I got my 93 Dakota in a trade last Friday. the guy I got it from said it needed a pinion bearing. I checked it out and found the u joint behind the carrier bearing was, to put it plain, done worn out. No needle bearings or grease. I figured it was an original one. Anyway, I replaced it, vibration gone. Today I was driving it and it shut down. Just like if I turned the key off. Cranked, but no start. My Son came & towed me home. The battery was low after trying to start it, so I put the battery charger on it. It starter right up, but he did swap the "auto shutdown" relay and the A/C relay. I had him swap them back and it started then too. I am wondering if the battery was the culprit? I can't tell how old it is. Maybe I'll put another battery in it. When I got the truck, the guy had the stereo wedged in place by a paperback book. I have $29 invested in the truck now, $16 for the u joint and 13 for the radio install kit.