Low power

Tiny
DODGE1178
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 198,000 MILES
When the engine is warm the rpms seem to sometimes lock at 2000 causing me to not accelerate much at all and when I let off the gas the rpms lower to about 200 and it stalls the engine. But only when the engine is warm. I have new idle sensor distributor cap and rotor and a fresh tune up. When the engine light comes on it shows either multiple misfires or no code at all. And I know my plug wires and plugs are all correct.
Monday, October 21st, 2013 AT 4:26 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
BILL ALBRIGHT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
If your engine is overheating, the engine computer will purposely shift gears rather quickly putting it in a high gear to keep the engine RPM down This helps protect the engine from damage due to overheat condition. It will tend to keep it in overdrive or a high gear even when normally you step down on the accelerator and it would kick down a gear or two. It won't do the normal gear change when running real hot. If you step down far enough it will downshift. Although should be avoided and those symptoms above should alert you of a problem, possibly a major one if you continue to drive it.
Hope this helps. I had experienced this on two trucks a Ranger and a Dakota. Buddy of mine worked at Ford told me this info.
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Wednesday, July 19th, 2017 AT 4:50 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,149 POSTS
Great addition to this thread! Please feel free to help out whenever you are on the site :)

Cheers, Ken
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Thursday, July 20th, 2017 AT 10:34 AM

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