Have you tried checking to see if your getting any Diagnostic Trouble Codes through the dash? I think the 1992 Dakotas have a inline fuel filter so it should be pretty simple to change. Are you hearing the fuel pump turn on when you turn the key on before start?

 

It is not a carburetor. The thing that looks like a carburetor is a throttle body. It only lets air in vs a carburetor lets air in and mixes it with gas.

Possibly a bad O2 sensor or a coolant temperature sensor.

 

I have noticed recently that the engine runs pretty hot even though the coolant temperature shows pretty low in temperature. The only time that ever went to high was when the bypass hose blew shortly after buying the truck.

The radiator was replaced recently, so it's possible that something's wrong there, as the large coolant hose yesterday was soft vs hard like it usually is.

One way or another I'll find out what's wrong with it.

 

There are 2 coolant temp sensors, 1 for the gauge, 1 for the PCM. Replace the PCM one. Check the FAQ for the location.

 

Ok, well, this morning I found out the hard way what the problem with the truck was.

We did some work then went to McDonalds for breakfast. We sat in the truck to eat, then went to leave.

The truck would not start. It tried, but even throttling it didn't help.

A guy, who claimed to be a mechanic came by asking if he could help. Alarm bells were ringing in my boss's head, she didn't want the help, she knew there was going to be a problem.

So anyways, we took the intake filter I guess off and had a look. He said the carburetor was bone dry. ?? I thought the truck didn't have one. Foolishly we allowed him to pour gas into the fuel injectors, and flooded them.

Called for a tow to the mechanic, and when we got there, the mechanic tried to start it himself. Then he got me to try.

When he motioned me out of the truck, he said I wasn't getting a spark. The ignition coil was shot.

He replaced it, and while trying to start it after this, it wouldn't start. He told me to put my foot on the gas, there was still too much fuel in the injectors, and spewed a lot of smoke out of the exhaust.

I think there's still more fuel in the injectors now, as when I just tried to start it up to turn the truck around, it had the same problem.

But otherwise it starts up well, and I'm happy.

 

Congrats on the fix. So it ended up being a bad coil but a wanna be mechanic poured fuel into the intake through the throttle body and had it flooded?

 

Yes it flooded, but thankfully doesn't seem to have caused any permanent damage to the truck. Still not a good thing.

 

Thats good but its guys like that that give us mechanics a bad name

 

No kidding. And he claimed to have older trucks as well. I sure hope karma comes back to bite him.

 

Well, I'm disappointed. The ignition coil was not actually the problem. I've been having the same startup problems, especially in this heatwave. At the gas station this morning, the truck wouldn't start properly yet again.