I have a 1998 dodge dakota with the 3.9 liter magnum with 138k miles with a 5 speed transmission. The engine light has periodically come on in the past year but has been constantly on for a few months now. Just recently, the engine has acted a bit weird. It is almost like the rev limiter is kicking in. When I shift into first gear, it wont go past 3000rpm or a bit past after the shift light comes on and wont go past 20mph. Then I shift into second gear and same thing occurs except it wont go past 30mph. This continues until I am thru all the gears. It seems like it has lost its *****. Any suggestions or similair situations??

I have not put it on a code machine yet.

theres no loss in gas mileage.

Its almost like playing a video game in the arcade back in the 80's when you had to shift and if you didn't, the car would only go XX mph until you went into the next gear.

open to anything and everything.

 

Bad MAF sensor? Sounds like something has put it in limp mode. Hook it up and pull the code man, could be something easy.

 

there is no maf on that motor

 

Will the dealer do it for nothing? I do not have a portable code machine.

 

Auto Zone to the rescue dude! Go there, they'll pull 'em for nothing.

 

theres an autozone right around the corner....i'll call them to see if i need a special appointment or if i can just show up.

thanks,

lenny

update: no appointment needed....will be going first thing tomorrow.....they did if they are busy, it could be a waiting period. no different than the dealer except the price...

 

Hardly any dealers will pull a code for free - it's usually 30 minutes labor they charge you, even though it takes 2 minutes to get the thing hooked up and pull it.

I monkey around with my cars enough that I bought a Palm pilot and got a copy of Pocketlogger so I can pull codes and do data logging. It's been worth it for me.

 

Crankshaft Position Sensor most likely. Thats what fixed mine when it did that.

 

code P0420....

seems to be a catalytic convertor sensor........bank 1...low effiency cat


only one code showed up.

from what i am reading, it may not be the sensor but could also be 4 other things.
plugs
antifreeze/sensor
o2 sensor
and something else i cant remember

anyone else get this and what was your remedy???

 

I got the same code. Then again my check engine light comes and goes on its own and I have the same truck as you.