Hi Wilbur I'm late catching this thread and you may have done this
already. Do a compression check and see if all your cylinders are low
pressure, yet all the same 70 psi for example! If so, your timing chain has
jumped a couple of teeth.
Jim Knox, 91 Dak 318 LA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wilbur" <bwgreen@ocean.otr.usm.edu>
To: <dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 8:48 PM
Subject: Re: DML: replacing timing chain on 1998 dakota 2.5 liter
>
> Ok...well you asked for it. :) Sad story coming.... :(
>
> Was on my way home to Mississippi from Oklahoma...was visiting relatives
> in Oklahoma for the holidays. I had just filled up at a 7-11 in Dallas,
> made it to within a few miles from Terrell, TX when the truck started
> shuddering terribly and the check engine light was a blinking....I
> pulled over in Terrell to check it out....The check engine light was on
> steadily at that point.
>
> Engine would start, but sounded like it was missing on at least 3
> cylinders (thats a bit of an exageration, since I only have 4...but it
> really was shuddering badly), and would not stay running for very long
> without me pressing the gas peddle. There was a smell of gas too...but
> I am not sure if that might not just be from me pressing the gas peddle
> to keep it running. It would try to idle, but it was acting like it is
> missing so badly it couldn't. It will accelerate, but only just barely,
> and still shudder horribly. I really did not want to run it much like
> that if I didn't have to.
>
> Jump ahead to Mississippi...I ended up pulling it back on a car dolly
> after getting my bro to come down to Tx for me. :) We disconnected the
> drive shaft to help prevent wear and tear on the tranny for the journey
> to Miss. Needless to say, the breakdown occurred on Jan 1, when no
> repair shops were open to help me.
>
> Ok I get back, have a GOOD friend drag my poor truck to Autozone and get
> them to pull the codes from the trucks 'puter. Codes PO108, PO112,
> PO301, and PO320 came up (Map sensor voltage too high, air intake sensor
> voltage too low, cylinder 1 misfire, and No crank reference signal at
> PCM were the descriptions). As I mentioned in a previous email, I had
> seen these codes before the first time my timing chain was supposedly
> changed out at near 110,000 miles...Which is why I was thinking this was
> the same culprit as before. After reading this group and talking with
> you guys via email, it really makes me wonder if they (the Dodge
> dealership in my teeny tiny home town) did truly change the timing chain
> at all, or did something else to fix my baby and charged me for timing
> chain work....
>
> Anyway, I have looked for vaccuum leaks but have found none...I may try
> some soapy water to further check the rubber hoses...I have swapped out
> the map sensor and crankshaft position sensor listed above to no
> avail...have also replaced the ignition coil, wires, spark plugs,
> distributor cap and rotor too...nada.
>
> Those were the cheap and easy things I could think of to check first
> before going with the timing chain...other things I thought were maybe
> some gunk got sucked up in the fuel system--bad gas from the 7-11
> maybe...have put some additives in fuel to get rid of any water...but
> maybe it might be sediment in fuel has gotten into the injectors...I
> don't know how to check for that though...
>
> One thing I did notice is that my first set of plugs were soot black
> when I pulled them after getting back to Miss....Then after changing the
> ignition stuff, the second set of plugs were also fairly black after oh,
> say 10 times of starting during changing out various ignition
> components....so it seemed as if fuel was getting there....
>
> My next thing was gonna be popping the timing cover and looking at the
> timing chain at least, but I wanted to be prepared to change it out if
> need be. I had thought I might have a handle on whats wrong...but now I
> am not so sure after talking, via this group, with the people here. A
> good thing of course is that I am learning quite a bit about my truck.
> :) The bad thing is I am freezing my nads off riding my motorcycle in
> to work every morning this last 10 days--30 miles one way :) ....so you
> can see I have incentive to fix my baby as soon as I can.
>
> I rather like working on my truck, but its so much more satisfying when
> I actually fix the problem! LOL. So now, here we are. You know almost
> as much as I do about what the problem might be. Any help and or
> suggestions about what to check or test will be appreciated. Thanks guys.
>
> Wilbur
>
>
>
> Bernd D. Ratsch wrote:
>
> > DRB-III can check it out....but doubt that the PCM went south (haven't
seen
> > too many 2.5L PCM's go bad). What exactly is the truck doing (or not
doing
> > properly)? Also, check the basics first: engine tune, vacuum leaks,
> > corroded or gunked up sensor connections, etc.
> >
> > - Bernd
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
> > [mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net] On Behalf Of Wilbur
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 6:09 PM
> > To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
> > Subject: Re: DML: replacing timing chain on 1998 dakota 2.5 liter
> >
> >
> >
> > Hmmm...makes me wonder somewhat then if my computer (PCM) has gone
> > south....are there any quick tests for that? I guess I always thought
> > if the PCM was dead...it wouldn't run at all...Again, thanks for the
> > information and suggestions. Have a good evening!
> >
> > Wilbur
> >
> >
> > Wilbur wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Thanks guys....Lots of great info here. I will put forth more
> >>research
> >>before buying any parts...Btw, any preference for timing parts if I do
> >>decide to replace them? Should I go Mopar or can what I get from
> >>Autozone or a similar place be as good?
> >>
> >>Wilbur
> >>
> >>
> >>Bernd D. Ratsch wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>There's really no accurate way to check the timing on the Magnum
> >>>engines with conventional tools. Even a scanner will fluctuate on
> >>>ignition timing. The '89 was still in the era where you could check
> >>>timing...but not anymore.
> >>>
> >>>- Bernd
> >>>
> >>>-----Original Message-----
> >>>From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
> >>>[mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net] On Behalf Of
> >>>david.clement@verizon.net
> >>>Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 6:57 AM
> >>>To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
> >>>Subject: Re: DML: replacing timing chain on 1998 dakota 2.5 liter
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>In article <btvts8$emh$1@bent.twistedbits.net>,
> >>>bwgreen@ocean.otr.usm.edu
> >>>(Wilbur) writes:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Hiya Ken,
> >>>>
> >>>>Thanks for replying. :) I got out the trusty timing light and
> >>>>checked it again....I couldn't remember if it had been jumping all
> >>>>over or not and yes, it was bouncing all over....further evidence of
> >>>>timing chain going bad...
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>You can't check the timing like that on new computer controlled
> >>>vehicle, the
> >>>jumping is as likely to be the computer doing it's thing. I am not
> >>>sure of
> >>>the procedure for your engine but my 89 Dakota and other DC products I
> >>>have
> >>>you had to pull the plug on the to the temp sensor while the engine is
> >>>runing to put the system into limp home mode. That is the only way you
> >>>can
> >>>determine the base timing setting.
> >>>
> >>>Do not use those results as a basis for changing the timing chain.
> >>>
> >>>Dave Clement
> >>>99 SLT+ CC 4x4
> >>
> >>
> >
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sun Feb 01 2004 - 16:29:49 EST