hey guys i bought a dirt bike a couple of months ago and now i need something to carry it around with... so being a mechanic i bought a 96 dakota sport 2wd with the v6. it needs lots of work it has been sitting for the last month to a year... i got it to start up and run but as soon as i let my foot off the gas it dies... doesn't bog then die just dies... that's just the beginging of this poor thing... it's leaking coolant appears to be from everywhere but the leak thats pooring out is on the back of the engine i am wondering if there is a common leak spot it's on the drivers side and it's not coming from the heater core stuff...

 

The Idle problem sounds like the IAC Idle Air Control valve. Replace it or clean it up and make sure it moves freely. It is poring out of the engine area it may be a freeze plug.

 

Both of the rearmost freeze plugs on both sides of my 318 rotted out but the rest of them still look like new

 

i was think that's what it would be but i thought i would see if that was a common problem cuz pulling one of those frost plugs and replacing it doesn't look real fun... thanks for the tip on the running i will give that a try and let you know what happened...

 

well i found the coolant leak... it was the heater hose coming off the top of the engine... much easier fix than anticipated... and it randomly started idling yesterday so that's a plus so i have another question now i am wondering what kinda rpm's everyone with the automatic is running at about 65 i am thinking that the over drive isn't working because mine is at 3k RPM's

 

no, i can tell you right now, your OD isnt working. heres a couple things to check. 1. when you start the truck, move it forward about a foot and get out to see if the daytime lights turn on, if not, this may be a symptom, or the DRL box is unplugged but bear with me.. 2. does it stall when you stop really fast? meaning, threshold braking or hard braking. the 3rd symptom would be not shifting into OD, but you already noticed that one. if all these 3 symptoms are what you are seeing, check into your vehicle speed sensor (VSS). go into the FAQ and click on the link for the engine codes and do that test to get the codes from it.

 

wow thanks for the info i will have to look into that... it is not setting the check engine light and i have not given it real hard braking yet... also i dont think that the DRL's are working but i will double check that... so they should come on after i put it into drive and go forward for a lil bit... and if i put it back into park do they turn off?