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99 dodge dakota skipping and backfiring
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two8pts
New User
May 7, 2006, 6:04 PM
Post #1 of 5
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99 dodge dakota skipping and backfiring
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i have a 99 dakota, 6 cylinder, straight drive. it has started to skip when i am gearing up and when i let off the gas it backfires...not loud more like a pop. i thought i had a fouled plug so i changed all the plugs but before i change out some more stuff i thought i would get some other opinions. there are no obd faults and it has a new catalytic converter and oxygen sensors (month ago). any suggestions would be appreciated...i am no car guy but i can change out easy stuff.....lol.
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
May 8, 2006, 4:37 AM
Post #2 of 5
(4042 views)
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Re: 99 dodge dakota skipping and backfiring
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I’m not saying this is the problem but I’ve had to replace a lot of ignition wire sets, distributor caps and ignition coils on dodges.
Not so much for an open or high resistance wire; but because of the insulation breaking down allowing the wires to crossfire or short to ground. The same goes for the distributor cap and ignition coil, the plastic/bakelite or whatever material they are made from will become cooked (dried out) from the under hood temperatures causing miniature cracks to form. This allows the high voltage to follow these cracks to ground out or crossfire to another cylinder.
Here’s a fairly easy way to check this; mix about 8ounces of water with two or three teaspoons of plain old table salt. The salt will conduct electricity making it easy for the voltage to escape.
Pour this into one of those pump spray bottles, the kind that can be adjusted to produce a fine mist.
Start the engine and allow it to come up to temperature; then lightly mist the entire secondary ignition system, cap, wires and ignition coil. I don’t mean to soak it dripping wet but just enough so that everything is damp. It’s best if you try this in a low light area or even at night.
After everything is damp stand back and look for any electrical leakage. Sometimes you’ll see the spark actually jumping through the wire to a metal object or you may see the high voltage crawling along the length of a wire’s outside casing. You’ll be amazed at some of the light shows that you may see; things like miniature lighting bolts spread out over the top of the cap or crawling down the coils high tension tower.
Here’s another thing you could try but I don’t suggest it; is after you’ve sprayed the system down run your hands along the wires. If there’s any voltage leakage that’ll tell you in one big hurry. LOL
Only joking about the last part, DON”T TOUCH the dampened ignition system with any part of your body; today’s coils can produce enough voltage and amperage to stop your heart.
One last thing is, if there is no voltage leak rinse that salt water off with some fresh water.
There are so many other things that maybe causing your “skip” and backfire that it maybe a process of elimination to find this. But this wire test is the next basic thing I would go after. Let us know that you find.
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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two8pts
New User
May 8, 2006, 6:11 PM
Post #3 of 5
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Re: 99 dodge dakota skipping and backfiring
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i just did the salt water on the plug wires. i had one wire arcing 2 or 3 places and another one in 1 place. those plug wires are maybe 8 months old but that was my next swap out anyway so i will go ahead with them. thanks for the tip....i'll be back if that does not work.
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ebayautonet
New User
May 15, 2007, 7:38 PM
Post #4 of 5
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Re: 99 dodge dakota skipping and backfiring
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Didn'thear back.. Did that trick work?
ebayauto.net KLH
http://ebayauto.net
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 16, 2007, 7:11 AM
Post #5 of 5
(3838 views)
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Re: 99 dodge dakota skipping and backfiring
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That must have worked. He did as Dan suggested and found arcing which would certainly need correcting even if it wasn't the whole problem,
T
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