'87 Dodge Dakota

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Ok, this is not a daily driver, but one the wife uses ever once in a while to take produce to the market, etc.<br /><br />Yesterday, she tells me that it just up and quit on her and that she had to pump the daylights out of the gas to get it to start back.<br /><br />BTW, it is a 3.9L V-6 that has a carb and manual fuel pump.<br /><br />She also said it just did it while going uphill.<br /><br />So today, she took me a ride in it and sure enough, while starting up a hill, it just quits, but after it quits, it "diesels" for just a second.<br /><br />She has to pump the daylights out of the gas pedal and it starts back up.<br />Goes on up this hill ok till we go around a curve and it quits again. Same thing. Pump the gas and it starts.<br /><br />It runs good on flat ground, a little floating lifter noise, but I can time that out of it, but this up and quiting going uphill is another question.<br /><br />I am thinking maybe a weak fuel pump or some kind of restriction in fuel system.<br /><br />Ok, throw out your thoughts and ideas please.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: '87 Dodge Dakota

If I had to bet my huntin dog, (Barfy), I would say its a clogged fuel filter.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: '87 Dodge Dakota

If it happen's going around a corner, I'd vote for a carb/float issue. If it just happened while going up hill, I would say fuel pump, or as L'dude says, the fuel filter.

 

[rwise]

Re: '87 Dodge Dakota

I'll agree and add, it could be a fuel line pulling air. Also is this tempurature related (hot part of the day, or hotter than its been) I have overcome vaper locking with wood close pins, you clamp them on the fuel line under the hood about every 3". Change the filter, it is cheap unuf. Check the float leval in the carb, and the fuel lines from the pump to the tank. If the fuel pump is in the tank, it may need replaced, (and keep it above 1/2 tank so the gas can keep the pump cool), also I have had problems with the fuel pickup in the tank, had a pin hole rusted in it about half way up the tube!<br />Just a thought or 2, good luck and keep cool!

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: '87 Dodge Dakota

It does not do it going around a curve on flat ground, just if your going uphill, or going uphill and go around a curve.<br /><br />I am going to change the pump which is on the block and filter tommorrow and see what happens.<br />Yea and tweak the timing just a tad.<br /><br />Why all this when there's fishing to be done.

 

[shauntu1961]

Re: '87 Dodge Dakota

I had a 87 dakota that had the same problem and it ended up being filter sock in the gastank

 

[shauntu1961]

Re: '87 Dodge Dakota

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: '87 Dodge Dakota

Yea, I am going to blow that off also and put an extra filter on it.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: '87 Dodge Dakota

Update:<br />Replaced fuel pump and filter.<br />Wife took out for a test run and ran great, no stoppage at all.<br /><br />Got in it last night to go somewhere and the thing is now pushing gas out the top of the Carb. GRRRRRRRRR!!! AKKKKKKKK!!!!!!<br /><br />Guess it sucked something up into the fuel bowl/needle valve area now.<br /><br />Will take it apart today to see.<br /><br />Well at least it's a rainy day.<br /><br />Thanks for the replies.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: '87 Dodge Dakota

GRRRRRRRRRRR, now after all that and rebuilding the carb, it will now be going along and just die, like you turned the key off.<br /><br />Hit the key and it fires right back up.<br /><br />May just have a worn out carb all together or maybe a coil breaking down.<br /><br />Any thoughts?

 

[one more cast]

Re: '87 Dodge Dakota

its not picking up something off the bottom of the tank is it.(plastic,tank sealer,or something like that. Blocking the screen then when it quits (no vacuum on the screen) the crap drops off so it starts right back up. Just a thought.