my 2001 dakota currently has 184248 miles on it. My check engine light stays on all the time. I changed the spark plugs new spark plug wires; it still miss fires. My friend says it could be my crank shaft position sensor that is going out. But when im at a red light and it turns green ill accelerate and about 25mph to 35mph it will jerk then start to speed up, but if i have to pull out from an intersection i can have my peddle to the floor and the truck feels like it has no power. I am lost onto what the problem is. can anyone help me?

 

What codes are you showing?

 

+1, you need to pull the codes to be able to get any real help.

 

i do not have access to that computer thing u plug into your truck to read the codes any other way of getting them?

 

cycle the key from the off to on position 3 times. it will show up in the odom. as P0601 ect

 

or swing by a parts store such as autozone or orilleys they have a scan tool you can use for free

 

ill check it when i get home tomorrow from work. and ill post back the codes. thanks guys and gals i really appreciate it

 

sorry about not replying so fast guys, just been pulling huge hours at work. here are the codes

p0303
p0161
p0305
p1740

and that's it. hope that helps.

 

P0303 and P0305 are for cylinder misfires in the #3 and #5 cylinders. P0161 is an error code for your bank 2, #2 oxygen sensor. I believe that will be the O2 sensor in the right side (passenger side) exhaust, and it is the downstream one after the catalytic convertor. With as many miles as you have on the truck if the O2's have never been changed it would probably be a good idea to change out all 4 sensors now.

The P1740 is a transmission related code. It means "TCC or O/D Solenoid Perf". I think TCC means transmission control module, that might mean the valve body in the tranny is shot and needs to be replaced, but I don't know much about the automatic tranny, my truck is a manual. I do know a few guys on here have had to replace their OD switches.

For the misfire codes you may need to try a new distributor cap and rotor button. If the plugs and wires are new that would be the next logical thing. Also make sure the plugs are gapped correctly. It's probably not the crankshaft position sensor, if it were bad the truck would not start at all. Except for the misfires, the other problems you are having all sound to me like bad O2's and a bad valve body. I had a 2000 Dakota with a 3.9 and automatic some years ago and the valve body went out on it and it did the exact same thing you are describing here.

After you fix or replace the parts be sure to reset the PCM so the CEL goes out again. Autozone or Advance can reset it for free with their scanner or you can do it yourself by disconnecting the negative battery cable and holding the ignition key in the start position for about 20 seconds.

The FAQ at the top of the page has lists of the trouble codes and also has a lot of info that may help you fix your truck.

Jimmy

 

p0303 Cylinder #3 misfire
p0161 2/2 02 sensor heater failure
p0305 Cylinder #5 misfire
p1740 TCC or Overdrive Solenoid Performance

What engine do you have? 3.9 or 5.9? When you replaced the plugs/wires, did you pull the cap and rotor?

That would be the rh (passenger) side downstream 02 sensor.