator? You people know more than I do that's for sure.



2kquadcab
Dodge Dakota
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10/21/2005
20:37:23

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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My 2000 Quad cab did the same thing. It was one of the sensors on the manifold, (sorry can't remember the name of it, or find my reciept). Its housing is made of plastic or graphite, and the mechanic who replaced it said it crumbled when he tried to remove it. Cold idle sensor???



daddio
Dodge Dakota
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10/21/2005
20:48:02

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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first, try cleaning the TB and the IAC(idle air control). the IAC is on the back of the TB, 2 torx screws. just be careful not to lose the oring or trun /push the plunger on it. if that doesn't cure it, have the battery load tested.
have you checked for any codes? Auto Zone will pull them for free.



emer
Dodge Dakota
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10/22/2005
23:40:14

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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have your battery load tested



John Martin
Dodge Dakota
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10/25/2005
14:48:42

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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Thanks for these suggestions guys. I haven't tried any of these yet but I will. I haven't touched it for a few days. i went ou there this morning and started it up. Cranked over with just a tiny bit of hesitation. Idled high for a second then dropped back down and stayed put. Haven't taken it for a ride yet to see if I'm still getting the "Higher Rev, Closer it is to dying" problem that I explained earlier. I'm sure I still do. My thoughts are that it's the battery, now that the idle problem has seemed to subside.

One more thing, I had both battery terminals disconnected for about an hour when i was cleaning them and letting them dry. Will that screw up an idle they way it did to mine?

In the meantime...anyone else that wants to chime in please feel free to do so.



Rich
Dodge Dakota
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10/25/2005
21:59:32

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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I have a '98, and the idle always does that thing where it drops, and climbs for a couple days after I unhook the battery. The computer must have to relearn somehow, but it always returns to normal.



toolfan
Dodge Dakota
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10/25/2005
22:37:26

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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i would
. clean the tb
. check and regap plugs if need or replace. .040gap
. check plug wires make sure the resistance isn't over 30,000
. and battery is also going to need to be checked.

good luck, but if its a 318 you will have to try hard to kill it. lol



toobad
Dodge Dakota
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10/26/2005
13:15:30

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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Try replacing the TPS (throttle position sensor). Should cost about $35.00 and take about 5 minutes to do.

The idle on my 2000 4.7 used to bounce all over the place. Finally stalled on me once at a stop light. Searched around on this board and found that the TPS was a likely cause, so replaced it. Noticed a tremendous difference the first time I started it up after the replacement. It now idles as steadily and as perfect as can be...



CHRIS
Dodge Dakota
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10/31/2005
16:01:42

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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Hello all my ? is my 1998 dakota 4x4 5.2 litre is surge idling, stalling and acting weird but only does it when it is cold outside under 50 degrees after vehicle temp has climbed past 1/4 or so it usually quits any ideas what it is no codes are being thrown and i read my data list all looks within specs of course it acts fine when i check one other thing it will not run right on 87 or 89 octane only 93 or 94 pings really bad timing is perfect weird i almost think pcm troubles starting i have no clue it only has 55,000 miles i love it just put cat back side exhaust on it and cold air intake and k&n filter



dodgesucks
Dodge Dakota
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7/04/2011
13:26:29

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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its the idle air control. my truck does the same thing and it threw me the code p505 thats the idle air control i'm going to try to clean it but may have to replace



Lou
Dodge Dakota
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7/22/2011
14:40:36

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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I would clean the TPS (Throttle positioning sensor) It could have carbon build up in it. Use some 2+2 gum-cutter. If the idle improves then you know its bad. Its actually exactly what i am doing now on my 98 dakota sport.



daddio
Dodge Dakota
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7/22/2011
16:07:23

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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Lou, I hope you meant to say IAC and not TPS. You do NOT want to clean the PLASTIC TPS with any kind of strong cleaner.



mark Sliman
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8/17/2011
15:04:21

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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Chek for simple stuff first before you buy parts. Check for vacuum leaks, bad or broken wires. Taek teh IAC out and clean the seats, don;t blast the IAC motor with brake or carb cleaner, it will kill the electronics inside. Cheak the voltage at the IAC also. You can get an account on ALL data for DIY'ers pretty cheap and you have access to a mechanic's service manual. It's a great resource.



Question
Dodge Dakota
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8/18/2011
23:40:25

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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Why is everyone responding to a 6 year old post?



shawn sather
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2011
05:02:25

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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hey this is a old topic but i had the same problem
with my 98 dakota sport its a 3.9 mine never
stalled like you mentioned my idle would just
float around 1000 and jump to 1100,1150 rpms and i
dont know why you guys are saying check the
battery it was nothing to do with electrical i
replaced the plugs and that somewhat solved the
problem but it wasnt electrical.not by a long
shot.its definetly a motor malfunction if anything
i replaced the idle postioner and that did the
trick i didnt waste time cleaning it because once
the plastic housing gets carbon on it/in it you
will never get the same result as just putting a
new one on.solved the problem and was realitvly
cheap and easy to do just a couple hours.



Richie
Dodge Dakota
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12/13/2011
21:01:08

RE: 1998 Dakota with a Rough Idle
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I know its a old post.I have been a dodge person for 32 years.My 1998 truck had the same problem.I did the easy stuff first sensors etc.
Its the intake gasket.100% positive. New gasket and the truck runs great.



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