Vitriol
Oct 15th, 02, 4:55 AM
This is a recent problem on my 94 Dakota.
When cold, I can rev my engine in the driveway and it kind of sputters out the tailpipe on the way back down. When I get to driving, it seems that at the beginning of each gear, the truck kind of lurches when giving gas and sometimes backfires. The backfire seems to be coming from beneath or out back, and not on top. When warmed up however, it seems to go away.
So, I idled it high and squirted a bunch of carb cleaner into the "carb". This did seem to help a bit.
Now, it doesn't seem to chug or backfire just when cold, it does it even when warm. The engine seems to idle slightly better, and I think I've only heard it backfire once in the past 3 days. I also noticed that the engine overheats and spews water. I have to keep filling the overflow.
I think I have a combination of multiple problems, and they seemed to come on all at once. I did a tune-up 7K ago (plugs, cap/rotor, wires, filters etc.), but it did not include cleaning the fuel injectors or anything. I will try a bottle of that injector cleaner stuff today with my fill-up.
Could the other half of my problem be my serpentine belt? I felt it, and the grooves seem to be really worn down. I didn't really check tension on it, but I'm thinking it might be slipping and causing my water pump not to turn sometimes and overheat the engine? If the belt slips, could this also cause a slight exhaust backfire? I also noticed when starting it up the other night, just because I had my door open and interior light on, that the light dimmed when I started the truck.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I think I'm going to change the belt, but I just wanted to get some more ideas just in case. This is my only transportation at the moment and I'm sweatin it. Thanks.
Brian
When cold, I can rev my engine in the driveway and it kind of sputters out the tailpipe on the way back down. When I get to driving, it seems that at the beginning of each gear, the truck kind of lurches when giving gas and sometimes backfires. The backfire seems to be coming from beneath or out back, and not on top. When warmed up however, it seems to go away.
So, I idled it high and squirted a bunch of carb cleaner into the "carb". This did seem to help a bit.
Now, it doesn't seem to chug or backfire just when cold, it does it even when warm. The engine seems to idle slightly better, and I think I've only heard it backfire once in the past 3 days. I also noticed that the engine overheats and spews water. I have to keep filling the overflow.
I think I have a combination of multiple problems, and they seemed to come on all at once. I did a tune-up 7K ago (plugs, cap/rotor, wires, filters etc.), but it did not include cleaning the fuel injectors or anything. I will try a bottle of that injector cleaner stuff today with my fill-up.
Could the other half of my problem be my serpentine belt? I felt it, and the grooves seem to be really worn down. I didn't really check tension on it, but I'm thinking it might be slipping and causing my water pump not to turn sometimes and overheat the engine? If the belt slips, could this also cause a slight exhaust backfire? I also noticed when starting it up the other night, just because I had my door open and interior light on, that the light dimmed when I started the truck.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I think I'm going to change the belt, but I just wanted to get some more ideas just in case. This is my only transportation at the moment and I'm sweatin it. Thanks.
Brian