Need a little advise. The check engine light on my '03 dakota came on yesterday. I have 38k miles on it. Manual says to take it to the dealer to have it checked out. Can anyone give me some advise?

 

If you don't know what the code is yet then take it to your local Autozone, or almost any auto parts store, and have them read the code for you. They should do it for free. There's really not much you can do without the code because it can be so many different things.

 

Could be the gas cap. Try and remove the rubber ring at the top of the threads on the cap, then put it back on. Reset the engine light by disconnecting the negative on your battery for a minute, then hook up again. Make sure the cap is on, then start er up and see if the light comes back on.
If it doesn't come on immediately or even after a day, that might be the problem. If it comes on right away, something else is up.
Good luck.

 

Go back in to the 2nd gen section and look at the top of the threads. There is a thread on engine codes. Click on it and check which one your truck threw.

 

do the key dance, on, off, on, off, on w/o starting the engine, grab your codes and it will be done saying pDone