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06:15:38 - 05/20/2024

Dealer, TSB's and Recalls
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LGrim
Dodge Dakota
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5/06/2004
08:07:08

Subject: RE: Heater Core Puked!
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I have 54,000 miles on the 2001 4.7 auto.
20,000 miles 3 ball joints, calipers, pads rotors, and both upper A-arms (made dealer replace all even though they gave a ton of hassle on the brakes blaming it on me (today the replaced brakes donet even look worn I mean they are perfect)
32,000 miles heater core, when they relpaced it they didnt do the carpet and KO'd my radio had to bring it back to replaced the carpet, I fixed the radio.
42,000 miles heatercore #2 - I went ballistic at the dealership luckily it was within 12,000 miles of the 1st heater core being replaced as I am out of warranty.
50,000 miles ball joint #4 almost falls out, I replaced.
*key note, I have found a pinhead size rust ole in the middle of my roof pan, Cant wait for the incompetant bodyshop at the dealership to cut that roof pan out, I have until 90,000 miles so I will let it go a little futher to make sure its nice and ready to be replaced.



Chuck
Dodge Dakota
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10/06/2004
14:15:41

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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Add me to the list. Got the smell and wet foot today. 2001 v8 4x4 50k. Looks like a few months since the last post. Does anyone have any updated info on recalls, dealer cooperation, etc. I would like to bypass the heater core for now until I get a chance to research this further - Is this easy? Is it just two hoses ? Do I need to buy some sort of hose connector.



Dennis
Dodge Dakota
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11/03/2004
17:17:46

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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You can add me to the list too. I have a 2000 CC 4X4 4.7. I just got back from the stealership. It's going to cost me $1200 to have the heater core replaced. I also called Dodge's customer service to complain about it. The guy i talked to made me feel like 65k miles in 4 years was a lot. I explained to him that I treat my truck like a baby, never took it off road and have completed all of the maintanance on time. I told him that if he's not surprised by the level of repairs that I have had to do, than I'm going to get rid of the truck now becuase I'm afraid of the repairs I will have to do when it really has some miles on it. Since I've had it I've had to replace the power steering rack, the rear u-joint (after my drive shaft fell out), front rotars and pads, and now the heater core. I'd hate to think about the repairs I would need if I actually treated it like the truck it's supposed to be. I fully expect to pay for normal wear and tear but some of these things are rediculous in 65K miles. He also informed me that I "should have shopped around for a better price at other dealerships". Maybe I'm an idiot but I assumed Dodge had guidelines for specific repairs. As i explained to the guy, when I go to Walmart for a sweater I assume that the next Walmart is going to sell the same sweater for the same price. I didn't know each dealer can charge whatever they want for the same repair. BTW - I also own a Grand Caravan that's almost out of warranty. It's getting traded in on the day it turns 36K miles.



frank
Dodge Dakota
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12/04/2004
09:44:18

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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92 V6 3.9 Dakota
Heater core died. Bypassed it. Someday when the A/C dies then I will replace it. The A/C has to be disconnected and purged to get to the heater core according to the shop manual. Since I live in So California its not to cold. Though the wife complains about being cold. (Its her truck).
PS: I had the extended warranty for 7 yrs 100K,miles. But this happend way after.
If I did not have the warranty I belive I would have spent on a Trany and a few other things.



JohnRH
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2004
21:25:43

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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I'm in the middle of replacing my heater core (2001 Dakota). This will be the fourth one in 70k miles, on a commuter vehicle. The job is a bear, but less than the $1000+ bill from the dealer (first two replacements were under warranty; not this one). The part is a dealer exclusive, about 4x what it would cost at a parts store. No more Dodge trucks.



Trest
Dodge Dakota
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12/09/2004
18:24:18

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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Dealrs have there own customer pay labor rates and there own labor times based upon Labor time books Not all dealers use the same on and the only one dodge publishes is the warranty one. Wich is about a 3rd less then what a CP labor guide charges.

Labor Rates are based upon the area.
Times are usually Decided by the tech himself if its a repair hes familiar with and done before.



Chris Spice
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2004
14:29:29

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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I have a 2000 dodge Dakota, it is my first veicle and my baby! Her heater core went out while I was in boot camp this summer, about a week after the a/c was fixed! coincodince??? I don't know. if any body kows about any recals I wouls love to know bout them, but I won't bu a nother dakota!



Thomas
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2004
22:19:45

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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Well it looks like I just joined the ever growing club as my truck passed 63,000 mi. My 2000 Dakota Quad Cab just started misting anti freeze from the vents this week. I have an appointment at the dealer tomorrow. Sounds like this is going to be a lot of fun. I can't believe this hasn't been turned into a recall.



F.STRATTEN
Dodge Dakota
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12/23/2004
17:55:49

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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I ORDERED MY TRUCK IN 2000 OCT.BLUE EXT.CAB 4X4 TAX+INT IT WAS 43,865.THE HEATER CORE WENT AT 119,000KIL.I CHANGED IT AT MY OWN EXPENCE,BECAUSE I KNEW THEY WOULD SAY SORRY TOO BAD,ANY WAY IT WENT AGAIN AT 139,000KIL.NOW THAT I SEE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I'M STARTING TO WONDER WHAT ACTION TO TAKE TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM.I ASKED THE DEALER IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATER CORES IN THIS MODLE"NO THERE'S BEEN NO PROBLEM".I SEE I'M GOING TO SEE IF MY OWNING A DODGE PRODUCT MEANS ANYTHING AT ALL,WITH A TRIP TO THE DEALER.



