We NEED HELP

Asked by OwlBMe Feb 20, 2019 at 07:35 AM about the 1994 Dodge Dakota Club Cab RWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My boyfriend owns a 94 dodge
dakota. Bought fairly cheap, used.
He hasnt had it long and it had slight
issues backfiring sense the purchase.
It idols fine usually but recently at
stops it lags and sometimes does die
in the intersection upon take off. So
the backfiring and dying has
increased but now new issues like the
headlights go dim and sometimes
completely gone but the truck is still
running by the time the headlights are
completely out but shortly after it
loses all juice. We've had the battery
checked at auto zone and they said
the battery was bad. But then my
boyfriends dad checked the battery
the same day, different tool and it
read as fine. Also the wipers sropped
suddenly while driving too and there
is an extra wire attached to the
battery cable but we havent had tome
to follow it to its connection.
We are at a loss for solutions. And
money is tight right now or we wpuld
put it in a shop.
Please help us.

1 Answer
22,215

Gary answered 5 years ago

Sounds like the battery is fine. Once the engine is running, the alternator should be charging the battery. If the lights are going dim while driving, you may have a bad alternator. Best way to check is with a volt meter. the battery should have about 12.0 - 12.4 volts with the engine stopped. Engine running and the voltage should go up to about 12.8 - 13.2 which would indicate the alternator is generating electric. The backfiring and dying is a separate issue. You probably need to start with a tune-up. Check the spark plugs and plug wires. Also have Auto Zone check the computer for engine codes in the computer. Unfortunately, back firing is usually a timing or valve problem. the back fire id unburned fuel in the exhaust system that explodes. You need to get this fixed soon or it can cause other problems like ruining the catalytic converter.

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