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dadrobison
Dodge Dakota
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10/23/2007
11:04:16

Subject: quick question...
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I'm lookin at buying a 93 dakota that was running when the guy drove it in to work. He says he hit a bump in the road, and it coughed, sputtered, and died. He's no mechanic, but his son is, and he looked at it as good as he could over the weekend with his son on the phone, and cant get it going. The symptoms I've gathered are he has spark, it cranks, but doesnt seem to fire, although like I said it has spark. and I'm sure he would have checked for fuel....so I'm thinking timing chain? I'm more of a smaller foreign engine guy myself, with timing belts, and some engines are "interference" wich destroys the valves if the belt goes. Do dakotas (the V6) mess up the valves if the timing chain goes?
surely its worth 200-300 huh? he's ready to scrap it, and I think at worst, I could use the transmission for my jeep?



mike stager
Dodge Dakota
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10/23/2007
12:51:48

RE: quick question...
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If it hit a bump in the road and will no longer start, then I'd start with listening for the fuel pump/running a fuel pressure test. Beyond that, it would be a run down of checking for loose connections/damage. I mean, what kind of bump in the road did he hit? Was it a pot hole? A dead deer?

Usually for something to just die, you've either got mechanical damage ( timing chain ) or something electrical isn't working. From my experience, electrical usually just 'fails', mechanical will give you symptoms before it does.

Worth the money? If you plan to scrap it out yourself for parts or want to track down the problem yourself, sure. If you are a kid looking for a cheap first car...probably not.



dakota49
Dodge Dakota
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10/25/2007
18:38:40

RE: quick question...
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dadrobison, there are a lot of questions there.
to check for the timing chain bring up the number 1 cly. on compression and remove the dist. cap and see if it points to the #1 spark plug, if it doesn't, then it has jumped time, if it pointing to the #1 plug then that part is good. If it jumped time while driving, it COULD cause problems, but not likely. the easist way to see if there are any problems, remove a valve cover and check to see if the push rods are bent. If so, then you would have a lot of problems to deal with.
As for the trans working in you Jeep, I don't think it would unless its a manual, then it might work, but not real sure on that.
Good Luck
Dakota49
1988 3.9 4X4 5speed




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