I love my 94' Dakota SLT. It only has 81K original miles and has always been very trustworthy. Recently, it has started this thing where it dies - usually within the first 5-10 minutes of driving it - and no lights come on on the dash (until you turn the key off and on). Then after about 5 or so minutes, it will start and run fine for the rest of the trip.

So far:

New fuel pump
New CPM (I think that is the computer module, right?)
New Crankshaft Position Sensor

I apologize if this has been dealt with a million times and I was unable to search out the right answer. Please direct me to it!

Thanks in advance!

sj

 

Ok, found the FAQ and will next dig into the splice under the fuse/relay box. Any other insight is appreciated!

sj

 

Yes it does sound like the splice.
I will move this to the 1st generation Dakota sub-forum.

 

Ok, well, it was not the splice. The red/white wire has been completely replaced. When it died yesterday at highway speed on the cruise control (no dash lights came on except the oil light after I pulled over to the side), I swapped relays to check that poked around on some wires and then after about five minutes it started. Nothing conclusive - once again.

Any suggestions on "what next" would be greatly appreciated!

sj

 

did you try pulling codes?

 

I will do it when I get home. I did it before and I just got the start, end, and some write error code. The ECM has been replaced as well.

 

Sounds like the coil may be heating up and starting to break down. After it cools off it's fine again but that doesn't explain why it will only do it once per trip. Just a suggestion.

 

Ok, the only codes I pulled were 12 and 55, basically, that the battery had been disconnected 50 starts ago (true) and that there were no error messages.

Coil - possible, but the cool down is not that long and this truck had the problem, then went 1000 miles with this problem without it showing up, now it shows up all the time. It really seems electrical to me.

sj

 

check/clean your battery terminals. i was having an issue with one of mine getting really bad and it would act like the starter or battery was bad, and wouldn't get any power to start, died once or twice while running too.

 

the dist pickup can cause intermittent problems with a hot engine just like a coil can; the truck's 18 yo I'd replace both anyway.
I was in my local JY which must have 15, 90-96 Dakotas sitting there; of those at least 8 seemed to have shiney new lookin coils on them....and at least as many seemed to have shiney new radiators. I have grabbed a couple of each as I have 2 Dakotas, spares are great to have on hand especially when they can be had junkyard cheap, for nearly new parts