great advice! As I learn how to use a computer and this forum I am thinking "Dah, why didn't I start doing this years ago?" Fear of the unknown...technology. Then again if I wasn't leary of technology I would probably be driving a car built in this century....with an OBD II system that would tell me what to replace!

 

hi there! I already responded, but it doesn't look like it made it to you. Anyway, thanks again for some good advise...You are right that a bad ground at the computer should cause everything to stop working. Since that isn't the case, I'd be barking up the wrong tree chasing that idea. It is supposed to get a little milder here tomorrow, so I'll try a few of the ideas we discussed. It is supposed to snow quite heavily over the next few days and I just volunteered to take a look at the heater on a friends '93 Tempo to see why it isn't blowing....I know....it's a Ford! I really should get a car built in this century...with an OBD II system that tells me what needs fixing.....

 

I have the FSM for a 1993 Dakota. It's not in digital form, but I can scan pages if you need them. I don't have it in front of me right now, though.

edit: but you can find ones on eBay, such as this....http://www.ebay.com/itm/1993-Dodge-Dakota-Factory-Service-Manual-/350964059961?pt=Motors_Manuals_Literature&hash=item51b7168f39&vxp=mtr#ht_221wt_919
The book form is so much better to have than the digital form, in my opinion. Easier to find stuff.

And here I am thinking 10 degrees (That's Fahrenheit, I'm a dumb 'merkan) is too damn cold.

 

You're kidding, right?

I have a Haynes in a drawer somewhere, but I use the Factory Service Manual almost exclusively.

As for the FSM that's listed in the beginning of this forum section, it's all there, but pretty inconvenient to try to actually use. I got mine on Ebay, and actual bound, paper version for about $20, I think.

 

I only say there isn't one based on my opinion. I won't use any manual for more than a mere reference as in the past it has only made the job harder. I like the challenge of looking at it and figuring out what I need to do, but that's personal preference I suppose.

Professor sir, don't take my advice as that being the problem, it's just a lot easier to look at than looking for a bad ground. Might as well start with the easy things first right. And OBD II is overrated. 9 times out of 10, you will have one bad sensor with a code for it, and 19 "phantom" codes lol. My Durango almost always does it when a sensor goes bad

 

I know what you mean about OBD II systems - they scare me! Here in Ontario they recently adopted a new emission testing system that hooks directly into the computer...it doesn't matter what comes out of the tailpipe...if the computer says there's something wrong...... As far as manuals are concerned: Years ago I was using a Toyota FSM to diagnose something. I spent hours trying to figure out what parts the book was referring to before I realized that the book was originally written in Japanese and then translated into english, but right in the middle of a sentence it changed from "American" english to "British" english! Instead of check "ground" I was to check "earth" or something!!! I just slammed shut the bonnet and walked away... Anyway, I went out today to try starting the Dakota.... I held open the throttle to see if I could get it to go. Nothing. I tried giving it a shot of quick start to see if it would at least fart or something...Nothing. I was going to re-check for spark and what not, but it was snowing like crazy and to damn cold. Maybe tomorrow.

 

Lol check "earth". Well at least we can rule out the starving for air thing. As for the ground points, you would have to wait for someone that knows to chime in. I'm not sure of the ground points. I would do as you said you were going to and recheck for spark. Make sure it's a nice bright blue spark coming from whatever you use to test it. As far as it stands tho, I'm stumped. Without looking at it myself, I wouldn't be able to help much further..

 

hi again! The weather is warmer and my burn to get my truck going has returned. Spent a huge amount of time checking and re-checking everything you guys suggested....and more. Every time I looked at this truck the symptoms got worse and worse. The spark started being inconsistant then stopped altogether. After much frustration (and some $) I discovered the distributor rotor has stopped turning...Oh Oh! I pulled the rocker covers - no movement there either....pulled the pushrods...7 bent exhaust/ 1 intake....repulled the timing cover...new cam gear snapped in half/chain laying in the bottom...pulled heads...bent valves/pistons knicked.... If anybody ever asks you is the 5.2L Magnum an "interference engine"? The answer is "definitely Yes".

So now I'm looking for an engine...The 93 5.2L mpi magnum is a little bit rare around here (South Eastern Ontario). I'm looking for options. I don't want to get into re-wiring/ switching computers/ re-flashing etc. I can reuse the the intake etc, but the heads and block should probably go.If I had to I could switch out pistons and valves, but that is kinda cost prohibitive - it's a 21 year truck with almost no rust and mechanically sound, but I actually had just listed it for sale when tragedy struck. How much time/$ do you put in it, right? Do you know which motors from which years are inter-changable with it? Will the Multi-port intake bolt to any Magnum (5.2/5.9)? Will it run properly if I use the 5.9L short block with all the original top end stuff? Any ideas would be appreciated. I don't want to sell my junk off to someone else... I'll fix it well or scrap it.

 

Professor sir ,
It may be more valuable as parts at this point if your end game is selling it. I searched "find 1993 5.2 magnum engine" This site may be helpful. http://www.magnumswap.com/dodge-magnum-engine-search/
Or this may be your choice
http://www.summitracing.com/search/D...-block-Magnum/

 

thanks for the input. I'll check it out. I may have a lead on a good used engine at a good price. As I understand it, the blocks and heads of the 5.2L magnums are the same (5.9L are externally balanced so flex plates and harmonic balancer would have to be changed...though the heads are still the same). The intake, injectors, ECU etc. are unique to the 93 mpfi engine, so I think for simplicity sake I'll just switch over the entire induction system as is since it is fine. I read somewhere that there is a reknown problem with an intake gasket that leads to oil consumption problems and poor idle quality. I wasn't experiencing any problems, but while it is all open....if it is just a gasket or something.