Engine start problems

Top problems

Cold engine start

Dodge Dakota 1999 truck 120000 miles
When starting with a cold engine runs for one scond then quits have to pump gas pedal to keep engine running when starting with warm engine starts are normal
cjmatt from Canada 10 years ago  
CJ
10 reports 

Won't start SolvedSolved

Dodge Dakota 2001 V6 334701 miles
Started it up letting it idol for about 5 minutes then it died won't start back the 02 sensors are bad but it was running before and now it won't even try to start
Confused from United States 4 years ago  
CO
Rank 3
3 reports 
Bruce from United States 4 years ago
Some common issues that can cause this type of problem include a failing fuel pump, clogged fuel filter, bad spark plugs, faulty ignition coil, or a damaged engine control module. The fact that the vehicle was running before and now won't start could indicate a problem with the fuel delivery system or ignition system.
Additionally, the fact that the O2 sensors are bad could also be contributing to the issue. The oxygen sensors monitor the air/fuel mixture in the engine and send data to the engine control module, which adjusts the fuel mixture accordingly. If the oxygen sensors are not functioning properly, the engine control module may not be able to adjust the fuel mixture correctly, which could lead to a stalling issue.
Solved
Best answer (according to Confused)
Confused from United States 4 years ago
It was the coil got it running now but still runs like shit but I'm pretty sure it's the upstream 02 sensor now
Comment

No power at ecm/rad/coil fuse. SolvedSolved

Dodge Dakota 2007 Slt 185000 miles
No crank no start unless I supply power to the ecm fuse, then it'll start and run. Could anyone tell me where this fuse gets it power? From a relay? Which relay? Would like to check before I open the distribution box.
Tddd from United States 2 years ago  
TD
Rank 10
3 replies 
Solved
Best answer (according to Tddd)
Tddd from United States 2 years ago
Well after swap testing all the relays, I still had no power so I just put a new fuse/relay box in and it started right up.
Becca from United States 2 years ago
A fuse usually underneath the dash
Tyon from United States 2 years ago
Hello I have a 2007 Dakota 4.7 crank no start has spark and fuel has to be an electrical problem I hear a buzzing noise underneath the fuse box what could it be ?
Comment

Wont start... Wont even power up.

Dodge Dakota 2006  186523 miles
Had a single red dot on the dash. Now the dash wont light up. No sounds, no lights, no crank. I had my battery tested at an auto store. Tested fine. Checked all the fuses and replaced any that remotely looked dirty, just to be sure. Nothing worked.
I have disconnected the terminals and grounded them out for 15 seconds and reconnected them. That seemed to do the job, however when i tried to start the truck. Back to no power.
Please in mind, this truck is as basic as it gets.
Niel from United States 8 years ago  
NI
14 reports 
Gram from Canada 7 years ago
Having the exact same problem did you figure it out if so what was it that would be very helpful thanks
Anthony brown from United States 5 years ago
I have the same exact problem with mines,I put a brand new battery,alternator,and starter and still can't even make it turn over
Heather from United States 2 years ago
My truck is doing this as well.
My current work around is to disconnect the battery for 2+ hours (typically I just do it over night) and reconnect. Truck runs for another 4+ days.
I can tell when it's about to stop working by the sound it makes when it's turning over, it takes just a fraction of a second longer to turn over.

I've been told this is a computer issue- the security system in the truck is no longer recognizing your key fob. So your vehicle disables the engine.
Comment

Crank no start SolvedSolved

Dodge Dakota 1997 Wiring  298000 miles
Car shut off while driving. Then crank no start, could hear fuel pump work. When checked for spark found ignition coil wire to distributor melted to exhaust. Spark never reached distributor. Changed wire starts fine
Frank from United States 8 months ago  
FR
Rank 8
1 reply 
Solved
Best answer (according to Frank)
Frank from United States 7 months ago
Changed wire from ignition coil to distributor start right up
Comment

