2001 Dakota Problems

2001 Dakota Quad w/ 5.9L engine

I have had this truck for 2 1/2 years. I have changed the water pump almost a year ago, the two lower/outer tie rods and most recently the resistor for the AC, thermostat and two tires.

I currently have at least two problems going on. For the past several months it has had made a rattle/chirp sound under the hood, I believe at the front of the engine. The engine light had been on until just a few weeks ago. I assume the problem didn't take care of itself, though.

Another problem at the same time was upon braking, sometimes a tinny sound.

Now I have another problem at the front. As I back out of my driveway I hear a crunch/pop a few times, then I turn the wheel and start driving. Sometimes it will sound like something is dragging for a while. Believe me, nothing is dragging. Today while making turns, to the left it made a repetetive pop sound (like a kid sticking their index in their mouth and making a pop sound with their cheek)... and maybe a WOP WOP WOP. I don't know if its a steering problem, in the wheels, or something else.

My thermostat change must not have sealed the cooling system (even w/ red Permatex) because there is a pool around the 2-bolt steel tube and I have leaking down the front and RH side of the engine.

Anybody have any ideas on what to look for? HELP!!

Oh and another thing. This one is probably normal, but my oil gauge starts high, toward the upper red mark, then eventually sits right on the low red mark. I don't know the oil pressure.

is it kinda like pop pop pop noise i have that problom but i think it is my wheels hitting my wheel wells on my 2000 dakota and i have a whoo woo wooo noise from my tires because i have oversized tires

On a turn, its kind of like a pop pop pop, but more like blowing a bubble. Now when I drive down the road it goes who who who who all the way to work. These tires were rotated from the rear, and my new ones were palced on the back. They aren't oversize - they are a matched 245/70R16 that were on there previously.

:shakehead HELP!!

On the front tire check if you have a lot of slop when moving back and forth.
The inner tie rod ends go bad more frequently than the outer ones. If you change them get a couple full quart bottles of oil. Put them in front of the two tires and use a tape measure to check the distance between the two front tires the oil botttles are so you are at the same height. Change one at a time and set before doing the other side. Then get a wheel alignment. When changing the tie rods some parts stores loan tools. Make sure you use a crescent wrench to hold the shaft in the rack and pinion as you can tear out seals.
Change the thermostat and use a new gasket. Some of the tubes which bolt to the engine have an o-ring to seal them. Most parts stores and hardwares sell them.
I would test the oil pressure with a test gage you may have a plugged strainer for the oil pump.

I found one culprit tonight. The tinny sound... coming from my RH brake. Metal shavings found in the center with the big nut. Actually before even unbolting the wheel to check it out, I was able to move the tire in and out from top and bottom (all bolts were tight). Will be fixing this issue at work tomorrow, probably accompanied by a much-needed brake job.

The bottom side of the boots covering the rods going to the steering cylinder looks to be wet. I do have a leaking water system, but I don't know if that is it. I don't seem to be losing any steering fluid.

Fix problems as you find them power steering fluid and anti freeze are different colors. Usually a rack will drip at the bottom not at the top if anti freeze is dripping.