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BklynDodger
Dodge Dakota
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6/12/2003
21:57:12

Subject: Questions about...
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I've been reading these forums for about 3 months and now and I finally have a post/question for you guys. I'm not a gearhead or mechanic, just a plain driver with basic/decent knowledge of cars and engines. I started working for a company about 1 year ago and they supplied me with a company car. A 2001 Dodge Dakota Sport 4x4 Club Cab with the 4.7L V8 @60,000+ miles(highway miles) and counting. The truck is great, I fell in love with it ever since they gave it to me. It even came with a noisy exaust that sounds really nice.

First off the problems:
Ever since I got it...
1. The power steering started making funny noises(which what I hear from my boss is the second time it happens)
2. One of the fog lights melted(which were hardly ever used by me).
3. The transmission sometimes jumps or kicks.
4. Sometimes when shifting into reverse, it acts like its in Drive(could be the same problem as 3 tho), once in a while when shifting into reverse the reverse just stops or dies out.
5. When driving in the highway the back feels like it wants to spin out on me(especially on NYC highways on heavy truck routes, on NJ/CT highways it is more stable).
6. The fan clutch or whatever its called got stuck on me one day and it just kept blowing and blowing. A real loud fan sound from the engine on top of the exaust noise. It kinda sounded like two engines going at it.

Now most of these problems were fixed by my company's mechanic. But some feel like they're coming back. I just want to know if this is normal wear and tear for a Dakota or maybe this Dakota might be a little screwy..? I plan of getting a Dakota or the new Ram 1500 of my own and I'm just curious about these rugged dodge's.
Any info/feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Now what I love about the truck:
1. Rugged look
2. Power 4.7L V8
3. Engine/Exaust Sound
4. Decent Space in the interior
5. Decent stereo CD/Tape player (Infinity)
6. My girl and her girlfriends love it!
7. Everthing else
8. I had this guy rear end me the other day with a Honda Accord. He wrecked the front of his car pretty bad. The truck, barely a scratch. He went under the back bumper almost completely. I feel a little safer now in it. Oh yeah, the guy was okay. Of course I was too.

Regards,
Brooklyn Dodger



BklynDodger
Dodge Dakota
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6/13/2003
20:51:43

RE: Questions about...
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Thanks to everyone for their wonderful comments. I really appreciated. Again thanks.

The "Brooklyn Dodger"



B. Franklin
Dodge Dakota
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6/13/2003
21:44:27

RE: Questions about...
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Patience is a virtue.



gotanRT
Dodge Dakota
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6/14/2003
00:04:39

RE: Questions about...
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gentlemen...we must now hang together or most assuredly we will all hang separately...



Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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6/15/2003
08:55:46

RE: Questions about...
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Problem #5 - lower your rear tire pressure to 35 - 40 psi. Suspension is too stiff for stock shocks, causing rear to skip around on bumpy turns. Using air pressure to tune spring rates works for NASCAR, it will work for you too.



AndrewM
Dodge Dakota
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6/16/2003
15:58:07

RE: Questions about...
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6. If you have the stock electric fan, you can remove the belt driven clutch fan. Do a search on this forum for a how-to.



JonS
Dodge Dakota
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6/20/2003
16:04:18

RE: Questions about...
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Re: #5 - the stock tires are horrendous... my 2002 Quad cab 5.9 came with the Goodyear Wrangler RT/S in P265/70r16.... not only are they not great tires, but they're only rated at a P level! I just upgraded to the BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A in LT275/70r16, and the improvement is unbelievable.

With the old tires, the truck liked to hop around and would skid out a lot in wet weather; the new tires solved that without a problem.



BklynDodger
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2003
13:33:17

RE: Questions about...
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Thanks for the comments guys...

Two more things I forgot to mention.

7. The brakes are starting to warp again. They were changed about a month ago because they were warping pretty bad. I'm feeling it again. Am I braking too hard for a truck like this or what?

8. It's been rainy here in the tri-state area for months. ONe night it rained for almost 20 hours straight in NY and that next morning I found a small flood on the passenger side floor-mats. Anyone ever seen that one before? My boss told me the cup holder area got flooded on him once before.

All in all I still LOVE! the truck even tho it behaves a little funny. I think I can buy me a better one of my own.

Brooklyn Dodger





Gavin
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2003
14:08:00

RE: Questions about...
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Man you got rear ended by an accord. Just to let you know how strong our trucks are, I got rearended by a drunk guy in a Chevy Avalanch. I was stopped at a stop light, he was going about 15 mph. His front end was screwed. I mean he had head lights popping out all over the place. My truck, just fine, not a scratch, no problems. Strong truck?



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