2001 Dakota 3.9 running slightly rough??? Help!

From : rh

Q: im not up on working on cars much but i just got a 01 dakota with the 3.9. it takes usually 2 turns of the key to startruns just slightly rough liker i can feel a slight shake when stopped at a lightlike the old distributor engines used to give when a little out of time. i was backing it up moving my boat yesterday and it idled a little low and stalled. to me i would think the fuel injectors are clogged or the plugs need changed.would either of these things help what i described above its got 55k miles on it.thanks! .

Replies:

From : scott s

no it dont have one. we have a pickup that is placed on the right side just behind the head on the bellhousing. this is your pickup for crank position for firing the plugs. myself i had to change mine a year ago on my 2001 dakota. stumbled misfiring down the highway scare the sh*t out me..lol they do fail.. but i got a code for the pickup problem. you have no statement of any codes is this correct. you should see if you can do a reading of the fuel rail for proper pressure. like you said could be filter or pump. or a long shot it could be the throttle body.. the air-bypass bleeder on it could be sticking or dirty that controls the idle circuit. scott mound road engine gone but not forgotten detroit mi. i dont think the 3.9 has a distributor does it i looked and all the wires seem to go to individual ignition coils. the fuel filter might be a good idea thoughi will take a look at it. i am thinking fuel related. sounds more to me like a dirty fuel or air filter. broken vacuum lines generally will turn on your check engine light. it never hurts to change the plugs. while youre at it; run the truck in the dark and look for arcing from the plug wires and make sure theyre on tight. you might want to check for carbon build up or a crack in the distributor cap. good luck joe im not up on working on cars much but i just got a 01 dakota with the 3.9. it takes usually 2 turns of the key to startruns just slightly rough liker i can feel a slight shake when stopped at a lightlike the old distributor engines used to give when a little out of time. i was backing it up moving my boat yesterday and it idled a little low and stalled. to me i would think the fuel injectors are clogged or the plugs need changed.would either of these things help what i described above its got 55k miles on it.thanks! .

From : gunner

sounds more to me like a dirty fuel or air filter. broken vacuum lines generally will turn on your check engine light. it never hurts to change the plugs. while youre at it; run the truck in the dark and look for arcing from the plug wires and make sure theyre on tight. you might want to check for carbon build up or a crack in the distributor cap. good luck joe im not up on working on cars much but i just got a 01 dakota with the 3.9. it takes usually 2 turns of the key to startruns just slightly rough liker i can feel a slight shake when stopped at a lightlike the old distributor engines used to give when a little out of time. i was backing it up moving my boat yesterday and it idled a little low and stalled. to me i would think the fuel injectors are clogged or the plugs need changed.would either of these things help what i described above its got 55k miles on it.thanks! .

From : rh

i dont think the 3.9 has a distributor does it i looked and all the wires seem to go to individual ignition coils. the fuel filter might be a good idea thoughi will take a look at it. i am thinking fuel related. sounds more to me like a dirty fuel or air filter. broken vacuum lines generally will turn on your check engine light. it never hurts to change the plugs. while youre at it; run the truck in the dark and look for arcing from the plug wires and make sure theyre on tight. you might want to check for carbon build up or a crack in the distributor cap. good luck joe im not up on working on cars much but i just got a 01 dakota with the 3.9. it takes usually 2 turns of the key to startruns just slightly rough liker i can feel a slight shake when stopped at a lightlike the old distributor engines used to give when a little out of time. i was backing it up moving my boat yesterday and it idled a little low and stalled. to me i would think the fuel injectors are clogged or the plugs need changed.would either of these things help what i described above its got 55k miles on it.thanks! .