99 Dakota - stalling problems

[ny1angel27]

Good Morning,
I have a 1999 Dodge Dakota 3.9 w/ stick. Having a problem when I puch the clutch in the truck dies on me. Only does it occasionally but enough to be a problem in Chicago traffic. Once get the truch on the highway it is fine. Its only at stop lights, etc that it will stall. hot, cold, rain, shine - doesnt matter. there is no real pattern to it. It will run fine for a week and then here we go again.
Took it into dealer and they changed the MAP sensor. Still kept happening. Took it back in and they reset the values. Still happens. Sending it back in today. They said I need to recreate the stalling for them because it wont do it when its in the shop. Of corse, it won't do it for me when I have them there. HELP!!!

[ny1angel27]

Ok, here is an update. Dealer still cant get it to stall on them. They are saying there is nothing "wrong" that they can tell. It runs fine when they have it. It stalled 5 times on the way to the dealer though. Had to keep foot on gas 90% of the time to get it there. The idle is very low when it is acting like this. Nothing comes up for codes, and there is no engine light that comes on. Someone please help!

[Dakota00]

Have the TPS sensor replaced, that might help. I had the same problems with my Windstar

[Hashman]

I got a 98, 3.9 ltr and it does the same friggin thing.I also have to keep one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake anytime I have to stop or slow down. I am going to replace both oxygen sensors maybe that will help.I have just about had enough of this piece of crap truck.next time its going to be a GMC for me.

[Dakota00]

Hashman,
Don't go throwing money at things hoping it will solve the problem. Are you getting a check engine light??

Another thing could cause the problem is a plugged cat converter. Tap it with a rubber malet and if you hear things shaking around inside, the cat is toast and needs replacing.

If it's the cat it's covered under an 8yr emission warranty, so the dealership will have to replace it free of charge. But the exhaust system must be stock

[ny1angel27]

UPDATE!! Ok, wanna hear something good? After 3 days of me telling them to check the throttle body for clogs and them telling me that this wasn't the problem, turns out that the throttle body WAS clogged by the IAC Motor and that was causing the stalling. After paying hundreds of dollars to the dealership, a little intake cleaner in the throttle body is what fixed it. Now she purrs like a kitten!!!!

[Hashman]

I cant believe it really worked.. But I did the same thing I sprayed some throttle body cleaner into the intake and now the truck runs perfect. Thanks for posting ny1angel27 it worked for me also. Total cost $4.00 to fix.

[fasstdak]

Yup...common issue on the 5-speeds with the idle-up circuit. When you push in the clutch, the PCM will try to raise the idle slightly (especially in reverse) to help ease in the gears. My '97 did the same thing as well - simple cleaning is all it takes.

[ChadMorrison]

I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota (5 speed manual tran) with 85,000 miles on it. I have been having this problem on and off for over 18 months (neither the dealer or my favorite garage has been able to fix the problem). The only sensor that has ever come up indicates that the fuel cap is not keeping an airtight seal. A new fuel cap and a cleaning of the fill pipe did nothing for the problem. I can't wait to see if this fixes the problem for me! I have been dumping tons of fuel injector cleaner and fuel additives into this thing for at least 18 months (not to mention the money spent at the dealer/garage)! Thanks!

[fasstdak]

Cleaning the throttle body (best way is to remove it and clean it) is the first step. However, if you have had this problem for a while...after cleaning the throttle body, reset the PCM as the fuel adaptives and other related parameters will be stored even after the TB cleaning. Resetting it clears out the old parameters and allows the PCM to "relearn" the new settings (as in a cleaned TB).

[Snedo]

I had the same problem! sprayed some cleaner and now runs fine idle sometimes goes up and down but never stalls how to you reset the pcm?

[thadrawr]

my friend drives a 1999 dakota but his is automatic and has issues with stalling as well. At idle, if he taps the gas pedal quickly it will rev up, then the rpms plummit and it stalls. Just leaving it at idle it runs fine except for changes in pitch of the sound of the idle, like the idle is speeding up then slowing down. He took it to the dealer 3 times about this, and they claimed they cleaned the throttle body and repalced the IAC each time. He has repalced the TPS and it has not done anything for it. The dealer eventually told him that its just how the truck runs. Any ideas?????

[thadrawr]

Originally Posted by thadrawr

my friend drives a 1999 dakota but his is automatic and has issues with stalling as well. At idle, if he taps the gas pedal quickly it will rev up, then the rpms plummit and it stalls. Just leaving it at idle it runs fine except for changes in pitch of the sound of the idle, like the idle is speeding up then slowing down. He took it to the dealer 3 times about this, and they claimed they cleaned the throttle body and repalced the IAC each time. He has repalced the TPS and it has not done anything for it. The dealer eventually told him that its just how the truck runs. Any ideas?????

anyone know an answer?

[97taurusdude]

My guess is that its the gas, probably high in sulphur, shell gas is bad in my area, I'd try running the gas as low as possible and buy conoco or phillips 66 or sinclair, there sulphur content is no higher than 95 ppm , where average of others is 500 ppm, and shell has been as high as 1200 ppm , it can cause rough idle , stalling, by plugging up your exhaust converter. shell has class action lawsuit because the sulphur is corrosive and damaging fuel gauges.

[thadrawr]

Ahh ok that makes some sense i will see if that is that is the case. All we have around here are Sunoco, Mobil/Exxon, Kwik Fill and Citgo.