Hi!
I have a Dakota 1997 3.9L 4x4. The engine bay was cought into fire while driving and after the fire was put out there was quite a lot of damage on the engine, brakes and electricity wiring.

I must add that I am coming from Slovenia and you can't find a Dakota here on the street, so the spare parts are quite a problem to get here.

I have found a Dakota 2001 with 3.9L 2WD in the neighbour country, which was crashed on the side.

I have bought it as a donor car - it was normally driveable. I decided to swap everything from 2001 to 1997 truck, so I have swaped complete electronics, complete cables, cabine wiring with dashboard, engine wiring, computer and so on..

The only thing that did not fit was the transmission, (2WD to 4WD), so I have combined the two. From 2001 is now the front end of transmission with the pump and lever for shifting and transmission solenoid. And the second part of transmission and a transfer case is from the 1997.

First question I have is.. speed sensor on the transmission in 2001 and 2WD is located at the end of transmission and it has 2 pin connector and on the 1997 4WD is located at the transfer case and it has 3 pin connector. Is it possible to wire that 3 pin speed sensor that would work like 2 pin speed sensor?

I was reading that speed sensor could be the issue that transmission is not shifting? Could be anything else?

Thank you!

 

Does your speedometer work? On the 01, the speed sensor on the t-case tail housing wasn't used at all. PCM got it's cue about speed from the sensor on top of the rear diff.

Also, the electronics in the trans changed in 00.... But, if you are using the 01 electronics, shouldn't be an issue.

 

No sir, speedometer is not working. I taught that it is becouse of the front speed sensor..

Yes, all wiring was transfered from 2001, computers and all..

 

VSS in the T-case went away in 98. Computer gets its cue for speed from the rear wheel speed sensor. (on top of the rear diff.) Is the sensor plugged in?? Are you getting ABS/Brake lights on in the dash as well?

 

ABS light is ON also. Transmission is shifting based on speed that he reads? I have red somwhere that the oil pressure could do that problem also?

 

Is the rear harness (tail lights, etc, including that sensor...) plugged in?

 

Hi!
Yes, the rear wiring is pluged, at the beginning truck didnt want to start and then I realised that I would need a gasoline pump active if I want to turn it on 😅
I have checked the rear speed sensor and there was no resistance on it. So I have opened it and repair it and now the speedometer works and the truck started shifting. The only thing is that it shifts quite late in my opinion. I guess that is halpening because of the repaired sensor?

In what RPM should the truck usually **** from first to second gear?

Thank you!

 

When it shifts depends greatly on how hard you are pressing the go pedal. On my truck, on easy acceleration, the tach rarely goes much above 2K RPM...... You may have your throttle valve cable adjusted too tight, making the trans think you are stepping on the gas harder than you actually are. That's the first thing I would check.

 

Hello again,

I am sorry for my late feedback. So.. for now I am experiencing two troubles.. one is that I don't have brakes on the rear side, I have changed the rear cylinders and it's still the same. I have put apart the front master cylinder and it seems that it does not work good for the rear end (car was staying on the same spot for a year and a half wihout oil in cylinder).

The second problem is still the speedometer.. I have changed the sensor on the back (abs sensor?), and when I start to drive the speedometer works and the car shifts normal, after 20 seconds of driving the speedometer goes to zero and stays there and of course the car shifts to first gear. If I turn off the car and then back on, the problem repeats.

The sensor I got is not original, could that be the problem? Or is there any grounding that could cause this issue?

Thank you!

 

The car for parts.

Both of them put apart


Chasis





Before paint

After paint