So, my husband has a 2003 Dakota and one after another he has been having things going out on this truck. Mind you, it was 'fairly' new when he first got it so after almost ten years of non-issue ownership and 146,000 miles, I'm not complaining...too much.

It's just that in the last month though...

1st...the truck started running rough and a code for #5 cylinder came up...he replaced it, but that didn't help the code issue or the way the truck ran. Then someone told him to replace the #5 injector. He did and that solved the code issue and it smoothed out.

2nd...Coolant started leaking out of the upper radiator hose plastic 'T' connector...I guess it had cracked because then it totally broke and the hose on the one side wouldn't stay connected. Bought a new assembly and everything was fine again...until...

3rd...Two days later, truck started heating up when he was coming home from work(an hour drive) and he had to pull over a few times, let it cool down and kept adding more water. Took him two extra hours to get home that night. Found out that it was the water pump that took a crap...bought a new one along with a thermostat and problem solved again...right?

4th...A few days after that, the oil pressure needle went all the way to low and stayed there and the check gauges light came on. Started hearing a lifter clicking too. Checking, he saw that the lifters weren't getting any oil. Bought a new oil pump and when he pulled the oil pan, found that the screen was totally plugged. Cleaned that up, put in the new oil pump, put everything back together again and everything was good.

He took it around the block and it ran fine until halfway then it began to run rough, white smoke coming from the tailpipe. He pulled into the driveway and loosened up the coolant pressure cap. Coolant came pouring out. Now he's talking a blown head gasket.

That was two days ago and this morning, he started it up. No smoke, ran good actually, but then it began to almost stall, came back up to power, almost stall, came back up to power...over and over again. THEN a new code came up...P0172...'fuel system 1/1 rich'.

The biggest problem is that our house is going up for auction the middle of this month and we are going to be losing it. We are leaving this state and we just don't have any more time or money to fix more issues with this truck.

What is a fair price if we sold it 'as is' at this point? I just don't know(neither does he...)

 

If it has a blown head gasket its expensive unless he can pull the heads DIY.

But even with the small problems you have had its still a great truck that's just what happens with any old auto If the heads are ok just spend the extra $$ and get it running good again sounds like you need new O2 sensors or you have a plugged up Cat.

DIY on it as much as you can and get it back to good shape a new auto will cost way more than fixing the Dakota and any used auto could be just as bad or worse at least you know what is going on with this Dakota.

Blown head not good but just sensors or a Cat you are good you will have other things to fix as its an old auto but at least its paid off.

I repeat its paid off

Have you done a cooling system clean and flush sounds like it needs it and stop using cheap oil that's why he had sludge plugging up the oil pickup put some Marvel Mystery Oil in the oil to slowly dissolve the sludge in the engine.

 

Never drive any auto that over heats its very bad for the engine in the old days you could get away with doing this as the engines were very simple and built like tanks but now they are more like racing engines they squeeze all the power they can out of them and make them as light as possible plus they are made out of aluminum that warps very easy an old heavy iron block and heads could take the heat but not the newer engines.

Never drive an over heating engine NEVER not even for 10 minutes or you are looking for an expensive repair bill.

The cooling system is a very important part of the auto keep it in the best shape always second is good oil and filters check the oil levels every month.

 

Well, the blown head gasket could have been caused by the overheating situation.

I recently had to have a broken/siezed spark plug removed. But the local dealer charged 1500 to pull the head take it to a machine shop, have the offending plug removed and reinstall the head. I just dropped it off and picked it up.
Check around for prices.
If you are determined to sell it then you will get much less with a blown head gasket.
Have you priced new trucks?? Or even used ones? HOLY CRAP!!
If it is paid off and in good relatively good condition take it with you and get it fixed when you can. It doesn't cost you anything sitting in the garage for a few weeks or even months but remember that the the longer it sits the harder it is on it.
I understand completely the frustration. But you have to make that determination of when enough is enough.
10 years of trouble free operation is pretty darned good and if he kept it that long he must like it. They don't make midsize trucks anymore. Dakota, Ranger, S10,Colorado all gone. Only if you want to go Nissan or Toyota will you find one (new ones of course).
Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

 

My 98 Dakota ran flawless and had almost (0) problems all I did was the basic oil filters water tune-up parts like clockwork.

Then in 2011 I decided to get down and just start renewing my Dakota replaced all my sensors crawled under it and inspected every inch of her for potential problems then opened the hood and did the same I caught a number of things and headed off what could have been bigger problems if unchecked. Replaced all my vacuum lines cleaned the throttle body pulled the valve cover off and replaced the gasket it as it was leaking some oil.

I just did a lot of small service items and made sure everything was at like new again.

This doesn't mean I can’t or won’t have any problems but it sure gets the odds in my favor that It will be problem free.

Don’t replace things as they break down head them off before they crash and burn think you know I bet it’s time to replace that water pump its 12 years old or wow when did I replace my radiator hoses thermostat and flush out the cooling system last I had better get that done this week.