Check engine light on?

Tiny
DRCK
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 238,000 MILES
My dakota does weird things I tried changing almost every sensor after I replaced the fuel pump new exhaust from the motor back now the check engine light comes on and off. The codes are always different code p0174 (lean engine bank 1or 2) and diffrent injectors ( 1 3 5 6 ) test them and they are good. When the light comes on I get very bad fuel milage and also the truck has no power weather the light is on or off poor take off and acceleration and no pulling power thinking the computer is no good what dou you guys think
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Friday, July 10th, 2009 AT 9:23 PM

60 Replies

Tiny
BEEF99
  • MEMBER
  • 152 POSTS
This could be many things, it could be spark arcing from your plug wires and causing shorts, it could be a faulty plug to one of your sensors, it could also be that you got some dirt or mild rust build up on one of your screens in your injectors(I doubt this one though), it could be a bad fuel pump and the computer is scrambling to make up for the lost output of the fuel pump. More than likely it is in your ignition system somewhere, take it to a dealer and you will find it to be cheaper in the long run for them to diagnose it instead of keeping on replacing random parts. Trust me, you will be glad you did.

Lets use this guide to help find out

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Saturday, July 11th, 2009 AT 3:14 PM
Tiny
DRCK
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I have put it on a scanner and no one can tell me why the light might be gone for a week or an hour. I am a quad mech. So I do under stand what you are saying will the screens in the injectors be clean able?
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Saturday, July 11th, 2009 AT 5:05 PM
Tiny
BEEF99
  • MEMBER
  • 152 POSTS
I have never had to clean the screan on an injector but I do know that this is a random problem with some of the older trucks. Electrical problems are hard to diagnose unless the person looking at it is an expert, it really does sound like an electrical problem either with the ignition system or something that controls the ignition system. Some vehicles have an ignition model on the engines equiped with a distributor and this can be the cause too. If you have a wire that is backing out of a plug or a faulty wire that is almost broken, this will cause it too. A good way to find the electrical problem is too have a person sitting behind the wheel of the truck while you do a shake down on the wiring system and have them tell you immediately when the light comes on, this will help narrow down the location. If it is something like an ignition module, or relay, then what is happening is that after a while it gets too hot and it sets off the idiot lights on your dash and if this is the problem, you will notice that it is gradually getting worse.
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Saturday, July 11th, 2009 AT 7:56 PM
Tiny
DRCK
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks will give that a try
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Monday, July 13th, 2009 AT 9:43 PM
Tiny
RSUMMERS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 DODGE DAKOTA
I have a 2001 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab Pickup with a 3.9L 6Cyl, Automatic transmission, 102,500 miles. I bought the truck about a year ago from a friend in our neighborhood (the original owner).

The truck runs great, but on humid or high moisture days my truck starts throwing PCodes. It will start by throwing a P0152 and then later throws a P1740. The next day the check engine light will turn off and I check the PCodes and they are gone. The truck runs great again! Sometimes if I disconnect the negative post and turn the ignition to on and then off to clear the computer and reconnect the neg. Post the truck runs great again. What is going on? The transmission seems to be strong and will climb a steep hill with no problems (also accelerates up the hill). There is no slippage in the tranny.

This past week on a extremely humid day, the truck disengaged the Overdrive and switched the transmission into 3rd. I limped home and the next day I started the truck and it was fine again.

On days that the temperature is below 45 degrees F, the truck runs like a new truck. I spoke with some of my Dodge Truck friends and they seem to think that I need to pickup some electrical paste and coat the connecters on the computer / wiring harness. I don't understand what is going on. Is my computer getting ready to die? Can you shed some light on this mystery?

Many thanks!
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JUNKYMAGI
  • MEMBER
  • 41 POSTS
How old is the air filter?
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RSUMMERS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The air filter is about 4-6 months old. And is clean.

