1993 Dodge Dakota Backfires and lacks power
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: NM
96-up uses 2 O2 sensors one pre and post cat. 95-down uses 1 pre cat, so it will never know if the cat is gone. So you will never get a light and no problems at all. Trust me I know. LOL!
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: tn
mynes the 96 and has both o2's it should set a light and wathing the datastream the o2's mimic one another so i should have a p0420 cat efficiency below threshold. it sees the data but doesn't recognize it as it should.
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Joined: Sep 2011
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93 dodge dakota backfire
i had the same issue ive seen alot of people have had with the dakotas losing power backfireing acting like the timing was off i also changed the o2 egr plugs wires iac and the list goes on just couldnt figure this out it was really eating me up but then i took a can of carb and choke cleaner sprayed around the intake after i fianlly got it to idle and it killed the motor problem all along was a leaking intake gasket the kit is $26 give or take for your area changed the gaskets and it runs like it did the day i bought it plenty of power no smoke no miss so you give it try if it doesnt work your out the cost of a can of spray
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Joined: Sep 2011
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the problem i found with mine was the intake was leaking i changed the gaskets runs great try a lil carb and choke cleaner around the intake while its running if anything changes or it dies that may be you issue. no more smoke or backfire
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Joined: Aug 2014
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My truck needs an exorcism!!!
I have a 92 D150 with a 318 that does the same thing. Idles rough, lack of power, occasional backfire. At 50mph with light, steady throttle...truck shakes violently once it shifts into overdrive. Used to clear up after hitting a good pothole. Replaced plugs, wires, cap & rotor, IAC, EGR, removed and thoroughly cleaned throttle body and still have the same problem. I tried to lightly tap on anything and everything under the hood while it was running to see if anything helped smooth out the idle.(tried to simulate pothole jolt) Crazy thing was...when i tapped the plug wires at the distributor....i got a good shock. Cap is new and not cracked and wires are also new. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions. Thanx.
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Joined: Mar 2015
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you are going to laugh. .. but
I had the same issues for years with my Dakota and a shop tech finally pulled up a list of Dodge repair notices and it turned out that a large number of Dakota came out of the factory with distributors installed 180 degrees off. (They have a slot instead of a gear). Try rotating your distributor 180°. Mine ran like a beast afterward
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Joined: May 2024
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my 1993 dodge dakota has the EXACT same problems as paul morneau!! I have replaced almost all he has including map sensor. It is driving me CRAZY also! I love my little truck and am on a mission to fix this problem, does anyone know ? Sometimes my truck will drive like a dream, like it is haunted or something. When I punch it he will fly like the wind and has plenty of power. It feels like something is blocked. Fuel problem? replaced filter and pump. Timing problem? The truck will chug at idle and wants to stall but does not always. sometimes idles perfectly and needs a good warmup before he wants to go anywhere. After map sensor replaced check engine light came on for the very first time. Nobody seems to know what is wrong with it. I cannot work on my own truck, I am a female who brings to mechanics, I have put over $1500 in trying to find problem! Is this common in these trucks and if so, why does'nt anyone know yet what is wrong? also lose power when I step on gas. Disconnecting map sensor helps somewhat.
Also try getting a Chiltons or Haynes (" bible" ) book on the truck. It will tell you everything about it even the current situation you have.. im not a master mechanic but there's never been a vehicle I couldn't fix 20 plus years I've been doing this...
. You can look me up on fb Ian Moone. If you have any other questions..
but it's probably your transmission.. bad vacuum leak...
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,479
Likes: 4,223
From: Clayton MI
You have a bad connection and possibly a vacuum leak. Believe it or not it's probably not the engine. Dodge did this stupid thing where the transmission runs on vacuum if there's a blockage that's probably your issue..
Also try getting a Chiltons or Haynes (" bible" ) book on the truck. It will tell you everything about it even the current situation you have.. im not a master mechanic but there's never been a vehicle I couldn't fix 20 plus years I've been doing this...
. You can look me up on fb Ian Moone. If you have any other questions..
but it's probably your transmission.. bad vacuum leak...
Also try getting a Chiltons or Haynes (" bible" ) book on the truck. It will tell you everything about it even the current situation you have.. im not a master mechanic but there's never been a vehicle I couldn't fix 20 plus years I've been doing this...
. You can look me up on fb Ian Moone. If you have any other questions..
but it's probably your transmission.. bad vacuum leak...
