have a 1987 Dakota -Long bed -Man. trans -3.9L -carb-208,000mi
back in 1994 my dakota's transmission lost reverse. The truck had roughly 120,000 mi and it ran stellar.
I had a local mechanic fix the reverse ($115 cost ) I went to pick it up.
The minute I started the truck at the mechanic's house I knew that something wasn't right. It was hard to start, acted like the choke was stuck, stumbled during acceleration, would barely stay running.
I thought it might just be because it had sat for almost a week, so I payed the mechanic and drove off.
Over the last few years I tried to fix it but have had no luck. I stored the truck in 2001 and didn't drive it. Just got it back out to use as a work truck and have had the same problems I had before.
Poor gas mileage, rough idle, stumble while accelerating, the usual pain in the rear stuff.
I have changed all I could and still haven't fixed it, rebuilt carb, changed EGR,PCV,smog pump, distributer, plugs,plug wires and everthing else.
it has had no major work on the motor and it had nothing wrong with it before I took it in,
so does anybody have any ideas on what part could be causing the problem or did the mechanic does some mystical trick to get me to come back to him so he could make more money.
back in 1994 my dakota's transmission lost reverse. The truck had roughly 120,000 mi and it ran stellar.
I had a local mechanic fix the reverse ($115 cost ) I went to pick it up.
The minute I started the truck at the mechanic's house I knew that something wasn't right. It was hard to start, acted like the choke was stuck, stumbled during acceleration, would barely stay running.
I thought it might just be because it had sat for almost a week, so I payed the mechanic and drove off.
Over the last few years I tried to fix it but have had no luck. I stored the truck in 2001 and didn't drive it. Just got it back out to use as a work truck and have had the same problems I had before.
Poor gas mileage, rough idle, stumble while accelerating, the usual pain in the rear stuff.
I have changed all I could and still haven't fixed it, rebuilt carb, changed EGR,PCV,smog pump, distributer, plugs,plug wires and everthing else.
it has had no major work on the motor and it had nothing wrong with it before I took it in,
so does anybody have any ideas on what part could be causing the problem or did the mechanic does some mystical trick to get me to come back to him so he could make more money.
Professional
dont really know that much about the early gen ones but check to see if the crank sensor wire got pinched between the motor and trans bellhousing. Someone else may correct me on this but it may be worth a shot to look. Sorry i couldnt be of more help.
Let me ask you something. It took you 12 years to realize that there was a problem with the truck!?!? If there was a problem with it when you picked it up you should have brought it back! It's a little late now.
to bdodge_445
Doesn't it say in my post that I realized that something was wrong when I started it?
But it is carbed right? could have been a stuck choke plate that's why I drove off!
And since it is carbed I figured I might give it a shot at the repair. Most carb repairs really are pretty easy.
I tried to fix it off and on for the 12 years you speak of and had no luck in getting it perfect, close but not perfect.
Trust me I can read a manual, disconnect and plug the SCC, unplug the air switching valve, disconnect and plug the canister purge solenoid, and know that my truck doesn't have a TPS, or an IAC
It never has ran the same since I dropped it off at that home shop in '94, and I told the mechanic that straight to his face one eveing at a local pub, he just looked at me and never said a word! He knew and so did I!
why would I take it to the same guy or somebody else for that matter who would just try and sucker another customer.
It runs good enought to make money as a work truck,but it could be better
All I asked from the forum is if anybody could help, not tell me that I should have BROUGHT IT BACK? (that makes me wonder)
Doesn't it say in my post that I realized that something was wrong when I started it?
But it is carbed right? could have been a stuck choke plate that's why I drove off!
And since it is carbed I figured I might give it a shot at the repair. Most carb repairs really are pretty easy.
I tried to fix it off and on for the 12 years you speak of and had no luck in getting it perfect, close but not perfect.
Trust me I can read a manual, disconnect and plug the SCC, unplug the air switching valve, disconnect and plug the canister purge solenoid, and know that my truck doesn't have a TPS, or an IAC
It never has ran the same since I dropped it off at that home shop in '94, and I told the mechanic that straight to his face one eveing at a local pub, he just looked at me and never said a word! He knew and so did I!
why would I take it to the same guy or somebody else for that matter who would just try and sucker another customer.
It runs good enought to make money as a work truck,but it could be better
All I asked from the forum is if anybody could help, not tell me that I should have BROUGHT IT BACK? (that makes me wonder)
All Star
Funny you say this about a transmission and a mechanic. I got lazy and had no time. Took my truck in to get the transmission done. Everything worked fine when it went in (except the transmission). I got it back, transmission dipstick was slaughtered and inspection plate gone. On top of my Hazard, turn signals and brake lights not working. In the similar case. I'd say blame the mechanic. No offense to mechanics. I am still overly po'ed and don't look forward to court.
check your vacuum hoses on the older one there is a vacuum hose that gos to the auto trans if it connected see if its wet inside if you find no hose then that could be your problem. you said you rebilt the carb so i'm guessing you know how to set it up so just dubble check all the vac hoses and try to find out if your missing some or if the not connected.
Record Breaker
I assume that in order to pull the trans, the exhaust had to be pulled also. It is possible that you may have a plugged catalytic converter, All the rust flakes into the converter may be it. Often they have a real loud weezing--? sound. Just a thought. Pull it, turn it up on end and see if a lot of rust falls out of the inlet end to the converter, then tap on it gently with a rubber mallet.