My Dodge Dakota just started this last night. When I start it, it won't idle it stalls right out. If I start it and raise the RPMs and put it in drive and move it a few feet it returns to normal and idles fine, at all stops, putting it in park, etc. After I shut it off and start it again the problem returns.

 

Welcome to DF!

Clean the throttle body, pay careful attention to the IAC well. (Idle Air Control) leave the battery disconnected while you play with it. (best to take it off to clean it.)

 

I an not sure if it could be that because it start over night. Perfect on Wednesday and Thursday it happened. About a week ago I drove through a huge puddle of water (not very slow) then the next day I noticed that the truck was not shifting properly and had slow take off and would not kick down gear when putting the pedal to the metal. I realized that it seemed that it wasn't going into first gear, also my check engine light came on. I had the codes read and they came back as Shift position solenoid and Torque converter. I got under the truck and I cleaned the connection on the shift position solenoid but could not find the Torque converter connection. However after doing this I was back to normal and the check engine light went out. Now this problem showed up. The truck runs like a beast though and after I drive it a few feet the idle is normal again.

 

What year is your Dakota?

 

Its a '98 SLT, I purchased it a year ago just for around the house work. The previous owner did some BEEFING up on it. I believe he put gears in the rear end heavy duty leaf springs, air conditioning bypass pulley, some kind of ignition module. The truck with a 6 cylinder can come of the line stronger then a lot of 8 cylinder cars. I just have this stupid problem.

 

Moved to the correct section.

 

What does "Moved to correct section" mean?

 

I moved your thread to the correct technical section for the year of your truck so others with the same year range can offer help.

 

I am sorry I am new to this forum and all the help is appreciated.
Thanks again

 

all of the transmission connections go through the single harness on the trans. TCC and solenoids all go together.

What you identify is slightly confusing to me because it's 100% polar opposite of a crank position sensor failure (usually runs fine in park/neutral and stalls in gear). Fact that it goes away after going into gear is also bothersome.

Do this. Have you checked the transmission fluid and tried re-seating the connector on the trans? I have a hypothesis that is extremely unlikely, but let's cover the basics first.