Ok here is the deal I have a 1997 Dakota Sport 4x4 with the v8 magnum 5 spd. When I first start her she idles really rough backfires wont hold a steady idle, it will drop the rpms until it almost dies but then the go back up. it bucks really bad if you try and move it but it only does this until it gets up to temp then she drives perfect again. any ideas?

 

try the cap and rotor, look for carbon tracking. go with some autolite 3923's. could be the IAC but you said it doesnt die so that seems ok....

 

i actually just pulled the cap off and found the the left bolt was gone but upon further looking found that it is broke off in the distributor. uuuugggghhhh so i will have to have that removed before i can go any farther with her.

 

i have a kit that is specifically for removing broken off bolts..... not a bad investment. its saved me a few times.

 

If that doesn't fix it it could be the TPS when I first got mine I thought it was just me learning to drive 5 speed but it was really the TPS causing it to idle like crap and buck when driving.

 

Actually my truck looks just like yours. Dont mean to sound like an idiot but what is the TPS?

 

throttle position censor

 

Thanks. I have a feeling this truck is gonna be a very good learning experience for me. i am trying to do all the work myself. Well all that I can anyway.

 

Its very easy.. everything is right infront of you.. not a cluttererd up import that shoves eveything in your way..

you can actually do a tune up on a dakota in less then 15min, try doing that on somthing with the engine turned sideways..

on my old ford ranger i had to take off the whole damn intake manifold to get plugs out.. and it had 8 plugs for a damn 4cyl.. jesus..

anyways..

did you say the bolt on the cap was broken or the distributer bolt was broken? If the bolt holding down the dis is broken your dis can turn causing your fuel sync to be all out of wack and can cause this problem along with TPS, bad o2s, needs a tune up, or crappy gas...

 

its the bolt that holds the cap down on the dis thats broke. ive got some friends that are gonna help me get the bolt out. i have never had a truck give me so many problems and i am just hopin that changin out this cap and rotor will fix what she has goin on.