Just wondering what some parts are and what they do in my 1987 Dodge Dakota with the 3.9V6 and 3 Speed auto

What the hell is this box/#1 in this photo, is it a control center,computer ,what!? and what is/was #2 for?


In this Photo what the Hell is #1, is that the O2 senser and how would it run if that is bad? And what the hell is #2 and what does i do? and what is #3

A different angle


In this photo what the hell is #1, whats it for, and what is #2 and what is that for

Sorry about the Numbers and circles in the picture being so dark

 

In the second picture the first is a pcv valve. The second is your 02 sensor. It would run, just might have decreased performance. Lower mileage, less power, possibly rough idle.

In the third picture 1 is a breather.
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I would suggest spending some time with the service manual.

 

#1 is a computer, 87 is carbed (I believe), but it may be to control the choke or emission systems or something like that.
#2 looks like a vent tube from the transmission or front axle (if 4wd)

Pic 2
#1 is an Oxygen sensor, O2 sensor. Yes it can run bad without it.
#2 is a PCV valve.
#3 looks to be a fuseable link.

Pic 3
#1 is the breather valve. It works with the PCV valve to reuse the unburned gas that passes by the piston rings.
#2 looks like some vacuum lines. Don't know where they go to but most likely part of the emission system.

 

Is that possibly the reason why i averaged about 11-12MPG in the city and why it idles rouph once its warmed up? and its done that since i got it and will there be a noticable power increase if a new one gets put in?

 

It is Carbed but its only rear wheel drive and the tube looks to be plugged on the end unless thats a vave to keep sh*t from getting in and i dont know if the computer controls the choke because i have to put the pedal on the floor for the choke to engage and tap the peddal after it starts to disengage it

 

Picture #1--Item 1 is the computer. Item 2, in your case, I don't know. In my 4WD, I think it's connected to my front axle. You'll just have to trace it to see where it goes.

Picture #2-- Item 1 is an O2 (oxygen) sensor. Item 2 is the PCV (positive crankcase vent) valve. Item 3, I don't know.

Picture #3-- Item 1 is the breather filter. Item 2, I assume is coming off of Item 1. It might lead to the carb or something.

For the breather filter, and PCV valve, this are part of the PCV system. This is essential to preventing build-up of crankcase vents. If this system is not functioning properly, it can lead to oil sludge. The breather filter brings in air and cleans it until it is sucked into the engine via vacuum. The PCV valve is connected to the intake, and it a check-valve so that crankcase fumes can be sucked into the intake ("bad air" is than spent by the engine), but so intake air is not drawn into the other part of the engine.

*edit*
And yes, a bad O2 sensor can cause problems with the engine warmed up (in cold-operation mode, the computer ignores O2 sensor inputs)

 

It may or may not increase mileage depending on driving type. I could possibly make your idle smoother at warm temps, but there are a lot of factors on that. Its not a bad place to start.

Its not going to add 50 horses. It may be noticable, it may not. Again it depends on driving style and how well you know your truck. I wouldnt count on it to give you much of a boost.

 

I know it wont give a huge amount more power, but i took the rainguard off to allow more air to get into the intake and i noticed an ecceleration increased especialy on the highway, it wasnt much of an increase but it was some so i would probably somewhat notice it if the senser was bringing the power down

 

Since that box is some kind of computer system why does it have a pipe connected to the air intake pipe and also have vacume hoses going into it?

 

Since the pipe is connected to it I would guess it would be some kind of mass air flow sensor or something. Maybe the computer controls a IAC Idle Air Controller. For full details check out the FAQ in this section for online service manuals. Do some searching. I'm sure it is all in there explaining everything.