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Casey
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2004
14:28:28
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 Subject: RE: Spark knock
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Message:
I have found the reason for the spark knock problem everybody is talking about. It's not the computer it's not timing adjustment. Over time, carbon builds up in the combustion chamber and when the engine gets hot the carbon becomes red hot and starts to glow. When the fuel/air is shoved into the combustion chamber the red hot carbon ignites the gas prematurely causing the knock. Just take the truck somewhere and have the intake cleaned out and it will solve the problem for about $80-$100. Don't adjust anything you'll just rob it of power and gas mileage. It works, trust me.
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scott
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2004
20:44:27
|  RE: Spark knock
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Casey my hemi spark-knocked on the very first time i ever drove it. It did not have time to build up carbon. The dealer is not to blame nor is the factory. If people are looking for someone to blame it's the government. EPA regulations are forcing auto makers to produce a car or truck that does not pollute the atmosphere like the old ones did. These new cars and trucks are so lean and computer controlled you can breath the exhaust from them.I know how to get rid of my spark knock. I am going to retard the timing 10 degrees. The factory did a good job at not allowing the average person to do this but then again i am not average. I will move the crank position sensor or the timing wheel on the crank or i can change the signal. I am not going to continue to listen to spark knock any more
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Ron T.
Dodge Dakota
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1/29/2004
00:49:24
|  RE: Spark knock
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Message:
I had the same experience at Maxwell Dodge
in Austin that Nick G. did. I've taken my 2001
Dakota Quad Cab (3.9-V6) to that dealer 3
times since 11/2001 to have the horrific spark
knock addressed. Twice they didn't do
anything, but the last time (08/2003) I insisted
they perform the recommended PCM flash.
The spark knock disappeared for about a
month, and now it is back, worse than ever.
I'm heading in again tomorrow ready to beg
them to test other possibilities (blown
gaskets, EGR, knock-sensor, etc.) to see if
something works before my warranty expires
in February. Looks like I'll be buying a Chevy
next time around...
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Don
Dodge Dakota
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2/01/2004
13:11:20
| RE: Spark knock
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Message:
Yep add me to the list of Dodge Truck owners with a mystery spark knock. I have a 1999 Ram 1500 quad cab. It just started knocking after I had a tune-up done around 50K miles. It only occurs while excelerating up hill around 50mph or so as it shifts into overdrive while at low RPMs. Been to the dealership 4 times, so far they've flashed the computer, and rewired the ignition coil but nothing has helped. Should have listened to my family and not bought a Dodge. My next truck won't be.
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j.morgan
Dodge Dakota
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3/02/2004
20:11:17
|  RE: Spark knock
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Message:
Did Timex buy dodge out?
Sound like the logo "IT TAKES A LICKIN,
KEEPS ON TICKING.
Something fishy going on here.
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Eli
Dodge Dakota
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3/03/2004
16:06:16
| RE: Spark knock
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Message:
Those of you with 3.9s, 5.2s, and 5.9s in your RAMS, Dakotas, Durangos, and Jeep Grand Cherokees are probably experiencing a blown plenum (bellypan) gasket.
I had that prob on both my 95 3.9 Dak RC, and on my 2000 5.9 Dak QC.
In the first instance, the vehicle went almost 70,000 miles before the gasket failed, in the second, it started pinging at less then 3000 miles, and got worse despite a PCM update from my dealer.
The mechanic who serviced my second Dakota (5.9) said that something on the order of 90% of the pinging complaints on the aforementioned Magnum engines stem from a leaking plenum gasket.
After replacing the gasket on both vehicles, they never experienced spark-knock again.
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Jeremy
Dodge Dakota
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3/15/2004
20:36:11
| RE: Spark knock
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Message:
Add another to the ranks, folks. I too have a 99
Ram 318, so far, done the flash, re-rout and
higher octane. Still, the elusive gremlin Mr.
Ping rears its ugly head. My next try is colder
plugs,180 thermostat, cold air intake, new
intake gasket, in that order. I love the ride and
looks and ergos of this rig but what the
****!!!!!??? I can't afford a Cummins or a
Chevy, and I'm still paying this thing off. Let's
all dump these trucks on Chrysler's doorstep
and see if a few million angry dodge owners
can finally make a diff.
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route 66
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
16:30:50
| RE: Spark knock
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Message:
I just took my 99 1500 Quad cab in for the "spark knock" problem. The symtoms were exactly what every here has posted. I figured they would just flash the computer and be done.
It turns out that one of the intakes sucked in part of the gasket, and the engine was doing some very nasty things. The mechanic was able to diagnose this within 15 mintues and was able reproduce the problems exactly.
Either way, it was covered under extended warranty, and is completely fixed now. NO knock at all. Even when pulling a really heavy load up hill while accelerating.
The mechanic explained that there was a newer part/model number for the "intake pan?" that they would to put in for me that fixed this issue???
