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Don S
Lv 6

Sputtering Dodge Truck.?

My 99 Dakota will sometimes sputter, start to stall and backfire under load at about 35 to 45 mph. If I kick it into passing gear it will catch and run fine. It mainly seems to happen just when the temp gauge is starting to rise from the "C". The dealer cannot find anything wrong, any ideas?

6 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    if you have a temperature sensor going bad on it a scan on the computer sometimes wont show this up,and that will cause it to do that ,another thing that will do it is a bad set of spark plugs,until they get warmed up with the engine sometimes they wont fire good,you could also have a fuel filter stopping up on it,and when the engine is cold it needs more gas to run on,some of these things will not show up on a scanner,and you find them by trial and error,if it were me id try replacing the fuel filter and the plugs in it,that should make a major difference in the way it runs,if not also have the timing checked,if its off because of wear and tear in the timing chain,that will cause the same condition,don't let it drive you nuts trying to find it,good luck on finding it.

    Source(s): been a certified mechanic for 37 yrs.
  • Joe F
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    I had the same problem with a voyager.It gave no codes, but I was told to change the oxygen sensor(s) by a guy who used to work at the dealership,I did and that cleared it up.One other tell tale sign is if your gas mileage has went down the toilet, if you replace the oxygen sensor and it doesn't fix it, then the problem is probably the cold idle circuit somewhere, also check for vacuum leaks.

  • 1 decade ago

    Review the condition of spark plug wires, spark plugs, rotor and rotor cap. Make sure they are under electrical specification. Ask your dealer to make the resistance test. Check injectors as well. If the problem persists, ask your dealer to improve a PCM test. I assuming that they are not trouble codes active or storaged on you actual PCM.

  • 1 decade ago

    Could also be a misindexed distributor.

    Intake coolant sensor

    Oxygen sensor

    old wiring giving irratic signals.

    I would think since it seems temp sensitive, that it must be one condition or sensor, telling another sensor to give the ecu/ecm false info.

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  • 1 decade ago

    Change your oxygen sensors... all of them.... make sure you have a good tune up with new plugs and clean air filter.... but it is the oxygen sensors here.....

    Source(s): 28 years wrenching on it all
  • 1 decade ago

    get a chevy!

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