1999 Dodge Dakota

My husband and I purchased a used 1999 Dakota with a club cab about 6 months ago. It had almost 100,000 miles at that time, but it ran beautifully. It has a 5.2 V-8 engine--automatic. I should say that it ran beautifully for about 6-8 weeks. We had the oil changed and put 4 new tires on it. After that, it began doing something very strange. The engine began to rev while I was driving it. I can see the RPM increase a few marks and then go back (especially when I hit a bump in the road). We then had it tuned up, and thinking that it was possibly caused from sludge in the fuell tank, I kept adding bottles of fuel treatment to it. I finally added a bottle of something that was suppose to clean the entire fuel system. Then we had the plug wires replaced thinking that one of them possibly had a small crack. Nothing really seems to help. The "check engine" light also comes on, but we have been told that this a "generic missfire" (whatever that is). I really, really like this truck--I named it "Dude", and I'm hoping that one of you have had this problem or know someone who has, and that you can tell me what is causing it. Thank you.

next time this happens bump your shifter up, it is my guess that it is not in fully engaged in drive; but stuck between d and 2. I had the same problem when i first bought mine.

Check your vaccume lines for cracks or leaks. also check all electrical connections. Could be a bad EGR valve or throttle position senser. Since you put new tires on it are they the same size as the original tires? If the tires are a different size in circumfrence might be telling the speed senser to shift transmission causing it to hunt for a gear at a different time than before in relation to vehicle speed. Check pcv valve too. check for the simple things first. :smile:

The same thing happened with my '99 Dakota.... over 100,000 miles... wound up being the transmission going out... it just took a while. I think my cruise control disable light kept coming on... Then I took it in for the bad news.... So if the tranny hasn't been replaced... then it may be the problem...

i had this same problem with my 99 dodge dakota 5.2l. its your throttle position sensor. it takes about 2 minutes to fix and about 50 to 60 bucks. its located by you fuel injectors and air intake. its an easy fix.

sounds like to torque converter is unlocking and then locking back up. Get a few opions on this before its overhauled its a eletronic trans I have seen sensors go bad more often its the output speed sensor cheap fix. Its a major problem on 99 dodge mini vans and its the same sensor.

i had the same prob with my 99 5.2 4x4 had the transfluid and filter changed at valvoline i o c in the process found a loose ground wire loose was losing ground no prob for last 50,000 miles