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rob in ark.
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2003
03:00:04
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 Subject: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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We just bought a 2003 dakota sxt in june. Two days after getting it we started having trouble with it stalling and sputtering when pulling out into traffic. We also have noticed it loosing power while going down the road it also does not seem to want to shift when accelerating when starting out and also when shifting into higher gears. It looses power while going down the road and when going up small inclines. We had an update done on the computer by the dealership. It helped a little on shifting in the lower gears but still have a little trouble. It also is getting very poor gas mileage. Even after the update it has still stalled when pulling out into traffic and going down the street. This is all happening intermitately does not show up on computor. Dealer tested for water in gas ( none found). Said they can tell cylender is missing but does not show on computer so they can not fix it. PLEASE HELP!
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dave c
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2003
15:19:16
|  RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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ok, when you buy a sxt, it is pretty quick na a little ballsy from the factory
the more you drive it, the slower it gets
i used to drive my dad's, when he first got it it was pretty sweet
then i drove it about a year later again and it had nothing, it was a slug
v-6/aautomatics in dakota's that arent a "sport" model are garbage
----my opinion anyway
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IntenseDak39
*GenIII*
7/29/2003
15:52:51
|  RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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what does a "sport" model have to do with it?
1998 Regular Cab V6 Auto
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JakDak
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2003
16:01:46
| RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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SXT, SLT, and Sport are basicly just the different trim levels. If I were you I would drop the truck off at the dealer and do not accept it back untill the problem is fixed. Also demand a loaner car for your troubles since you just bought the truck in June.
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IntenseDak39
*GenIII*
7/29/2003
17:06:52
| RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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i understand it's a trim package.. just wonding why dave thinks it has something to do with the sluggish performance.
"v-6/aautomatics in dakota's that arent a "sport" model are garbage"
those are the same V6's and same aautomatics thats in any other the other dakotas with a V6 aautomatic.
1998 Regular Cab V6 Auto
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Blck SXT
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2003
17:33:19
| RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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Rob If the dealer you brought it from won't fix the problem. Call the DC customer service number in your owners manuel. The is something wrong, and dodge should fix it. Good luck
Dave c As for being a "slug" My 03 SXT CC V6 auto hasn't gotten any slower now than when i brought it 8 months and 10,000 miles ago. and it still has enough balls to dust a 03 RC 4.7 Sport Plus ,on the way home from work today. Of course it could have been that the driver of the RC was barley old enough to be driving and was more worried about try to smoke the tires and impress his passenger
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Jakdak
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2003
18:25:59
| RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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I was just explaining to dave c that the different models do not have anything to do with performance.
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rob in ark.
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2003
01:13:21
|  RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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Ok. We called the dealership in the warrenty book like one of you said. They told me that they talked to the service mgr of the dealership we bought it from and he told them that there was nothing wrong. So we were told to get a second opinion from another dealship. If they give them written documents saying there is something wrong with the truck then they will see about letting us have anotherone. Talked to the other dealership we will be taking it too for a second opinion. They will drive it and see what they think. They said if they don't find the problem then there is nothing they can do either. But they will at least be more courtious to us and not tell us to our face that there is nothing wrong. They will only tell us they did not find the problem. Dealerships service mgr where we bought it from was very rude and kept being wishy washy about our problem. Told me that he did get it to stall then in the same breathe said there was nothing wrong with our truck. Then 10 minutes later he is telling his boss he made a mistake it never stalled on them he thought one of his mechanics said it did. Need Lots Of LUCK on this one don
t we! Thanks guys!
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2003
09:11:58
|  RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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rob, don't know about your state bu in mine if a dealer cannot correct the problem after three tries a lemon law claim can be started by the owner of the vehicle to either correct the problem, get a refund or new vehicle. check out your better business bureau. maybe they can help. or call the area dodge service center.
GOOD LUCK!
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J and J Auto
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2003
09:41:44
| RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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Yes the new Lemon Law is 3 times for the same
problem and they have to buy it back for the exact
price you paid.
I had 2 lemons Chrysler bought back, a 1994 dakota
2 wheel sport with computer probs they could not
solve I just got another Dak
and a 2002 Ram 1500 4X4 with lots of electrical probs. Now have a new hemi truck to replace the
ram.
Some dealers will give you lots of crap that is
why I do not deal with the local dealer anymore,
I drive 60 miles to Mishagain to do my business.
We just got 3 new vehicles from them
2004 intrepid
2003 Hemi
2003 Durango
The differance between the 2 dealerships is like
night and day.
Larry
J&J Auto
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robinark
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2003
13:22:14
|  RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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We were told about the lemon law and have the paper work to get it started. Was hoping we could avoid it because we heard it is a long process. And we have to use the truck to get back and forth to our jobs around the USA. How long did it take for you to get yours done when you filed? We will get ours in the mail today.
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Bailey
Dodge Dakota
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6/24/2004
11:49:47
| RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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The 3.9 is not a bad truck with the 5spd. I mean if you are looking to get V-8 type performance you are going to have to do mods. From what I have seen the v-8 TB is one of the easiest and best modifications you can do. I have been a hardcore Toy fan forever and have just purchased my first Dakota 2003 SXT, 3:92gears 5spd. So far no compalaints, excpet for the brakes when cold... they make noise in reverse seems to be common. I think the rotor problem has been solved with the 4 disc brake system. I do have a question anyone had the UP balljoint problem yet with the 2003 models? But you can't beat the look or base performance of the Dakota.
