Windshield facia, hard seats, vibration.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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Windshield facia, hard seats, vibration.
I have a 2005 Dakota CC, 4.7, 2 wd., with factory towing package.
Has anyone experienced a vibration noise from the black plastic windshield facia that covers the area from back of hood to lower windshield, covers the wiper actuating arms. This only occurs when driving at interstate speeds at temperatures below 25 degrees.
I know the problem is the 4 black plastic fasteners that hold the facia down. They us a #27 torx bit to remove. Dodge engineers in their infinite wisdom designed a fastener without actual threads, just straight slots, to attach the fastener to a 1/4" x 20 tpi steel stud. After one or two attempted tighenings they will not tighten. Tried using locktite, worked fine until I had to drive to Illinois from Georgia and the expansion and contraction of the plastic due to temperature changes broke the locktite bond.
Stopped at a Dodge dealer in Illinois, they did not stock the part, but advised that a new design was in the mill. They gave me a part number, 6506306AA, but do not know if this is original design or updated. Anybody have a clue? . Asked local dealer and that was like talking to wall.
How many sore butts are out there from the "quality" buckets seats installed by Dodge. After 3 or 4 hours on a trip, the old hips joints sure get sore. The side bolsters on the seat bottom are too hard and place pressure on the hip sockets, mostly the inside on both seats. I think this from not being able to place your legs straight out due to the center console curving out. Anybody had this problem?
FYI - On many of the Dakota forums I have been reading about the on going problem with vibration. When I purchased my Dakota in 02/05 there was vibration. Dealer was very concerned, did not want to loose a sale. It took 18 Goodyear Eagle tires & 9 wheels to produce an acceptable ride.
While the balance problem was going on, I went to a Goodyear tire store and was advised by the store manager that will not handle Dodge/Goodyear tire problems. It is up to the dealer to solve the problem, since Dodge worked out the OEM supplier deal. Great way to provide customer support!
Has anyone noticed if you carry over 100# in the truck bed that the vibration disappears? When we lived up North years ago, my brother-in-law made me 2 steel plates out of 5/16 steel, weigh about 100#, that I put at the back end of a Ford Ranger I had at the time. I added an 1/8" rudder backing to plates for noise reduction. I have since transfered these to my Dakota giving it a smoother ride and better handling balance. I have a plastic bed liner on bottom, steel plates, and then a rubber bed mat. There is no vibration from the plates and the truck sits almost lever front to rear. Just a thought.
Has anyone experienced a vibration noise from the black plastic windshield facia that covers the area from back of hood to lower windshield, covers the wiper actuating arms. This only occurs when driving at interstate speeds at temperatures below 25 degrees.
I know the problem is the 4 black plastic fasteners that hold the facia down. They us a #27 torx bit to remove. Dodge engineers in their infinite wisdom designed a fastener without actual threads, just straight slots, to attach the fastener to a 1/4" x 20 tpi steel stud. After one or two attempted tighenings they will not tighten. Tried using locktite, worked fine until I had to drive to Illinois from Georgia and the expansion and contraction of the plastic due to temperature changes broke the locktite bond.
Stopped at a Dodge dealer in Illinois, they did not stock the part, but advised that a new design was in the mill. They gave me a part number, 6506306AA, but do not know if this is original design or updated. Anybody have a clue? . Asked local dealer and that was like talking to wall.
How many sore butts are out there from the "quality" buckets seats installed by Dodge. After 3 or 4 hours on a trip, the old hips joints sure get sore. The side bolsters on the seat bottom are too hard and place pressure on the hip sockets, mostly the inside on both seats. I think this from not being able to place your legs straight out due to the center console curving out. Anybody had this problem?
FYI - On many of the Dakota forums I have been reading about the on going problem with vibration. When I purchased my Dakota in 02/05 there was vibration. Dealer was very concerned, did not want to loose a sale. It took 18 Goodyear Eagle tires & 9 wheels to produce an acceptable ride.
While the balance problem was going on, I went to a Goodyear tire store and was advised by the store manager that will not handle Dodge/Goodyear tire problems. It is up to the dealer to solve the problem, since Dodge worked out the OEM supplier deal. Great way to provide customer support!
Has anyone noticed if you carry over 100# in the truck bed that the vibration disappears? When we lived up North years ago, my brother-in-law made me 2 steel plates out of 5/16 steel, weigh about 100#, that I put at the back end of a Ford Ranger I had at the time. I added an 1/8" rudder backing to plates for noise reduction. I have since transfered these to my Dakota giving it a smoother ride and better handling balance. I have a plastic bed liner on bottom, steel plates, and then a rubber bed mat. There is no vibration from the plates and the truck sits almost lever front to rear. Just a thought.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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RE: Windshield facia, hard seats, vibration.
havent experienced the virbration of facia your talking about...but if you have a aprt number they should be able to look it up in their systems. a quick search on google turned up :http://www.autobodyclips.net/7_MouldingClips2005.pdf which lists a part number 99-8411 that'll replace that part number
As for the sore butt...sorry to hear you think they are awful...i've never experienced that problem thoguh. I like the seats and think they are rather comfortable actually, after taking a couple of longer trips had no problems. Defiantely must be a personal thing, i dont know if their are any aftermarket seats specifically out for the 05's yet though?
As for the sore butt...sorry to hear you think they are awful...i've never experienced that problem thoguh. I like the seats and think they are rather comfortable actually, after taking a couple of longer trips had no problems. Defiantely must be a personal thing, i dont know if their are any aftermarket seats specifically out for the 05's yet though?
Joined: Mar 2006
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RE: Windshield facia, hard seats, vibration.
Cody, when we first got our Dakota last Nov after a week my butt was killing me and I told my wife we would never be able to take this thing on a long trip, my circulation was cut off and the side bolster was making it so you could not move!! Took it to an apholstery shop and when they looked at it they said the seats where the best they had seen. So for a few more days I suffered with it and then all of a sudden I forgot about it and seemed comfy...we took it on a long trip to Ca and my back did not hurt at all, one leg 12 hrs of freeway. The seats are hard for sure and take some break in and getting used to, but once you do they are very supportive and comfortable. Give them a chance, believe it or not the harder seats are less tiresome than the soft cushy ones for a long trip..........
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Joined: Jan 2006
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RE: Windshield facia, hard seats, vibration.
I would like to get some bucket seats for my truck, I have a soft split bench seat, but I like the idea of more *individual* seats. Also bucket seats seem to hold me in the seat better going around a sharp corner etc.