Hello Dodge forums, I am a new owner of a 1993 3.9L V6 Dodge Dakota Sport that has ~130k miles on it. I am the second owner, and the previous owners would use it a couple times a year for spring yard work. So its in no horrible condition, and I even have some preemptive repairs lined up. The problem at hand is that it no longer starts. It had issues earlier this year where the battery would not be juiced enough to start, and I would have to ride in neutral for a foot or two and it would start up. But this time, not only did the starter not crank, but my shifter lever is completely detached from my gears, and not even park works. I am completely clueless on cars in this era, so any tips would be great.

 

Auto or manual?

For auto, the shift linkage nylon bushings are starting to fail due to age on these trucks; if you check the parts lists (linked to in the FAQ message, about 40% of the way down), the parts list show how it all goes together.

Last I checked, the bushings as call outs 1 and 6 were still available from Mopar (and considering they lasted, what, 27 years? ... I'd stick with the Mopar parts!) but the #8 was not. There's a similar bushing that fits in a HELP! package ('tis what I used), but I didn't note the part number of the package, so ...

That should help the linkage if auto.

Now, if it's MANUAL, you don't have a PARK, so I don't know what you're talking about there.

RwP

 

Auto or manual is a good question. If the truck sets alot, I would start with, is the battery fully charged, and is it holding a charge? Terminals clean and not some of the temp. cut off terminals?

 

It is automatic.

 

Then it seems like your bushings have failed. I'd be replacing them and rebuilding the shift linkage.

If you download the 1990-1993 parts list from the link in the FAQ message, check drawing 21A-3600 (page 827). I've attached just that page as a PDF to make it easier to find the exploded parts diagram.

RwP

 

I looked further into the issue, and I saw that the neutral starter switch tends to be a problem in this vehicle, and my errors matched those of a faulty neutral starter switch. I replaced the switch and still the same thing is happening. Any more things I should check for?

 

Have you fixed the shift linkage?

 

No I have not. That is next. Will return with questions or results.

 

Uhh ... no.

A bad neutral safety switch will NOT keep you from putting it in park; it just won't start there. Or in neutral.

A bad NSS does NOT match your described symptoms.

RwP