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04SXT
Dodge Dakota
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6/25/2004
03:17:57
| RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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For dealing the the BBB, the DC customer service center should be able to provide you with a special phone number just for auto's, ask them for the BBB Autoline number. They probably wont (and legally can't) tell you what the lemon law is for your state, legal advice has to come from an attorney. However you should be able to contact your state attorney general for info on the lemon law for your state. This is one of the things I used to do for GM. If I remember, all but 1 state (one of the Dakotas, actually) had a lemon law. They all vary from state to state, so go to the state directly.
When you go to them, have all your ducks lined up in a row, all your service records, dates, and anything else you can think of that will help. If you go through an arbitration process and you don't bring up a service that was performed, DC wont do it for you. Its been several years since I worked for GM, so things may have changed. Hope this helps..
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daknblk
Dodge Dakota
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6/25/2004
10:58:20
| RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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Bailey,
Regarding ball joints in the 03... yes.
Driving home from work yesterday I started hearing a horrible "squeak, squeak, squeak" from my front end on every little bump. Checked it out when I got home(its only a 3 mile commute- otherwise I would have pulled over) The boot on the passenger side upper ball joint just didn't look right- folded over in the middle. Felt around in there...the boot is actually split open. (maybe this is DC's answer for zerks- just cut the boot open so you can grease them!) Not the typical ball joint problem, but a problem nonetheless.
BTW, this is an 03CC 2wd w/ 4800 miles.
Now I have to decide if I want to bring it to the dealer and get it replaced with OEM parts under warranty, or just get a full set(upper/lower)of moogs, do both sides myself and be done with it.
I don't know if the '03 ball joints are any different from previous years. Checked on rockauto.com and found that they don't list moogs for the '03, they just list the control arm & ball joint assembly. However, the part # for this assembly is the same as for the '00-'02 Daks, so I'm guessing that they are the same. Can anyone confirm this?
Bottom line, if there is one here, I love this truck...there's just several parts that I'm not very fond of! Of course, those can, and will, be replaced.
Anyway, sorry for the long post :[
John
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Bailey
Dodge Dakota
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6/25/2004
13:21:48
| RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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daknblk,
I have looked as well for the Moog aftermarket. I too have not found anything that shows a part number for the 03 Dak. I heard a pop when I was turning the other day as was like 'crap' since I have only 7,000mi. I jacked up the lower control arm on each side and tried to see if the wheel had any play and there was none, so I am not thinknig it's the ball joints now...any suggestions?? that is the proper way to check joints correct?
Bailey
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04SXT
Dodge Dakota
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6/25/2004
23:37:25
| RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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Several years ago, Moog was a great company that did a lot of R&D. They came up with solutions to common problems for all kinds of vehicles. They would send out their own service bulletins with part numbers and all that.
Since then they were bought by Federal Mogul,mainly for the name and the reputation. FM dumped all the research folks and integrated them with their own line of parts. So the moog of 5-10 years ago is not the Moog we have today. Federal Mogul went on a buying spree about five years ago. Their stock tanked, they laid off workers and gave their president millions of dollars for screwing it all up as they kicked him out the door.
Now, I've been out of the auto industry for a few years now and maybe they have changed. I sure hope to see Moog return to their former status. If anyone has more current info please share it.
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Chris
Dodge Dakota
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6/26/2004
07:23:29
| RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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I had the same thing with my 2000 nothing was working right it would not run one day the next it would not shift nothing but a lemon i had 4 efi put on the truck 11 tb's 5 tps 2 tranys 2 drive shafts and to rear end's new heads you name it thay did it i drove about 100,000 km that yr and i put 32,000 on my truck i had a rental for the other 68,000 km every week i had to bring the thing in for somthing but it took me almost a yr to get them to take it back but that truck is no more i sold it back to the deler on a sat and on the thursday i f@#$ed the truck up so thay only gave me what a used truck would cost so i got F@#$ on that big time but get rid of the truck ASAP so you dont do what i did good luck with it.
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hey baily
Dodge Dakota
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6/26/2004
08:33:45
| RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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that is NOT the way to check ball joints, do it this way:
jack up front end getting all weight off tires
remove tires
get a large pair of pliers and a pry bar
put the pliers on both ends of the joint and squeeze, see any movement?
use prybar and try to GENTLY pry joint apart, see any movement?
if total movement together and/or apart totals 1/16th inch, replace joints.
the tire wiggle test checks for horizontal wear but most joints wear out verticle. it will however tell you if something may be worn in the steering parts.
the "POP" you heard was prolly rust in the joint binding and un binding the joint, sorta what you here when busting a bolt loose.
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Bailey
Dodge Dakota
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6/28/2004
10:19:21
|  RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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Thanks I will do that. Question about your post where is the point to elevate do you still want to jack up on the lower control arm? Another question do all V6 SXT's have the 3:92 rear ends? Or do some come with the 3:55's. I have the towing package and was wondering if the 3:92's were standard or optional with different packages. Thanks
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dave c
Dodge Dakota
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6/28/2004
13:22:23
| RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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My ass was sucking wind with that load of crapola
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jared
Dodge Dakota
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6/28/2004
21:39:14
| RE: 2003 6 cyl dakota sxt
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I have an 03 sxt with a 5 spd. mine has 3.55 gears.
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