Hi All.

New owner of 2001 Dakota Quad Cab 4X4 4.7L 5-speed manual.

Truck is in pretty great shape. Gonna park it in the garage for a few weeks and get all the little things sorted, mainly take care of all the routing maintenance stuff at once, and clean up some interior cosmetic stuff (needed a detail).

Hope it's okay to have this thread here to just ask some random questions as I go through it over the weeks.

 

I got a Hanes manual on the way. In the meantime I'm having a hard time figuring out what this little wire is for. Part of the climate control wiring harness but previous owner had it routed through this hole.

 

That wire is for a courtesy light, to light up the cupholders. Being a rare twin stick dakota, you of course don't have cup holders. Unless what I think is the transfercase shifter is a cup holder :P

 

I'm seeing a lot of threads and searches related to driveline issues or driveshaft issues. What's up with that? Why are driveline problems common and what can I check for as a new Dakota owner?

I'm going to be replacing leaf springs, shackles, and bolts and want to tackle other things while I'm under there.

Thanks.

 

I would drive it for a while then ascertain what things need replacing, versus just replacing cause it's an old truck (unless you're already sure those things are needed). Trust and believe you will find those.

You've probably got old riveted ball joints and worn endlinks up front. Those go bad faster than anything in the rear. Drive on some bad roads and speed bumps... the front end should feel solid with no crunching/clunking. Rock the steering wheel and there shouldn't be much play in the tie rods.

On that wire.... I have no such light on my SLT (Automatic) but the hole does look factory, so I don't doubt Magnethead.

 

Hi.
PO had installed a 'cold air' intake, which I removed. I want to install an OEM air filter housing and resonator.

I picked one up from a salvage yard (was from a 4.7L 2nd gen dakota but I don't know what year) and the resonator box does not bolt onto my intake manifold. One of the mounting tabs is different. Any ideas why? I search around the web and it seems like it could be some differece between Durango and Dakota, but again, I pulled it off a 2nd gen Dakota.





For now, I plan to look through the salvage yard again, or order one from ebay. Just wanted to know what I missed. Thanks.

 

Here is one with the correct mount. https://www.ebay.com/itm/165060144471 Didn't know there were different styles. Most of the listings on ebay show the one you have now.

 

Anyone know how to remove this smaller upholstery panel here? I have the whole door panel off but I can't figure out how to remove just this small section. I'm starting to pry but I don't want to break anything,

 

It might be glued on

 

They are glued on. The only way to remove it is destructive. Are you trying to replace the cloth?