Fred
Dodge Dakota
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12/29/2004
15:19:07

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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I would like all those concerned Dodge owners to e-mail me at fstratten@bwr.eastlink.ca with regards to the HEATER CORE problem.I'm hoping that if I get enough info on this problem I can get some action on rectifying this major problem with the Dakotas!If you email me put PUKED HEATER CORE as the subject.
I'm on my 3rd heater core in a 2001 Dakota 4x4 ext cab 4.7l 5spd of which was a special order,MAN I FEEL SOME SPECIAL.



Wurst
Dodge Dakota
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12/30/2004
13:54:05

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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I posted back on Jan 13th about the dealership thinking that the problem was with some voltage passing thru the core, causing it to electolytically corrode. Their solution was to ground it out - so they attached a ground wire from it to the frame. Well, 11,000 miles later, out it went again. Number 5. I took it back to the dealer, who told me this would be the last one they warrantied. Then I was on my own. This time they used 2 ground wires, in two different locations. I've got about 7,000 miles on #5, and they never seem to get beyond 10,000 before sh-tting out, so I'm holding my breath. I've really about had it. I'm tired of my heart skipping a beat everytime I think I smell that pungent aroma. I can't in good conscience, sell this vehicle to an individual. I'd love to trade it in and stick the dealer with it......but then I'd have to get another Dodge.



chrisn
Dodge Dakota
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1/07/2005
08:09:36

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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In my case it isn`t the heater core leaking,it is to small orings that attach the heater core to the two supply tubes. i ordered a new heater core and when i took mine apart i found the problem .i rtv sealed it and haven`t had a problem.A local radiator shop told me about the oring deal said it happens all the time ,but he wouldn`t work on it because you have to drain the air conditioner refregerient to get the heater/airconditioner out.i did it without draining it but i had to glue it back togather when i was done.my truck is a 2001 and it was a major headache do fix but it was better than the 800 dollars the dealership wanted.



Fred
Dodge Dakota
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1/07/2005
18:06:41

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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Had heater core replaced(warrenty part)the dealer gave me a deal on labour ($237)including antifreeze and taxes,so I'm somewhat happy.It's pretty cold up here doing work in your drive way.Don't have a garage yet.Anyway something still has to be done about this piss poor set up.



Jecht X
Dodge Dakota
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1/08/2005
14:17:46

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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My sister had a 99 (I think) dakota EXT cab V-6. had the core replaced 3 times. I am wondering is this with the V-8's or is it just V-6? I think its real bad that dodge wont do nothing about this. jsut like the ball joints. took the gov to make them do that recall.



Doug4.7
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2005
15:38:02

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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Okay, just an FYI. Dodge is NOT the only company with poor heater cores. It seems to be almost universal (at least in American cars). I have buddies with Fords and Chevys that seem to puke a core every 10k miles or so. One guy replaced his own heater core just to find out the one OUT OF THE BOX (i.e., NEW!) leaked! They tell me that I am lucky to have a Dodge that doesn't have heater core problems. LOL. My 95' V6 seemed to spring a leak about that often, however, my 03' (so far) is leak free. Maybe just a matter of time.




Scott
Dodge Dakota
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1/17/2005
01:57:26

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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I feel blessed. My '98 with 175,000 miles still has the original core and is not leaking. However, it only puts out heat intermittantly. The temp gauge shows that the engine is heating properly. Is it possible there's air trapped in the heater hoses or something else? Freezing currently in Northern New Hampshire, Scott



JGrim
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2005
00:06:22

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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Add me to the list. 2001 Dakota 4x4 Quad Cab just puked its 2nd heater core in about 10,000mi. Love the truck otherwise. Funny thing though, I have its older brother, 1999 4x4 Ext Cab and have driven the crap out of it with zero problems. (over 170,000mi)



bbrown
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2005
13:38:36

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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Guys,
Can't believe you still can't get any help from Dodge.
I of course, after 5 cores, moved to a new Gmc. Absolutly no problems. Best bet is to dump the junk. Chrysler and moma Mercedes don't give a darn about return business or sales. If they did they would have atleast addressed people on this site.



RFox
Dodge Dakota
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1/30/2005
20:09:29

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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Add me to the list. The heater core just puked up its guts in my 2000 Dakota 3.9L V-6. The truck has 81,000 miles on the odometer. I guess I should consider myself lucky but I don't. I'm in Maryland and it is cold here. Could a fancy lawyer make a highway safety issue out of the fact that when all the windows are fogged up you can't see where you are going.



ernie
Dodge Dakota
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2/06/2005
00:05:18

RE: Heater Core Puked!
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I just found this page and thanks for the information. I have a 2000 Dakota 2.5 4 that only has 31,500 miles on it. Today I had heavy steam coming out of the vents, after not using for a week. During the last month we would on occaision see a small spot of water/antifreese under the truck. What we found was that it was coming out of an overflow on the firewall. Turning on the fan there was a strong antifreese smell. I now know what the problem is and as I am out of the 3 year/36K coverage I have a problem. This is our only new truck and we love it for it has had no other problems and we have gotten up to 28 mpg. I am dredding this week as I find out the cost of repairs. Hope that you have good luck in getting this covered as the letter that we got two weeks ago extended the upper ball joints. Hope that you can get it retroactive. thanks.



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