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Pickups Dodge Dakota Dodge Dakota Owners-Archived Discussions Dodge Dakota: Problems & Solutions 
4362 messages, Last post on Oct 18, 2006 at 8:06 PM
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Replying to: dustyk (Aug 02, 2006 2:12 pm)
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Replying to: firstdakota (Aug 09, 2006 1:26 pm) Another test is to spin the fan with a brisk motion. When fully warmed the fan should not rotate one revolution, and they typically move no more than one or two blades distance. The noise is normal as previously described. I cannot offer a logical explanation at this time, except that maybe the belt was so loose that the fan was not receiving enough drive until the tensioner was replaced. Best regards, Dusty |
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Noise produced by the fan clutch on a Dakota is normal. The Dakota uses a viscous clutch fan that permits reduced load and subsequent loss of horsepower at high speeds, yet increased cooling capacity at low speeds. These fans contain a silicone filled coupling that connects the fan blades to the water pump shaft. This design utilize a thermostatic bimetallic coil spring that reacts to the temperature of the radiator discharge air. If the air temperature rises above a certain point, the bimetalic exerts pressure against a slip clutch and allows power of the water pump shaft to be transmitted through coupling to the fan assembly. This raises the speed of the fan blades and increases air flow through the radiator to provide increased cooling. Sometimes after the vehicle has been driven to operating temperature the bimetalic spring may expand to the maximum coupling position due to localized heat from the engine or radiator after shutdown. After a cooling period the spring may not contract or contract fully. Upon restart the expanded spring causes the fan to spin at engine RPM until enough cool air has been drawn through the radiator, Then the spring contracts. This is what causes that momentary period when the fan is heard. Testing the Fan Clutch Assembly If the fan assembly free-wheels without drag for more than five revolutions when spun by hand, the fan clutch assembly is defective. This test must be conducted when the engine is completely cool. Fan drive engagement begins between 165 to 180 degrees F. There should be no perceptible lateral movement of the fan blades. If so, the fan assembly is defective. Regards, Dusty
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Replying to: dustyk (Aug 11, 2006 3:07 pm) I know that in over 6 years, my fanclutch has NEVER enguaged due to heat from the radiator. HOWEVER: my fanclutch enguages for about1 mile of driving when ambient temps are about 40 degrees. (this is also normal behaviour)The silicone fluid inside the fanclutch gets "thick" and takes some time for the centripital forces to move it around.
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Replying to: bpeebles (Aug 11, 2006 4:32 pm) Mine engages at very low temperatures (winter) but releases by the time the transmission is in second gear, and it's always done that even on the one that Dodge replaced a couple of years ago. Best regards, Dusty |
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I posted a question on a 1990 Dodge Dakota under numbers 4288 and 4227, having to do with intermittent starting problems. Now I am beginning to suspect it has something to do with the Neutral Safety Switch. The pickup has an automatic transmission, and the gear shift lever is a little reluctant to move easily at times. My daughter has found that jiggling the lever back and forth around neutral seems to take care of the starting problem. If this is the problem, I am surprised that three garages didn't find it. |
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Hope I'm not annoying people with my posts on the 1990 Dakota starting problem. However, I just found the below quote (edited by me) on the Internet, in connection with installation of a remote starting switch. It only refers to pre-1996 Dakotas with 2.5 liter engines, but my 3.9 liter engine 1990 Dodge Dakota certainly has its automatic transmission gear selector lever on the steering column, too, and I wonder if my pickup's Neutral Safety Switch is mechanically-combined with the gear selector lever somewhere on the column? "Some vehicles combine the column shift mechanism and the mechanical neutral safety switch into one mechanical part. According to available information, vehicles known to be manufactured this way are most General Motors trucks, sport utility vehicles and column shifting passenger vehicles. Available information also indicates that pre-1996 Dodge Dakota pickups with 2.5 liter motors are also manufactured this way." http://www.abtelectronics.com/images/products/BDP%20Images/N562P_6-03.pdf |
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1990 dodge Dakota driving down the hwy and the engine just quits running no cough just dies, I find it has no spark checked the coil has 12v to it and 1.5 ohm across the terminal the cap and rotor look’s good At this point I’m stuck. I need some help on the next steps to take to go to from here. It cranks but wont start or run it has no spark it has no antitheift device, the Neutral Safety Switch is will keep it from cranking. but not keep the spark from happening from what I believe.
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Replying to: dave392 (Aug 17, 2006 8:31 am) |
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Replying to: dad4 (Feb 16, 2006 7:38 pm) |
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