I've got a problem with my 99 dakota 3.9 [:@] Every time I start it up it makes a knocking sound and eventually goes away in a few minutes. I was told it was 'piston slap' and it is ok. Every now and then with no warning it will start to do it driving down the highway. When I give it gas, it makes the sound and when I let it coast it stops. Well today as I started driving down the highway, it suddenly started to make that noise, smelled like exhaust and sounded like I dropped my muffler. As soon as it started, 10 minutes later it quit??? I luckily had my camera with me and was able to get a video of it doing it. It was raining but you can hear it over the rain. Does anyone have any ideas or someplace I can begin my search for the problem? Thanks a ton!
http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u...t=P4240067.flv

 

sounds like more of a miss to me... how long since a tune up?

 

it sounds like it could be the top end too. hard to tell from that video though

 

I changed the plugs and all that good stuff back in Oct. Why would it do it off and on??? That is what has me most confused!

 

bad cap/rotor, wire? i cant realy tell from the video...

 

yea bad cap/rotor and or wire(s) could do it i opened a new cap and rotor from the shop and they were bad, caused my truck to misfire like crazy, only mine was actually so bad that you could feel the misfire, changed back to myold cap and rotor and it all works fine so i would try that if i were you

 

kcoop 99 , after watching your vid , you might want to check for timing chain
slappingagainst the case,

 

I could be wrong but it sounded a lot like spark knock to me.

 

that sounded like a loose timing chain. Chrysler didnt think it was important enough to put a tensioner on the timing chain aparently. I would definately have that checked out as soon as possible, eventually you'll bend valves.

 

huh swear that a NI engine....