i put an after market thermostat in my 93 dakota, but i was told i need to get one from chrysler to get heat is this true?

 

As long as it's rated for the some temperature as the original, it shouldn't make a difference. There's a lot of other things that affect your heat. If the engine is running at normal temperature, check for a clogged heater core. If your engine is cold, the fan clutch is probably the culprit.

 

yeah, a aftermarket thermostat such as a Stant, or other brand won't interfere with the heat, as long as it's the correct temp. As Ringering06 stated, look at other possibilities such as the heater core, radiator, radiator cap. All these can hamper the heater.

 

Let the engine warm up and feel both heater hoses, if one is cold then you have a blocked line somewhere. If both do get hot, then the runners of the heater core could be clogged but still letting some coolant flow.