44trxfun
Gold Member
\'93 Dodge Dakota \"riddle\"
I have a '93 Dodge Dakota V-6 standard transmission. I bought it new that many years ago. Within a few years, but out of warranty, the fuel gauge stopped working. It did OK to about a half-tank (tank size = 15 gallons), then would drop to zero. I explored having it fixed, but it seemed like it was more trouble than it was worth. So, I've kept track of the mileage and make sure to fill it by 240 miles or so. This has worked relaibly for many years...until recently.
The truck started running roughly over the winter. Starting, especially in cold weather could be (but wasn't necessarily) difficult. Again in cold weather, the heater wouldn't come to temperature (but would in warmer weather). Occassionally it would backfire on starting or while driving. It would lurch periodically going up the hills. So a couple weeks ago I took it to a highly recommended garage close by. They did a tune up and cleaned the injector rails, and it ran fine...for a day.
I took it to town that day. It ran fine for the 12-15 miles I drove it--up hills, through stop & go traffic, etc. After it sat for about an hour at one of my stops, it wouldn't start. The battery was fine. The starter was fine, but it sounded like it wasn't getting fuel. I checked the mileage; it was at about 180 miles. I thought maybe it didn't get set back to zero on the last fill-up, so bought a little gas (between 1 and 2 gallons) and poured it in the tank. Nothing doing. It still wouldn't start. So, I had it towed by flatbed to the garage that worked on it. They went all through it and on a whim put about five more gallons of gas in. They said it started right up. Well I felt like a fool, but that's not uncommon, so I chalked up to experience and moved on. I filled the tank, zeroed the trip meter and thought life was good.
It ran fine for about a week. No problems whatsoever. Then the other morning, with about 140 miles on it, it wouldn't start. It sounded the same as before but just wouldn't start. It sat for most of the day before I started to wonder whether the fuel tank could be rusting or something such that the fuel line was plugged. Just for grins, I rocked the truck back and forth several times. It fired right up. I turned it off, let it sit a few minutes; again it started with no problem.
So, it's great for anti-theft, but this isn't too reliable. I don't know much about fuel tanks. Is it reasonable that it's corroding or something and small pieces are coming off it and blocking intake to the fuel line? Because it seems to run well when it does start, I'm thinking the problem is more of a coincidence with the work done by the garage and that's not really a player, but I don't know.
Does anyone have any ideas about what's happening with my trusted and usually trustworthy Dakota?
I have a '93 Dodge Dakota V-6 standard transmission. I bought it new that many years ago. Within a few years, but out of warranty, the fuel gauge stopped working. It did OK to about a half-tank (tank size = 15 gallons), then would drop to zero. I explored having it fixed, but it seemed like it was more trouble than it was worth. So, I've kept track of the mileage and make sure to fill it by 240 miles or so. This has worked relaibly for many years...until recently.
The truck started running roughly over the winter. Starting, especially in cold weather could be (but wasn't necessarily) difficult. Again in cold weather, the heater wouldn't come to temperature (but would in warmer weather). Occassionally it would backfire on starting or while driving. It would lurch periodically going up the hills. So a couple weeks ago I took it to a highly recommended garage close by. They did a tune up and cleaned the injector rails, and it ran fine...for a day.
I took it to town that day. It ran fine for the 12-15 miles I drove it--up hills, through stop & go traffic, etc. After it sat for about an hour at one of my stops, it wouldn't start. The battery was fine. The starter was fine, but it sounded like it wasn't getting fuel. I checked the mileage; it was at about 180 miles. I thought maybe it didn't get set back to zero on the last fill-up, so bought a little gas (between 1 and 2 gallons) and poured it in the tank. Nothing doing. It still wouldn't start. So, I had it towed by flatbed to the garage that worked on it. They went all through it and on a whim put about five more gallons of gas in. They said it started right up. Well I felt like a fool, but that's not uncommon, so I chalked up to experience and moved on. I filled the tank, zeroed the trip meter and thought life was good.
It ran fine for about a week. No problems whatsoever. Then the other morning, with about 140 miles on it, it wouldn't start. It sounded the same as before but just wouldn't start. It sat for most of the day before I started to wonder whether the fuel tank could be rusting or something such that the fuel line was plugged. Just for grins, I rocked the truck back and forth several times. It fired right up. I turned it off, let it sit a few minutes; again it started with no problem.
So, it's great for anti-theft, but this isn't too reliable. I don't know much about fuel tanks. Is it reasonable that it's corroding or something and small pieces are coming off it and blocking intake to the fuel line? Because it seems to run well when it does start, I'm thinking the problem is more of a coincidence with the work done by the garage and that's not really a player, but I don't know.
Does anyone have any ideas about what's happening with my trusted and usually trustworthy Dakota?
