1988 Dodge Dakota. few problems *My first truck*
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1988 Dodge Dakota. few problems *My first truck*
Hi guys, my names Jesse, I'll be 18 years old in august and I just bought my first truck last Saturday.
it's a 1988 Dodge Dakota, 2wd long bed single cab, 3.9l v6.
I changed the brakes, spark plug wires, cap and Rotor, spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter, oil, oil filter, rear brake cylinder, and probly a couple more odds and ends I'm forgetting.
here's the problems, when it first starts up, the idle scavenges for a big, then it will clear up and be fine until I maybe rev it a little and it will repeat.
- if I just barely touch the gas pedal it will either act like it's about to die, or completely die. Sometimes if I'm just cruising and let off the gas, it'll lug and chug and then die, or I can pat the gas a couple times and it'll come back to life and be fine.
the speedometer, when I first got it wouldn't work at all. I took the 2 speedo cables off the servo? and spun the one going to the speedo and wiggled the one goin to the transmission, and it works, but it jumps up and down until 25mph. I'm guessing a tooth is missing somewhere so it's jumping because it's catching-loose-catching-lose ect. but I read somewhere that it could be the liner that the actual cable runs through is gummed up or kinked somewhere?
Transmission, it leaked at that input shaft the day after I got it, so I turned it off. and the next day I started it up and let it idle in neutral for a few minutes and it didn't leak a drop, but today i drove it around the neighborhood and got on the throttle a couple times and it looks like it dripped a bit on the exhaust then quit. so I'm gonna change the input seal but I'm having trouble finding one that I know for sure is gonna fit. anybody got the exact part number?
also, what kinda options do I have for an LSD or a locker? I'm lookin at a spending maybe 150$ on either one. I know that's low balling but I'm ballin on a budget here lol.
other than that this thing runs awesome and I'm sure it's gonna serve me perfect for my first truck. I look forward to my time on this board and chatting with the people here!
when I first bought it.
Gave it it's first bath, and ripped off those horrid steps.
And how it looks now....
it's a 1988 Dodge Dakota, 2wd long bed single cab, 3.9l v6.
I changed the brakes, spark plug wires, cap and Rotor, spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter, oil, oil filter, rear brake cylinder, and probly a couple more odds and ends I'm forgetting.
here's the problems, when it first starts up, the idle scavenges for a big, then it will clear up and be fine until I maybe rev it a little and it will repeat.
- if I just barely touch the gas pedal it will either act like it's about to die, or completely die. Sometimes if I'm just cruising and let off the gas, it'll lug and chug and then die, or I can pat the gas a couple times and it'll come back to life and be fine.
the speedometer, when I first got it wouldn't work at all. I took the 2 speedo cables off the servo? and spun the one going to the speedo and wiggled the one goin to the transmission, and it works, but it jumps up and down until 25mph. I'm guessing a tooth is missing somewhere so it's jumping because it's catching-loose-catching-lose ect. but I read somewhere that it could be the liner that the actual cable runs through is gummed up or kinked somewhere?
Transmission, it leaked at that input shaft the day after I got it, so I turned it off. and the next day I started it up and let it idle in neutral for a few minutes and it didn't leak a drop, but today i drove it around the neighborhood and got on the throttle a couple times and it looks like it dripped a bit on the exhaust then quit. so I'm gonna change the input seal but I'm having trouble finding one that I know for sure is gonna fit. anybody got the exact part number?
also, what kinda options do I have for an LSD or a locker? I'm lookin at a spending maybe 150$ on either one. I know that's low balling but I'm ballin on a budget here lol.
other than that this thing runs awesome and I'm sure it's gonna serve me perfect for my first truck. I look forward to my time on this board and chatting with the people here!
when I first bought it.
Gave it it's first bath, and ripped off those horrid steps.
And how it looks now....
Last edited by Jesse95; Sep 4, 2012 at 01:47 AM.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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The idle problem could be a bad IAC Idle Air Control motor or a vacuum leak or a possible bad sensor.
The speedo cable probably needs to be replaced.
The parts manual is in the FAQ you can download. Or just go to your local Dodge Dealership parts department they can look it up.
If you have the Chry 8.25 rear axle (Oval diff cover) then you got a few but many options.
LSD came stock in some Dakotas, you can try to find a used unit but most likely the clutches need replacing. You can buy a new LSD unit for $300 or so. For street the LSD is your best option, but if you really want traction there is no substitute for a real locker that WILL give you 50/50 where a LSD can not. The cheapest is a Powertrax Lockright about $300.
Try www.summitracing.com or www.ringpinion.com for correct prices and options.
The speedo cable probably needs to be replaced.
The parts manual is in the FAQ you can download. Or just go to your local Dodge Dealership parts department they can look it up.
If you have the Chry 8.25 rear axle (Oval diff cover) then you got a few but many options.
LSD came stock in some Dakotas, you can try to find a used unit but most likely the clutches need replacing. You can buy a new LSD unit for $300 or so. For street the LSD is your best option, but if you really want traction there is no substitute for a real locker that WILL give you 50/50 where a LSD can not. The cheapest is a Powertrax Lockright about $300.
Try www.summitracing.com or www.ringpinion.com for correct prices and options.
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88 wont have an IAC but an idle "kicker" solenoid on the outside of the TB; common problem with them; all 88-91s 3.9 318 and 360 (to include the Vans and fullsize trucks) this was a known problem area. I just had to replace the one on my son's 89 Ramcharger (same part believe it or not as your truck) it was like $80.
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New problem. The headlights work, but the running lights dont unlesse I ge the switch in just the right spot. No big deal, replaced the headlight switch, now I have no running lights at all, but the headlights work. Idk what the problem could be. :/
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