I recently bought a 1992 Dakota 4x4 5.2L magnum V8 auto trans. It starts and idles fine, but when you put it into gear it just takes off. I can't even hold it back by standing on the brake. I am thinking a sensor or computer problem? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ken

 

Sounds like the bands are to tight ???

 

Your brakes should over power your engine at idle. Set your emergency brake and try it (provided your ebrake works properly). If it holds then it sounds like you have a brake issues. If it doesn’t then your tranny has issues.

 

Hi, I thought about tranny problems, but I bought the truck from a guy who bought it new. He said the problem just happened all at once. I thought, valve body. I don't understand how the bands could just get tight. Don't get me wrong, I am not a certified mechanic, but have been around vehicles for many years. I am going to buy a book on this truck tomorrow, and hope maybe to get some info. I haven't started the truck since last fall, but plan to work on it this week. I read on a thread about checking codes by switching the ignition on and off, and counting the flashes. I don't have a code reader as of yet. The thread said to turn the ignition on, then off, then on, then off, then on. The check engine should flash, and you count the number of flashes. I don't know if this will work on my truck or not, but am going to check just to see. I was leaning towards a sensor, or computer. The way the truck takes off when you put it into gear seems like something is telling the engine to throttle up. When I get it running, I can research the problem further, and let all know exactly what it is doing. Thanks for any and all help with this problem.

Ken

 

"seems like something is telling the engine to throttle up" if this is what it is doing then not the bands. I have no clue, someone else here might.

 

Thanks, sure hope it is nothing major. Will post what I find after I look it over some more.

Ken

 

Do the rpms jump as you put it into gear? I had a car do something similar once and it turned out to be a broken engine mount. I put it into gear and as I gave it gas and the engine torqued it would pinch the linkage to the carb. What's the engine idling at to begin with?

Ahh..the engine is probably broke....I'll take that POS off your hands....hehe

 

To tell the truth, I can't remember. It seems to me that the truck starts, and idle is normal in neutral, but as soon as you put it into gear, forward or reverse, it just takes off. I don't remember if the idle shoots up or not, but I would imagine it does. I am going to fire it up this weekend, and check it out. Stick it into gear, and take a couple of laps around the house. I am still leaning towards something like idle air controll, or maybe throttle position sensor. I have to figure out how to test them.
I know about the motor mount. I had a 64 Chevy SW that broke the left mount, I hit the gas one day, and damn near went through a wall. As soon as I stood on the brake, the engine dropped, and the idle went back down. This truck has me bugged. I have never seen a vehicle act like this befor. If nothing else, I'll get an education.
Thanks for the reply, Ken

 

Just came in from looking at the truck. Did a code reading from the check engine light. Got codes of 12, 27, 55. From the code sheet,#12- I get, Direct battery input to PCM was disconnected within the last 50 key-on cycles (normal).#27- Injector control circuit.#55 End of error messages.
I still haven't had a chance to get a book yet, so any help with info on, The injector control circuit would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Ken