Tech Thread Spotlight: How to Service the Throttle Body in your 3g Dakota

By -

3g dakota tb 600

Problems with the throttle body in your 3rd gen Dodge (or Ram) Dakota can cause a variety of issues ranging from poor fuel mileage to lack of power but with only basic tools and a handful of spare time – you can save yourself a bunch of money by servicing your throttle body on your own.  DF member baracis put together a great do-it-yourself thread on how to remove, service and replace the throttle body on the 3rd generation Dakota along with information on how to address problems with the throttle position sensor – another culprit which can cause drivability issues.  Finally, baracis includes information on how to handle problems with the Intake Air Temperature sensor (IAT) so with this simple, short thread, Dakota owners can handle a variety of throttle body related problems on their own.

Included in the 3rd gen Dodge Dakota throttle body DIY thread are Chrysler Group diagrams showing the different portions of the throttle body along with detailed diagrams of the throttle position sensor and the intake air temperature sensor for the Dakota’s 4.7L V8.  While this DIY applies to the 3rd generation Dakota, this piece does a great job of explaining what needs to be done to safely remove or replace any of the throttle body components or sensors for those with other Chrysler Group vehicles that may be experiencing issues with the intake portion of the engine.

Click here to check out the 3rd gen Dodge Dakota throttle body repair DIY thread.

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:47 PM.