New Here, Need Help With 1998 Dakota V6
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New Here, Need Help With 1998 Dakota V6
Hi all,
I recently acquired an interesting bit of Dakota history: a stolen 1998 Dakota SLT 3.9 V6. The truck has been through a lot and I'm attempting to rescue it as much as I can. The truck has a lot of electrical problems due to thieves hotwiring the truck. However, as it currently sits, it runs well but strangely. The odometer reads only 74,xxx miles so engine problems are most likely minimal. Here's the rundown and what I need help with:
Junction box. I've already downloaded the FSM thanks to the sticky, and have looked over the wiring diagrams. A junction box pulled out of a similar model Durango (this is what was told to me, I cannot be sure) was very poorly wired up with some very unprofessional wire splices. At first, I thought I'd be able to reuse that but I've scrapped that idea and am now on the prowl for another one from a 1998 Dakota with the V6. First question: should I do this or get the Durango (presumably) one to work? I can provide pictures of the mess that is the wiring job if needed. This is the main thing that needs to be straightened out.
Odd problems (most of which I think are from the junction box wire nest but I'm gonna throw them out here just in case):
- Speedometer not working
- Turning on lights cause weird issues, gauges stop working, security light comes on, radio cycles on an off intermittently
- Truck will start then die sometimes (revving does not help, it feels like fuel is cut or something of that nature)
- Engine seems really slow? I have spark plugs to put in it as well as some other simple things to do and I hope it picks up, but is it just not a very powerful engine? Also, how many gears in the tranny (automatic, obviously)? Feels like there are only two but that may just be how the truck is. My driveway is really steep (maybe near or over 20 degrees) and it barely can make it up. Normal?
I feel like that's not all but all I can think of for now. I hail from the VWVortex forums so I'm not familiar with American cars, so bear with me. I'm not an expert mechanic either but I know my way around a car. That being said, as far as the junction box goes, should I be concerned about attempting this myself? Or if I can at least sort all the wiring out should I be okay? Since this is a 1998 I assume that I shouldn't run into many problems as long as I connect all the wires correctly.
Thanks for all your help guys! I look forward to becoming a member here. :
PS - Pictures will follow shortly because EVERYONE loves pictures!
I recently acquired an interesting bit of Dakota history: a stolen 1998 Dakota SLT 3.9 V6. The truck has been through a lot and I'm attempting to rescue it as much as I can. The truck has a lot of electrical problems due to thieves hotwiring the truck. However, as it currently sits, it runs well but strangely. The odometer reads only 74,xxx miles so engine problems are most likely minimal. Here's the rundown and what I need help with:
Junction box. I've already downloaded the FSM thanks to the sticky, and have looked over the wiring diagrams. A junction box pulled out of a similar model Durango (this is what was told to me, I cannot be sure) was very poorly wired up with some very unprofessional wire splices. At first, I thought I'd be able to reuse that but I've scrapped that idea and am now on the prowl for another one from a 1998 Dakota with the V6. First question: should I do this or get the Durango (presumably) one to work? I can provide pictures of the mess that is the wiring job if needed. This is the main thing that needs to be straightened out.
Odd problems (most of which I think are from the junction box wire nest but I'm gonna throw them out here just in case):
- Speedometer not working
- Turning on lights cause weird issues, gauges stop working, security light comes on, radio cycles on an off intermittently
- Truck will start then die sometimes (revving does not help, it feels like fuel is cut or something of that nature)
- Engine seems really slow? I have spark plugs to put in it as well as some other simple things to do and I hope it picks up, but is it just not a very powerful engine? Also, how many gears in the tranny (automatic, obviously)? Feels like there are only two but that may just be how the truck is. My driveway is really steep (maybe near or over 20 degrees) and it barely can make it up. Normal?
I feel like that's not all but all I can think of for now. I hail from the VWVortex forums so I'm not familiar with American cars, so bear with me. I'm not an expert mechanic either but I know my way around a car. That being said, as far as the junction box goes, should I be concerned about attempting this myself? Or if I can at least sort all the wiring out should I be okay? Since this is a 1998 I assume that I shouldn't run into many problems as long as I connect all the wires correctly.
Thanks for all your help guys! I look forward to becoming a member here. :
PS - Pictures will follow shortly because EVERYONE loves pictures!
Thread Starter
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Registered User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 6
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Good to know. I'm leaning towards just replacing the whole box and starting fresh, upon further inspection whoever wired this has wires going nowhere and the like everywhere... If I can get another junction box anything I should watch out for in particular? Or am I going to be good to go just to connect everything up?