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Jeremy
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2004
15:59:11
| RE: Spark knock
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Message:
Ok. Here's what I've found out so far. The
older Magnum engines didn't suffer as bad as
say 99-01 because emission standards kept
getting higher. I've talked to 95-96 owners and
they never had ping. The chamber has to be
so hot to burn all excess gases and 'pollution'
that it will likely ping on hard accel and/or bad
gas. So if your truck is a newer model,
especially a Hemi, try installing colder plugs
i.e. Autolite 3923 and 180 thermo. The engine
does not need to run at 195 as the stock
thermo does to pass emissions. That's why
dealers won't/can't suggest colder plugs or
thermo. My 318 runs beatifully until 195. Then
it's gutless and pings. If your truck has more
mileage on it, and it seems to use oil, even a
little, replace the plenum pan gasket with the
new metal style. It won't get sucked in
allowing oil into the chamber. I also always
run Chevron gas as it cleans the chamber.
Even the smallest carbon buildup from one
bad tank can cause ping. I test drove a new
Chevy 6.0 and it pinged very slightly. But their
computer has a sensor to retard timing when
it senses detonation. For some idiotic
reason, Dodge doesn't use a 'knock sensor'.
I'm using Champion Truckplugs and 87
chevron and it seems to be ok for now. I'm
installing a 180 thermo when I flush the
coolant this spring. If the ping returns after
that, the plenum gasket will be replaced.
Hope this helps.
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Karl
Dodge Dakota
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6/20/2004
19:52:27
|  RE: Spark knock
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Message:
i bought a new 2003 Quad Cab 1500,at 2400 miles it started to knock then quit,took it in for its 1st service at 2500 miles , told the Service Man. about it,, they found nothing wrong, now at 6400 miles it Knocked to beat the Band,well it seems a lifter let go,, but they dont know why,, it is still in the Dodge dealer Shop waiting for a Lifter , which has been 1 month now ,, you would think they would make spare parts ,,LOL,, they told me they found a Lifter in Woodstock,,problem is im in California ,, & i am starting to get a bit peeved ,, i think they should make 1 months Car payment & Insurance
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Scott
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
15:56:46
| RE: Spark knock
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Message:
Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. My 1999 5.2 Ltr has been knocking since about 30K miles. I've replaced the gasket and had multiple combustion chamber flushes. It got to the point where nothing worked from high octane gas, heavier weight oil, to engine flushes. I recently had the PCM flashed and nothing is working any more. I was about to get rid of it and thought I would browse around and read the posting above about the 3923 plugs and 180 degree thermo. I made this last attempt before I threw the towel in. IT WORKED. It runs like a new truck. Thanks so much for posting such a detailed description. I can't make it knock for nothing anymore. I'm also running the Chevron gas that was recommended as well. Happy Again.
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Geo
Dodge Dakota
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12/21/2004
15:48:07
| RE: Spark knock
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Message:
Had my 2000 ram 1500 70000 miles 5.2 to the dealer 4 times with no results .They changed the plenum gasket and I tried high octane. They also checked the o2 sensor and cleaned the lower throttle body unit and checked the compression on the intakes. This was all done under warrenty . Still pings. I have found an attorney who does lemon law and breach of warrenty suits with no cost to the consumer.
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geo
Dodge Dakota
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12/21/2004
15:50:28
| RE: Spark knock
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Message:
Had my 2000 ram 1500 70000 miles 5.2 to the dealer 4 times with no results .They changed the plenum gasket and I tried high octane. They also checked the o2 sensor and cleaned the lower throttle body unit and checked the compression on the intakes. This was all done under warrenty . Still pings. I have found an attorney who does lemon law and breach of warrenty suits with no cost to the consumer. Merry Christmas Chyrsler
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Scott
Dodge Dakota
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12/22/2004
07:03:59
| RE: Spark knock
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Message:
Geo, good luck with the attourney deal but you will probably hit a dead end. I took this issue to 3 different dealerships and got the same answer. This spark knock(pinging) technically doesn't do any harm to the engine. In fact, the newer models have a disclaimer in the manual that warns about spark knock. It drove me crazy to the point I was about to get rid of mine. If you don't mind losing a few miles a gallon, do what I did with the thermostat and the plugs. The issue will be gone. They say you lose horspower but I can't tell it. The emission issue I can't answer since I don't have to have mine checked. This is a very inexpensive fix that may out weight the legal cost. There are hundreds of postings about this issue on this site so you may want to browse around. Good Luck. Scott
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geo
Dodge Dakota
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1/18/2005
16:35:54
| RE: Spark knock
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Message:
Tried cooler plugs and 180 thermo. Truck still pings but i found the cure , got rid of truck. Got a ford f150 . fck dodge
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tstimpso
Dodge Dakota
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1/18/2005
21:41:41
|  RE: Spark knock
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Message:
you know what im tired of listening to the noise but the damn thing gets me to where i need to go its never left me stranded.If it quits running I will just have to rebuild it but my way.I have 94000 miles on my ram it will be brand new when im done with it.or when its tired of me.
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ReidMan
Dodge Dakota
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4/02/2014
18:07:40
| RE: Spark knock
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Message:
Been a Master tech 25 years, yes carbon build up causes spark knock, so does too hot a spark plug, timing chain stretch and the infamous plenum gasket oil sucker issue. We use to slot distributors hold downs to allow adjustments in the old days but lowering timing hurts performance and fuel economy. Running lower thermostat also hurts performance and fuel economy and causes even more carbon buildup. More free flow exhaust causes lean-out which causes more spark knock. Better intake airflow also causes lean-out, so all you modifiers you may have caused it yourself. But the number one issue is the cheap gas we get now. I don't care if you think premium is as good as it used to be because it ain't. No real win here but maybe octane booster but that gets expensive.
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