Last night while driving, my torque converter started slipping. Lots of noise. I made it home and parked the truck on the street. Ten minutes later I fired up the engine and the transmission was working again. I was able to drive the truck up our steep driveway and park it. Oh, no sounds from the torque converter either. It almost sounds like the electronics in the tranny are going out. Could be the Torque Converter Control module and/or the Overdrive Sensor have started to go bad.
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FRED SLOSS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,345 MILES
By replacing the powertrain control module will that fix the problem? If so, were can I buy a PCM for my truck, localy?
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CH112063
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,320 POSTS
You need to call around to any dealer with its 8 digit part number, whether it fixes it or not, I sure hope so, it has an internal failure, they can ship one out to you, ok?
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DEGODUECE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 DODGE DAKOTA
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 101,356 MILES
Light came on so I had it hooked up to scanner, it said 02 censor bank2/1 was bad so I replaced it and reset light light came back on after 200 miles code said slow 02 censor 2/1 but while we had it hooked up all 02 censors were working prop except 2/2 it was working very slow so we changed it and reset light light came back on after 300 miles same reading slow 02 censor 2.1 but scanner shows they are working prop I was told comp mite have to be reprogramed or updated or I mite have to get 02 censor from dealer. Sensors were from carquest can you help
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CH112063
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,320 POSTS
Your advice has been excellent. I can add only one thing. Call your local dealer and speak with them about the situation. If replacing all these sensors and reprogramming is cheap enough, that is the way to go. If you just replace one with a fealer part, the trouble may still exist. Have the dealer give you a price on a complete diagnostic check of the computer and all fuel system components so after it is repaired, it will be their warranty to keep the complete o2 system working right for a good long time as it has until the code. A bad PCM should have shown up before this mileage, and if you put the dealer part in yourself, it may come back at you. Their sensors are designed for their computer(PCM). Ok Joe
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CDSIMPSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 147,000 MILES
Wondering why my engine light comes on and stays on for a couple of months, then one day it will go back off and then again comes back on.

My sensor is good, the fuses are good, and the spark plugs are new.

It says a small leak but where could the leak be?
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Most leaks are so small that you can not see and need to have a special tools to help you and locate them
the use of a smoke machine proven very helpful in detecting all leaks
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARLA1844
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 91,000 MILES
MLI comes on and remains on while driving. Took it in and the did a diagnostic test and said they thought it needed the fuel system serviced and new plugs. So they put 8 new platinum plugs and did a 3 step fuel injection service. I drove it for 5 miles and light came back on. They took it and reset it and light came back on. Now they are suggesting it news new fuel injector, but said to drive the truck for a while to let chemcials run through they put in. Any ideas about the problem would be appreciated. Thanks. Carla
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Go to autozone and have them scan it and bring the codes back here, because I dont think they are telling you everything
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
It sounds, without knowing if you have a distributor, that you have a bad injector in cylinder one, now before doing that I would put new spark plug wires on it if you havent already.(That might have something to do with it). Please respond asap
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LDEXTER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 148,529 MILES
Have a '01 dakota ext cab 4wd with 3.9 my MIL light has come on. Truck runs fine under 40 mph, but once over 40mph MIL starts to flash and truck stalls and has no power. Any ideas? Also my cruise control light comes on when pushed, but I can't set the cruise. Could this be a related problem?
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
Hi:
What you need to do is have the computer scanned to identify what codes are stored. They will direct you to the problem. Most parts stores will do it for free.

Let me know what you find.
Joe
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMIKE990
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
  • 2001 DODGE DAKOTA
Engine Mechanical problem
2001 Dodge Dakota V8 Four Wheel Drive Automatic 90000+ miles

My truck has been idling oddly for some time now. It usualy occurs at low speeds but mostly when stopped or just starting the truck. It used to idle at around 1000rpm but now will jump to about 2000rpm at times. Just recently I replaced the TPS becuase of the check engine light but still have the problem. I see from researching most say there is a vacuum leak. Is that the best bet? If so how do I check?
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
Has the check engine light come on? Also, yes it could be a vacuum leak. Also, check fuel pump pressure.

Let me know what you find.
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:02 PM (Merged)

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