Hey all. Been a long time Chevy s10 blazer/gmc jimmy owner. After my last jimmy died got my hands on a 98 Dakota sport with the 2.5 4cylinder and 5 speed stick. It has been abused. Jerry-rigged all over. Just recently had to tap the bottom hole of the thermostat cover because it was stripped and rtv-ed to keep it sealed. I like getting my vehicles as close to original specs as I can. Been chasing out a lot of broken vacuum lines. Not that there are many. But I'm presently at a cunundrum regarding the evap lines. while tightening up the exhaust manifold bolts the large (3/4") line that comes from the evap canister fell down and was sitting on the muffler. When I drove next it burnt it in half. But it didn't seem to be connected to anything to begin with. I have chased out the two smaller lines (the one to the solinoid and the one to the tank) and they are fine. I'm thinking this is just a vent line. If not where the heck does this thing connect since I can not for the life of me find an orphaned connection or port. Gonna do a vacuum check now I've patched the lines and will get back to y'all but would like to know where and if this line connects. Oh I know I HAD a vacuum leak before today. terrible gas milage (roughly 19 mpg) and no power on acceleration especially on hills. Not a newbie to technical issues just to dakotas.

 

Take a look at my Photobucket you may see what you need as I have the 2.5


http://s1076.photobucket.com/user/73js/library/AC%20change%20over?sort=3&page=1


If not I can get a few pic's of anything you need

 

Can you be more specific on that the muffler?? Unless you mean by the exhaust

Shouldn't be anything like that near the muffler must be something added in by the last owner it may be a CCV bypass that I have just been looking at.

Like this?
https://www.hsperformance.com/1/64l-...004-ccv-bypass


Can you post a Pic?

 

I think what you need is this the EVAP hose

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That would appear to be it. I see where it is supposed to mount. And I found that spot on my truck. But the unit is missing. That big hose is still there but the connecting hose is gone. And I think I see the wire connector. And it seems to have been missing for some time. Like I said this truck was abused. Will this adversely affect my performance being missing? And wouldn't it throw a code? My ses light is not on.

edit: And I meant that hose had fallen on the exhaust pipe about 1' down from where it connects to the exhaust manifold.

 

No dash warning light or codes showing the system is not working?

its not essential to the engine in any way its a SMOG device but should be made workable if you can but I would fix other things first

What state are you in do you need SMOG for your autos in that state a SMOG check?

What are your major problems?

 

Nah. rural northern Texas. No emissions tests. If I was still in Houston that'd be a different story. There's mostly cosmetic damage. Needs fender and bumper (both banged up) and a grill. And the driverside tailpipe coming out of the muffler is missing. But since getting the thermostat cover fixed the biggest issue is I need to tighten my emergency brake cable. Brakes work fine but emergency pedal goes all the way to the floor and barely holds. And I can see the cable is loose. After that it has a slight power steering leak. Just a new line. Nothing major. but want to get my power issue figured out. Gonna hook up my vacuum guage tomorrow (forgot it today).

 

Your parking brake problem is probably the back brakes are in need of adjusting I would pull the drums off and give them a good inspection, your rear brake shoes may be worn out also.


You rarely need to adjust the cable

 

That's what I was thinking. And I stopped by autozone. Had a code for the power steering low pressure and one for low vacuum. and one more that could have been the evap. Don't have the numbers with me right now. Will check them later. Gonna give the vacuum lines a good going over when it gets a little warmer.

edit: got em. P0320. That one I will have to investigate. And P1294. That one I figure is the vacuum leaks. Thing is there is no ces light. Think the person that sold it to me took the bulb out. Gonna check. Or maybe these are old codes. Gonna open the dash and check. besides there is something driving me nuts. something like a nut is down in the vent bouncing around when I turn on the fan.

 

To start with I will be up front about the 2.5 it is no power house at all it will just get you were you want to go that’s it. It just lacks power you may never be happy with the 2.5 check the compression if its good think about another auto as the 2.5 is just an engine to get you were you need to go.

If you rebuild it and over bore it as big as you can it still is under powered also the 2.5 was never made for power it’s an economy engine that was never perfected just made functional at best.

My Dakota is the smallest basic Dakota so it’s the lightest Dakota so the 2.5 engine works great for me I have squeezed as much power as possible from the 2.5 but a powerhouse kick @ss Dakota it will never be.

There is a number of modifications that can be done to the 2.5 but going crazy and spending around 1K$ and up is a waste of money for a modest power gain and you will never see much over 24 MPG no matter what as an economy engine it was a failure.

I will say I Love my Dakota 2.5 and all it works for me most comfortable easy to drive truck I have ever owned most repairs are easy and not too hard to do.

Everyone will tell you swap out the 2.5 for a V6 or a V8 if you want power that’s your best bet and best for the $$ spent also but not an easy job to get done.

If power is what you want the 2.5 will never make you happy.

Part of the problem is Dakotas are very heavy compared to a new truck on the market they are very heavy.