really sucks about all the problems youve been having. i wont lie i wasnt the biggest dodge fan before i bought my dakota. i really only got it because i was a first time buyer and it was in my price range $13k. i will say it has grown on me and i havent really had many problems with it except for the weird idle that noone can seem to figure out. the only thing that really bugs me about the truck is the gas mileage and the lack of after market support (ie: lift ). but other than that i love this truck, its very sharp looking.

 

I drove my Ram for 12 years, and only had a ball joint failure and radio went out.

My Dakota has been similar, but being a "new" model for '05 I find theres a lot of shabby engineering. I have a lot of little things that bother me like vibrations and noises, but no mechanical failures so far at 60k. knock knock.

I'm still willing to go with Dodge next time, but keeping my options open. They still have the best looking trucks, but like women - it seems the uglier ones give lots less trouble.

 

Phil, I don't know when you did your repairs, but the majority of front end parts, including ball joints are available in the aftermarket for very cheap. F*ck the dealer, they are a rip off. Just because Chrysler isn't making the parts, don't believe them, they are available from other companies.

 

I currently own a 1994 Toyota Pickup with the 3VZE engine. Has around 200k on it. There are some good and bad things about it. Probably like many other brands.

Good:

The rotors have never been off the front. Just replace the pads and roll. No real grooving. No cracking. No warping. There is no reason for this happening on any other vehicle. None. It is reverse engineering like removing lubrication points in suspensions.

No starters, computer, distributor, radiator, transmission, brake, fuel pump, injector, gauge issues. I do mean NONE.

I don't think someone could tear up the manual transmission. It would take some effort.

No suspension work whatsoever.

You turn the key, it cranks and runs. It just does.

Bad:

It's an iron block with aluminum heads. You have different expansion and contraction rates with dissimilar metals.....and therefore, headgasket problems. RESOLVED BY DEALER FOR FREE!

I had a "skip" in it and the check engine light on when I bought it (used-about 139k at the time). The dealer kept it for a month. Did the headgasket recall while there. Got it back. Skip and light. Took it back. Skip gone. Light stayed on for 5 years. No-one could get it out.

Found an independent mechanic/ASE certified & factory trainer for Toyota and Honda. He couldn't get the light to go out. I finally figured it out. Vacuum Modulator in the EGR system.

Light out. Now it has a skip & shudder again. Independent mechanic can't figure it out. Dealer had it for two days and states "we feel it, but have no idea what it is...." Another independent doesn't know what it is.

Runs like vroooom duh, de, duh, duh, duh. No-one can figure it out. Wires, plugs, total EGR system replacement, coolant temperature sensor, VSV's, vacuum hose checks, TPS, on and on and on.....$$$ still skippy.

Uses and/or leaks a good amount of oil. I don't really track it though.

The fan control in the dash is broken. Seems simple enough. NOT. You have to dismantle the whole f!ing interior to remove this one module. So...low speed A/C & heat. If you accidentally touch the control. The fan might quit altogether. It is NOT the resistor at the passenger side fan area.

Replaced all A/C components under hood.

Rear main seal at about 150k. Total clutch redo while in there. I guess that's reasonable routine maintenance.

Buttons have fallen off the radio and window cranks. No biggie I guess. The lights are gone in parts of the dash.

Replaced idler pulley. This actually locked the engine and put it on the hook at about 175k.

The things I hate most about the Toyota Truck.......

Your azz is right on the floor. I mean it really is like riding in a go cart all of the time. It's beyond stupid to have ergonomics like this.

You can't imagine how weak this engine is even when new. There is NO POWER at all. It is a 3.0 liter engine that is often referred to as the "3.SLOW.

The ride is really rough if you have anything but smooth streets.


I recently bought a 1992 Dodge Dakota work truck. Having some problems. See "PCM DEATH" in 1st Generation Dakotas" on this Forum. And it is a work truck. That's what I wanted and need though.

Looks beat, spray bombed white, Reading Tool Bed, and a small hand crane on it. LOVE the hand crane by the way.

V6. 3.9. All the power I could ever want for myself. It's main issue now.....

THE GD THING WON'T RUN! I need 3 things in a work truck. Running engine, transmission, and brakes.

