Really, I was just driving to work , truck running perfect. Shifting perfect.
THEN, I had to stop at a light and WAM - no first gear, truck started to go with of coarse slow takeoff, in 2nd gear. Every time I stopped at a light same thing. What is the deal with that. Could that be maybe a vacume line or a selenoid went bad all of the sudden. Or maybe a short in a harness. Anyone seen this before? (( dakota 4x4 sport 3.9))

I dont know a whole lot about transmissions but you might be able to pull the shifter all the way down to first to see if it will go in that way.

Funny thing - after work that day, I started with the shifter in 1st to see if it actually was in 1st. Every since the truck was back to normal shifting perfect again. I wonder wha caused that to happen. Fluid is clean and at the right level. I will check all the harness connectors. Sometimes they get coroded.

Anyway I have been looking for a dakota with a v8 and I found it. I'm picking it up today. 2001 Blue Ext cab 5.9 in excellent shape. Man the v8 ripps. I bought the v6 thinking I would get better gas milage but from what I read they get about the same as the v8. So I am selling the 99. She was and still is a good truck though. I will miss her, but the new power is amazing.

So it's an R/t? Thats the only thing that came with a 5.9 in extended cab. You should post up some pictures of it.