The check engine light will not go off on my truck..I had the code read and it said it was the coolant temp switch so i replaced it as well as the thermostat. Then i did a soft reset and the light is still on. Is there another coolant switch i dont know about or is there something else i cant do to get this to friggin turn off?

 

Get a code reader and reset it? Find out if there's another code being stored, etc.

 

+1 get a code reader. i bought one a little while ago at kragen for $69. most auto parts stores will let you borrow one too, but they usually make you leave a huge deposit

 

I don't know when they changed this (I would assume in 1997 with the Gen 2) but on the Gen 1 Dakotas there were two engine coolant temperature sensors.
There was one to the left (drivers side) of the upper hose. This one provided an input to the PCM. It had a two-wire connector. There was also one to the right (passenger side) of the upper hose. This provided a direct-input to the temperature gauge. It had a one-wire connector.
The sensors themselves I believe is the same, just where the wires go are differant. So, if you replaced one to the right of the upper hose, you replaced the wrong one. If you replaced on to the left of the upper hose, disregard this.

But I agree on the code reader. Their getting a lot better priced. I'll probably buy one some time.