Cranks but won't start

Dodge Dakota 2002 3.9l 233560 miles
It cranks but won't start and when engine light comes on I get a no bus code where the odometer is
Nick from United States 4 years ago  
NI
11 reports 
Justin from United States 2 years ago
Help my 98 Dakota will turn over but doesn't start code tcc keep coming up
nigtrons from United States 2 years ago
loose connections or damaged parts, problems with the torque converter clutch solenoid or the transmission control module itself.
Comment

Truck wont start

Dodge Dakota 2005 2005 slt automatic 175000 miles
Replaced ignition switch, new battery. Sometimes truck starts sometimes not. Lights come on
stuck from United States 10 years ago  
ST
16 reports 
David Martinez from United States 4 years ago
Did you figure out the issue it seems like a regular thing that happens on these years
nigtrons from United States 2 years ago
push it down a hill onto a pothole and it will start.
Comment

Somtimes cranks

Dodge Dakota 2001 SLT 4.7 20000 miles
Sometimes go to start truck all dash lights work and everything but engine wont crank. Sometimes acts like dead battery but replaced battery. Same issue. After messing with key in the ignition it will start right up. Help
MATTKL from United States 10 years ago  
MA
24 reports 
wayne from United States 2 years ago
My 2008 Dakota does the same thing. I`ve already replaced the battery and starter. That fixed it for a year and now it`s back at it. I`m looking into the fuses and relays now.
Dakota04 from United States 2 years ago
Same problem, it I'd worst on cold mornings, have to turn the key forward and back 100 times sometimes and sometimes just 1 turn of the key will start it
Comment

P0175, P0300, P0308, P0406, P0138, P0038,

Dodge Dakota 2005 4x4 sport 4.7 224164 miles
It has a miss and I can’t find it it’s got all new plugs and coil packs
Herbie from United States 2 years ago  
HE
1 report 
Herbie from United States 2 years ago
Still not fixed yet .
Comment

I put new starter new battery and alternate is good but the battery

Dodge Dakota 2007 Dodge dakota 25000 miles
Battery light comes on and something is draining the battery
Eddie from United States a year ago  
ED
1 reply 
-Shad from United States 5 months ago
Not getting good ground?
Comment

Won't turn over

Dodge Dakota 2001 Slt 4.7 213906 miles
I turn ignition on to start it but doesn't want to completely start. It sounds like it wants to. when I realize it putters and dies out . The night before did the same thing It sat over night and the next morning it turned on I came to town it struggled at stop signs now i shut off gain won't start
Solo from United States 2 years ago  
SO
1 reply 
Becca from United States 2 years ago
There's a 10am fuse called the engine control start fuse that's what was wrong with mine
Comment

Truck won't stay running

Dodge Dakota 1992  100000 miles
Helllo.my 92 Dakota will start run and after about 10 or 15 mins.it will die and not start. Any suggestions. Thanks gary
Gmoney from United States 9 years ago  
GM
5 reports 
Confused from United States 4 years ago
It's probably the coil
Comment

No bus displayed when truck intermittently dies

Dodge Dakota 2000 Dakota 4.7 l  201300 miles
Truck will suddenly lose all power and not start unless I wiggle the ecm main engine harness connector
Dodge dakota from United States 2 months ago  
DO

Hard start when cold

Dodge Dakota 2001 SLT  350000 miles
Engine hard start when cold. Have to turn key x3 to acc position to turn over engine to start.
Albie7425 from United States 2 months ago  
AL

Vehicle won't start

Dodge Dakota 2006 Sxl 165000 miles
No start no turnover no nothing
Jays from United States 3 months ago  
JA
1 report 

Starter keeps shorting out

Dodge Dakota 2011 4.7 1504431511 miles
I drove my truck all day with no problems nd the last time I shut it off it would not start again. I went nd got a new starter nd it started right up , drove it all day shut it off nd it wouldn't start it looks like the wire is burning up but I don't know why
My caddy from United States 3 months ago  
MY

Not getting any fire to the spark plugs

Dodge Dakota 1995 Dodge Dakota SLT v6 magnum  245512 miles
I've installed new coil new distributor Cap and button new spark plugs and wires and still have no spark and still nothing
Willymo from United States 5 months ago  
WI

