Hi! I just bought a '94 Dakota yesterday and have questions, especially regarding exhaust/emissions because - according to previous owner - this truck has failed state inspections two times in four years and needed catalytic converters replaced. He paid big bucks both times and, let's face it, I don't want to have to do that.

What could be causing repeated emissions system failure? Or was he getting hosed? He showed me all the repair records and he paid loads o' money to repair facilities in the past few years. Good for me for now but I wonder about things happening again.

Except for pretty bad clear coat flaking, the truck is in great shape. If there's something I can do (like replace the exhaust system?) to keep this problem from happening again, I'll save my bucks for that.

Thanks for your ideas!

 

what all did he have done to it?

 

I saw all the receipts from repairs especially in the past two years but don't have them. I asked the former owner to send me a list. From what I remember, it failed inspection in 2005 and had a catalytic converter replaced. It failed again in 2007 (this past October) and had it replaced again. There was a new water pump, pcv valve, fuel pump and other things I don't remember off the top of my head, all since 2005 and much in 2007. Sorry my memory isn't that good! He's self-employed and needs the receipts so I didn't get them. It was a hefty stack.

Normal things like oil changes, tires and batteries were in there as well. To me it seemed like an awful lot for two years. He bought the truck from his brother in 2001 when it had around 70K on it. It now has 110K so it really surprised me that so much seemed to go wrong in two years. I'll give you more specifics once he has a chance to send me the list.

Thanks!

 

well lets see... If your burning oil that will stop up cats faster than normal, 3.9s and 5.2s have a common problem with the intake plenum pan gasket, if you have pressure guages you can check it fairly simple... there is a thread on here I belive in the FAQ's that explains the process... or not uncommon to mopar it could need valve stem seals... but without more symptoms or visuals its a guessing game!

 

It really is a guessing game like dirtybeds said. Unless it's burning oil or had a defective cat, 2 cats in as many years is kinda ridiculous, sure a new one would make the emissions seem cleaner for the test, but it sounds like there is another issue here that the shops are missing. How does the truck run? How does it sound? Are there any codes stored in the computer? We need to find out what's going on here so that you don't end up putting another Cat on this truck.

 

Thanks, everyone! Here's the list from the previous owner:

Oct 07 Replace catalytic Converter
Aug 07 Tune up and replace fuel pump
Jul 07 Headliner
Jan 07 Replaced water pump and coolant hoses
Dec 06 Wiper arm bushing set
Oct 06 Replace rear brake shoes and cylinders, front brake pads, and
vacuum brake boosters
Replace catalytic converter
Feb 06 New tires (mileage 97,546)
Apr 05 New battery and clean fuel system
May 02 New radiator

I haven't spent much quality time with the truck but it seems to run smoothly on the whole. The prior owner said he had trouble with it using regular grade gas and only used mid-grade because it didn't cough and sputter then. It idles quieter and smoother than my Hyundai station wagon. On acceleration, there seems to be a slight hesitation before the beast roars to life. It's been a while since I've driven a bigger vehicle but there seemed to be a difference in how this hesitation felt compared to what I've driven before. Maybe a bit more "chunky" if that is a good description. Not quite so much the feeling that all the power is coiling up and getting ready to spring - more like it got caught by surprise.

I'm pretty fearless when it comes to messing around with parts but I know my limits. I have almost no equipment beyond very basic tools so I'm reliant on mechanics for serious help. Or really detailed idiot-proof how-to guides.

Thanks for all this great advice!