The engine is 3.9L. For some reason it starts, but when I give it gas there is not much power. It hiccups, like I have to hold the gas. I looked it up and most answers I found say it could be the idle air control valve. I just want some other opinions on what it might be.
It was perfectly fine this morning, and then I went out again in the afternoon to pick someone up and it was acting up.

Thanks

I am new to this site by the way.

 

The IAC valve is the first thing I thought of while reading the description. I just came in from replacing the same part on my Dakota, and it's a simple job. In my case, I pulled it to clean it - and in cleaning it, it fell apart! Thankfully the Dakota isn't my only vehicle. I can see how it can suddenly fail when looking at the pieces in my hand.

 

Oh damn. I tried pulling it to clean it, but I don't have a torx screw driver. I couldn't see the screws and assumed it needed an allen wrench. But that didn't work. Then I found out that it was a torx star head. So annoying. Luckily I tried before going to pick up the iac valve.

Probably would be wiser just to replace it. It's only about 30 bucks. I'll do that tomorrow.

 

Well I replaced the IAC, but still not getting power. The old one was dirty as hell though
.

 

How do you post a new thread by the way? I don't know how I did it the first time.

 

Apparently the guy that sold it to me put something on backwards so the gas gauge reads half full, but is on E. So I put a gallon of gas in it, and it started. Now the problem is that it won't idle.

 

It is best to reset the computer when you replace the iac so it can re-learn the settings for it . The gas gauge sending unit in the tank is notorious for sticking or not reading right , mine does the same thing and the only fix is to replace it , but , you cant buy just the sending unit ,, you have to buy the whole fuel pump assembly to correct the fuel gauge problem ,, so i just keep track of my mileage with the trip odometer and fuel up accordingly untill i can afford a new pump assembly .

 

I reset it yesterday by unhooking the negative battery cable and holding the key for 30 seconds. Is that how to do it? The thing that happened was it ran out of gas. Even though I replaced the iac, that wasn't the initial problem. So I kept trying to start it thinking it was the iac, when in fact all it needed was gas. So I'm thinking it tried to pump fuel that wasn't there and clogged the injector or something.

 

Problem solved. It started this morning so I went to get gas and filled it up. After that I went to change the oil because it was due the end of last month.

Thanks for everyone's help