That's it. All the other stuff I don't care much about. I need to roll. This mystery computer failure-no-spark issue is B.S. I'll only tolerate it a couple of weeks. Then she gets a bullet.

And since I've got my rant on-there is no reason for this truck to have a computer or even ONE sensor on it 'cause in the big picture with the MPG it will get CFC's produced if functioning perfectly won't add up to matter vs. an old traditional setup. In short, the "engineers" have designed a finicky chain of events dependent upon one another that will easily break causing a no start situation. For no payoff.

Won't run.
It's the Crank Position Sensor. No...
It's the wire splice to the computer. No...
It's the computer. No....
It's the battery. No....
It's the Hall Effect. No...
It's the fuel pump. No...
It's the Auto Shutdown relay. No...
It's the timing. No...
It's the distributor bushing. No....
It's the timing chain. No....

It's just a mess. A full mechanical and electronic chain where all of the links are weak.

They'd get better results with an old style no computer, no sensor, engine that's well tuned. Have a problem with it? You can have it running in a day & not be on ebay hunting for a f'ing computer that is "remanufactured". WTH does that mean anyway? Pulled from the junkyard and cleaned?

I might just pull the tool bed off the Dakota and put it on the Toyota. Skips some, but always runs. Always.

Sorry about all of the b!tchin. I've had some great and friendly help here in the very short time I've been to this board.

Thanks.

 

i see you got a monday truck too....lol...ranting is good, i'm sure there are plenty on here who could give dodge an earful..i'm happy with mine. best truck i ever had. (and i've had chevy's, fords and nissans, never a taco, but dont want one anyway) currently my truck is giving me fits with a vibration issue that has been isolated to the drivetrain, two places now have not been able to figure it out. I have checked all the typical problem areas (u-joints, wheel bearings, rear end gears) and everything is hunkydoory.....but I love her anyway cause she's just so damn sexy looking....and she loves to scream....cant get that from any other truck out there....nothing sounds like a 4.7 wide open.

 

I reaaaally like the new Dodge 1500 and larger sizes looks and features. They've done some good work on trying to include some exclusive things like the built in tool bed. Good marketing with Sportsmans model and others.The engine designs seem to be good. Hope they've resolved the engine management issues. Most of them from all mfgs. are BS revenue producers to me.

It's right on the edge of shooting them in the foot though. Good code readers and even Iphone or Android apps are coming to do the diagnosing on later models. People won't need the shops $10,000 Sun, Snap-On, Mfg. diagnostic equipment at all. It's coming. Already happening some.

And most would look at the Dakota I have as an end of it's life work truck. That's the way I like it though. Less likely to try and steal the expensive tools out of it.

I would take your vibration for a year if it would just run consistently. Problems with my Toyota.....but it runs. I need to roll for work without doubt.

Sidetrack. Didn't we bail Dodge & GM out a little while ago? Where is our free trucks? I keep checking my driveway.

 

This might be really dumb, but have you concentrated on the tires at all? I've seen out of balance or worn funny tires & rims make weird vibrations arise for no apparent reason.

Even if you didn't do any crazy driving or hit a single pothole or speedbump.

 

Sounds like some folks just have bad luck. My 94 Dakota has 172,000 on it and has had very little go bad in that time span. Replaced one of each fuel pump, radiator, starter, alternator, battery, front sway bar bushing, water pump, and a couple of sensors. Not bad for a 17 year old truck. It has been driven daily.

 

dude you cant blame dodge cause you got a bad truck theres always a bad seed in every batch ive had fords chevys dodge and toyota my last vehical was a dodge stratus 195k and never had 1 prob the ford f-150 was a real pos but i still bought a stang which i blew up have had 6 z28 from yrs 69-85 3 of them were pos now i have my 2011 ram r/t and if i could marry it i would.So in short you got a lemon well thats why dealers make warranties cause 3 out of 10 cars trucks whatever will suck

 

I would suspect the wheels cause sometimes it feels lika a wheel out of balance, but it is accompanied by (i swear) the sounds of birds chirping and clicking/cracking sounds. I have been up down inside and out, wheel bearings check out, u-joints check out, CV joints are good, rear diff fluid is good, even had a compression and leak down check done on the motor just to make sure it was not engine related....not much left so I just drive it. Some days it does not do it at all, others sometimes. Only under acceleration.