Ignition coil

Dodge Dakota 2006  89700 miles
Ignition coil keeps burning up
Bubba from United States 5 months ago  
BU

Electrical

Dodge Dakota 2003 Quad cab sport 4x4 3.9l v6 magnum sxt 155706 miles
Having low fuel pressure no wipers and no 4x4 i have changed spark plugs wire distributor cap and rotor ignition cylinder and switch fuel pump battery and the alternator sill nothing is working need help
Brad from United States 5 months ago  
BR
1 report 

Truck don't start. Nothing like battery dead

Dodge Dakota 2005 V6 240000 miles
When it usually did this it would be a fuse. I would replace it then it would start up. This time half my fuses light up the other half don't. When I put my tester on 2 of the fuses it makes a clicking sound. Battery good, starter good. And before all this happen it was making a clicking sound under hood. Almost same clicking sound I get from the 2 fuses. What do I do
Izzy from United States a year ago  
IZ
1 report 

Auto shutdown relay

Dodge Dakota 1998 3.9 V6 4x4 200000 miles
Auto auto shutdown relay when I switch it out with another one it works the trucker crank just for a minute then it'll die and it won't crank again until I change a fuse or the relay back out
Jona from United States a year ago  
JO
7 reports 

Not starting

Dodge Dakota 2001 Dodge Dakota  117789 miles
my engine got too hot and while it was overheating when I pulled over, it made a loud noise and then stopped when I plugged when I let it pull down and turn it back on now it won’t start. It turned over, but it won’t like there’s no spark to it. I plugged in the obd reader and it said p0601 code PCM issue.
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Lolo from United States 2 years ago  
LO
1 report 

Put gasket sealer in oil and it said to put in radiator.

Dodge Dakota 2005 3.6 128000 miles
Put gasket sealer in oil which was suppose to go in my radiator,now truck wont start or even idle
costa from United States 3 years ago  
CO

Won't crank

Dodge Dakota 1997 3.9 158313 miles
I have replaced the starter on my dodge Dakota an it still won't start the battery is charged but still won't start
Baby girl from United States 3 years ago  
BA
5 reports 

No gauges after having starter and voltage issues

Dodge Dakota 2000 4.7l automatic 2wd 173000 miles
Trouble starting dash lights acting funny and no gauges working
Chris from United States 5 years ago  
CH

All warning indicators lit, dash is dead.

Dodge Dakota 1997 Extended Cab V6 Mag 2wd 169935 miles
Hello all, This is my first posting. I hope someone can give me an idea of what to do, or what to replace to fix this thing. Also with all these problems is it safe to drive, or not. I have an 82 yr old mom that is missing doctors' appointments because of this. I have cleaned all accessible grounding points, tie-wrapped down the 3 connectors of the VERY recently installed PCM, I have been trying suggested fixes found on this blog but nothing has worked. Issues became visible when the truck began to stall, at very inopportune times. Crossing intersections, on the freeway, or just idling. BTW, I… Read complete
Clay from United States 6 years ago  
CL
2 reports 

Starter drags like battery is dead

Dodge Dakota 1999 Dakota. 3.9 engine 153681 miles
Starter drags and barely turns motor over. It tuns over like the battery is dead. If I hold the key in the start position it drags on then starts. New starter is acting like the old starter I replaced.
Teddy from United States 7 years ago  
TE
4 reports 

Distributor

Dodge Dakota 1993 V6 2wd 2008000 miles
My truck keeps breaking my distributor an I'm trying to figure out why it keeps doing this
Joker from United States 9 years ago  
JO
1 report 

Will not crank

Dodge Dakota 1997 Dakota 4 cylinder 100000 miles
Replaced altinator. Now fan comes on when switched on. It will turn over but will not crank
Johnnie from United States 9 years ago  
JO
3 reports 

Wont start up

Dodge Dakota 1999 Truck ext cab 3.9 manual 255500 miles
I let it hold back in gear letting the exhaust sound off when i got back in it to crank it it just turns over but wont start
James from United States 9 years ago  
JA
2 reports 
12
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