Well, David everytime I get in my truck, it feels older! The transmission is
really erratic.Sometimes it shifts great, then sometimes it won't shift
hardly at all.The engine seems to be getting looser as time goes on.It just
doesn't feel the same as it did.It doesn't seem like it has the torque, or
pull between about 400 rpm and 1800 rpm like it used to.The oil emulsion in
the filler neck thing really bothers me,although I don't seem to have it
near as bad as some.The rearend has a little slack in it,as all of them that
I've seen do. It just bothers me when I can rarely shift without a clunk.I
have a few minor imperfections in the paint, but I couldn't help that.The
undercarriage is cleaner than when I picked it up.The engine is cleaner than
when I picked it up,as well is the interior.I share the same idea that you
do-that at anytime my truck has to be ready to make a run wherever I need to
go.I run back and forth to Houston,which is 700 miles,one way,ends being a
1500 mile round trip. I am crazy about the maintenance on my truck and drive
it very easily.I have gotten on it a little in the past when I get mad and
it isn't running right anyway.For the first 10,000 miles, the motor had
never seen 2500 rpm.I never drive it until the temp gauge is all the way up
where it runs. I check all the fluids everyday before I drive it,and never
have I let any of them get even close to "not full". I have had it to 70 mph
once for about 3 minutes, and I haven't done it again. I drove it to Paducah
Kentucky on friday.It was a 4 hr trip up and I drove 45mph@1600 rpms for
about 80% of the time.I never got over 45.As I went on, when I had to make a
stop, it got harder and harder to shift each time. On the return trip, the
transmission was giving me problems again.It would not take 2nd about half
the time,and it got stuck in 5the/overdrive once so bad that I had to take
both hands and jerk the stick really hard to get it out.Every time it would
take second, it would hit the first synchro ring, then it would hit the gear
and grind just a hair before it fell in.Keep in mind that I never shut the
engine down on this whole trip.I love my truck and like to think it will go
200,000+, but It doesn't sound or feel good! The way it's running right now,
I would expect at about 15,000 miles the transmission will be completely out
of it.If I get lucky and the factory shitty cooling system doesn't let the
motor get too hot,I think I might get 60,000 or so out of the engine.The
rearend? It'll probably last until the constant banging of the backlash slap
tears up the gears or carrier(30,40K??).I am somewhat disappointed in the
truck,but I still love it.I'll just have to deal with all the crap it gives
me to keep it on the road.I used to give my friend crap about how he takes
care of his '99 silverado until I got mine.Now it kind of makes me mad
because he changes his oil by the "message center" recommendation(usually
7500 miles),he's never changed any other fluids and he is on his truck
constantly,racing it,ripping 2ends and 3rd/Drive. His truck is so much
tighter than mine is that it's not even funny! His truck has 42,XXX on it
and mine has 11,400. It is somewhat embarrassing, but I've learned to live
with it. I think I've typed long enough, so let me know what you think.By
the way, what year is your truck? how is it equipped? Let me know,
Will Coughlin willcoughlin@hotmail.com
'00 reg.cab,2wd,4.7L/hd5-spd/3.92sg(9.25")
http://www.geocities.com/willcoughlin/index.html
----Original Message Follows----
From: DRD892@aol.com
Reply-To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
Subject: Re: DML: oil filter, Attn: Will
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2001 05:08:28 EST
Good morning Will,
Read your message sent at 02:51AM this morning. I see I'm not the only
one that's up weird hours or has a passion for Dakota maintenance.
I'm a bit confused on some of your comments. Your signature line
indicates you have a 2000 Dakota 4.7l 5-speed. You obviously take
excellent care of it. What is going on with your Dakota that makes you
think you cannot get a long service life out of it? It should be the
reverse.
So far, my "plan" is working just fine. At 88,000 miles it is in better
condition
than new (minus the necessary stone hits and a few small scratches).
The way I judge the condition of my Dakota is this:
Every time I turn the key in the ignition, the truck must be ready to travel
two miles to the store, 19 miles to work, 1,200 miles to Oklahoma or
1,800 miles to Houston. No exceptions. This is what drives my personal
maintenance schedule.
Your 2K Dakota should be at least as good as mine if not better.
I just looked outside (again). Snow, Ice and Water in abundance. Ech!
I got to move south.
David R.
Sterling Heights
Michigan
drd892@aol.com
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