Hi folks, I'm new to this, a week ago I bought a 01 Dakota, and wondering if I regret it already. It's been three years since I had a vehicle and I've been on a bike. Today, the seat moved all the way back while driving and stayed stuck. And there's a box under the seat that's metal that gets so hot to the touch I burned my fingers on it earlier. Shifting & stalling out is Crazy. And a few other things. Did I make another bad choice as I did in the past on used cars? I REALLY needed this to work, I'm trying to get to my kids in

The '01 Dakota I've had for a week..
Indiana and I'm in the Florida Panhandle. Any and all help is extremely appreciated! Respectfully, Tod.. 850-704-7701.

 

Welcome to DF! Moving this to second gen Dak section for ya. It would help if you told us what engine/trans you have in it.

 

Sounds to me like the seat adjuster switch is stuck in the back position electrically and it's overheating the front/back motor

 

Well at 19 years old any used auto will have a number of problems especially if it was a high end model with all the power windows and seats.

A DIY challenge that's for sure.

 

Since OP probably doesn't have email notifications turned on and hasn't replied, I bit the bullet and sent a text (since, y'know, i like to bludgeon myself like that).

OP has a 3.9/42re. Told him to get the bands adjusted and that they probably need to swap seat electrical switch panels to a known good one to move the seat again. Apparently they found the fuse for the seat and pulled it to keep from melting the motor down.

 

The joys of buying an old used truck and sorting through all the issues. I've got mine pretty well sorted by this point, I hope (knocked on wood). Once we all switch to electric vehicles, car repair will be boring. That day is coming faster than we think. In the near future, they won't have steering wheels either.