00 Dakota have to hold gas pedal to floor to start.

[derrick870]

I changed transmission fluid and changed gasket on pan because censor for shifting was bad. After I did that the truck starting burning more fuel than was normal. Sometimes I have to hold the gas pedal all the way to the floor to Start. While i am idling it is running rich(i can smell gas). What do i do?

[rhandwor]

I would look over your work and clean any connections with fluid on them with break cleaner. It happened immediately after your work so it must be something you unplugged.

[w9awx]

Definately running rich. When you put your foot to the floor when trying to start the engine, you basically put the engine in a limp mode so it will cut off fuel to the engine. This mode is what is used on most cars and trucks these days if you accidently flood the engine. The engine only allows air into the cyliders to mix with the high amounts of fuel already in there. The big question is why is all that fuel in there in the first place. Are there any trouble codes?

[mikec041]

Transmission oil/filter change shouldn't effect starting.
Make sure coolant sensor is plugged in and working correctly.

[Benzman]

It's possible that this is a weak battery issue. It could actually be an alternator issue, but hear me out.

(by the way, I cut and paste this from another discussion that I am having in the Durango forum)

When the battery is low on charge (less than 12V), the computer tends to screw up the fuel/air system. A certain amount less than 12V will cause more fuel in the mixture than desired at idle. This is why it won't idle on it's own. A little lower voltage and it practically goes to full fuel and then you have the flooded symptom.


With a fully charged battery (either a new one, or your old one left on a charger overnight).
Pull the fuel pump fuse and start the vehicle with the throttle fully depressed. Sometimes you have to crank it a while. Even if it starts up immediately, your not out of the woods.
Let it run until it dies on its own. Try starting again and make sure that it won't start, this clears all of the fuel out.
Now, put the fuse back in and disconnect the battery for about 10 minutes. This resets the computer. If you don't do this step, the computer may be stuck with full fuel request and it will simply flood again.
After reconnecting a fully charged battery, it should fire right up and idle on it's own.

Now, assuming that this procedure works, you should still have the battery and alternator checked out, because something is not allowing a full charge while you are driving.

A good alternator will put out a solid 14V with the engine running. After shutting the engine off, the voltage should be 12.6 to 13V WITHOUT dropping more than .01 volts / second. If it drops faster, then the battery is no good, or something is loading it down.

[crengineer]

Hello,

I am having a similar situation but not to the same degree as derrik. I am having trouble starting my 98 dakota. When it does start it runs fine; I don't smell any gas out of the exhaust. SOmetimes when I am backing up the engine will die but starts back up. Also on rare occasions, when starting the truck the engine will start and rev for a couple of seconds then will almost die; but it doesn't.

I have put a scan tool on the truck to check trouble codes and look at any and all sensors that may have any effect on this. All I have come up with is that when I shut the truck off my battery voltage goes to something like 11.95 V. The other thing that the scan tool showed in the log file I downloaded is that the PCM is reading a long term fuel trim of -6%. I know that this means that the PCM thinks that the fuel/air mixture is rich and it is trying to lean the f/a mixture out.

I tried the procedure listed above except I didn't disconnect the fuse for the fuel pump. That didn't work. Was it because I missed the fuse? Or is that not my problem? MY battery is only like 2 years old and when I charged it it only charged for like an hour or less.

The other things I have looked at are the vacuum lines to make sure they aren't cracked or loose. Couldn't find anything.

I am getting a little here and can use some help/advice. The gas bill is ripping me a new one. 150 miles or less for a tank of gas is not fun.

thanks for the help.

[rhandwor]

Clean and inspect all battery connections. Use a charger and get a full charge. For some reason you have a charging problem. AutoZone and Advance give a free alternator checking service.
I would follow the other mans guidelines. These new vehicles won't work correctly with a low battery.

[Benzman]

If the system is trying to lean but cannot, then something isn't right in the air delivery. Filter, Mass Air Flow sensor.
However, low battery voltage does cause issues with these vehicles. Try connecting the charger, and while the charger is connected perform the above procedure, make sure to remove the fuse. If you do not remove the fuse, the procedure will not work.