2001 Dodge Dakota 39 Oil Pan Removal Easy
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2003
18:07:11
Subject: oil pump removal IP: Logged
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I HAVE A 88 DODGE DAKOTA 3.9 THAT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I BOUGHT IT FROM A SINGLE OWNER OLDER MAN AND IT ONLY HAS 67000 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE OIL PUMP HAS GONE OUT ON IT AND I AM NEEDING TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE TO PULL THE MOTOR TO GET THE OIL PAN OFF, SO THAT I WILL KNOW APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH WORK AND LABOR COST THAT I AM LOOKING AT.
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2003
19:15:45
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no the pan can be removed with motor in truck.
are you sure it,s the oil pump?the oil sending units are noted for not working.$20 in the back by the dist.
the oil pump shaft may have broke or the hex end that goes in the pump might have rounded off.
this shaft can be removed by taking the dist out and looking down the dist hole,you,ll see a gear with a slot in it,take a long screw driver that fits the slot and turn one way or the other this will back the shaft out.[note which direction the slot is pointing so the old or new shaft can be reinstalled correctly.
if the lifters are not tapping its probaly the sending unit.
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2003
19:24:01
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Man,,,what is it with all these oil pump failures!!??
Stephanie,,What happened when your pump went out?
Let us know what to expect, did it just flat out quit pumping oil or did you notice a steady loss of pressure over a given amount of time?
One other thing to check is the pickup screen, see if its clogged with debris from the engine once you get the pan off. Lots of folks are noticing this to be a problem after inspecting the oil pumps pickup tube (Pickup Screen Clogged).
And from what I understand you should be able to remove the oil pan after you disconnect the engine mounts and jack the engine up a little bit, just watch the clearance between the distributor and the fire-wall as you jack the engine.
looking foreward to hearing more about your problem, and what you find once you get that pan off, I have a 318 in mine but the similarities of the two engines has me curious.
Ande
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2003
19:54:08
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i,ve owned several of these trucks over the years
but same of the problem is they put these small pick-ups [2"s screens] when the old LA motors had
a [4"-5" screen]
when in doubt replace the pump,$50-$75 new pump and pan gasket,when you do it youself,3hrs work,
peace of mind.
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2003
21:29:51
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3 hours for a two wheel drive, how about a four wheel drive? can the differential housing be unbolted and lowered enough without unbolting the axles?
Dodge Dakota
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4/03/2004
18:04:09
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Does anyone know how to get the oil pan off of a 1997 Dak 3.9Mag 2wd, auto??? HELP!!
Dodge Dakota
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4/03/2004
23:29:05
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Stephanie, I just got finished with this on my 92 Dak. Do yourself a favor and change the oil sending unit in the back of the engine beside the distributor first! I found out this was my problem and I've seen the same post on this forum many times before. Sometimes you will get a low oil pressure light and your gauge will read low also, DON'T BELIEVE THEM! This is a 15 min. job and will cost you about $30 , if you do the work yourself. If this doesn't work then check out the oil pump. On 2wd daks it's relatively simple to change. If you have a 4x4, like I do, it can be a real pain. you have to drop more than just the differential to get at them. I would suggest if you want to do it yourself get a service manual first. Prefferably one from dodge!
Dodge Dakota
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4/07/2004
20:29:58
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I have a 1989 dakota 4x4. I had to change the oil pan on it. I had to drop the front axle. its really not that hard there is 8 bolts that attach to the axle. That cv axle has to come out as well.And you also have to remove the center link.
GenI
4/08/2004
03:25:05
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Thanks for the info, I finally got the Oil pan out. Just had to jack the engine up till the cab mounts started stretching and the firewall started bending. but I think everythings OK, Kurt
you got it
Dodge Dakota
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4/09/2004
01:34:39
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Kurttb1
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove oil dipstick.
3. Disconnect distributor cao and postion out of the way.
4. Raise vehicle.
5. Drain Engine oil.
6. Remove exhaust pipe.
7. Remove motor mount bolts.
8. Raise engine by way of oil pan using a block of wood between the jack and oil pan.
9. When engine is high enough, place bolts back thru engine motor part that attaches to frame.
10. Lower engine so bottom of engine rests on replacement bolts.
11. After removing jack assembly, remove oil pan.
One thing I have done in the past, when raising the engine is to place a couple of blocks of wood between the motor mounts and add as necessary to maintain maximum clearance between the frame cross member and the bottom of the frame. I would cut up an old 2x4 and small pieces of plywood to use as addtional shimming to the needed height to remve thew pan. Hope I not to late with this.
GenI
4/09/2004
02:15:24
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Hi Wadak, Thanks for the info, It's never too late to get more informed. But I did manage to get the Oil pan out and in and yesterday My truck was back on the Road ran Fine after major repairs including Timing Chain & Gears, Heads redone W 6 new exh valves & all new rods, new oil pump new rear main seal. Boy am I glad it runs? My first time of getting that deep into a engine, So far so good.
I did notice some noise coming from my Tilt steering wheel now when I move it, I'm wondering if I got something out of place by Jacking the engine so high & into the firewall, I guess I'll have to check into in a bit more, Thanks again, Kurt
you got it
Dodge Dakota
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4/09/2004
10:00:42
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are you sure it's the oil pump and not the oil sending unit? oil sending unit going bad is very common, i had to replace one in my truck 2 weeks ago
Dodge Dakota
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10/22/2010
18:29:06
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I have a 97 doka 146000 mile on truck I'am having same probalem . About to do the samething remove the oil pump thankyou guys ang ladies for all the advice on here. I think the made these thing to fail.
oh i think wife fath who past last year never change oil in this truck for years
mike frazier. louisville ky.
Dodge Dakota
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2/12/2011
18:00:40
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if your 97 dodge dakota is tapping and the oil gauge is not working what do you thimk the problem is
Dodge Dakota
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2/13/2011
19:04:50
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If u hear the sound of marbles in a tin can, and ur gauge isn't
fluctuating from middle to high then it's ur oil pump.
Dodge Dakota
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3/15/2013
13:40:18
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does a failing oil pump cause pressure to drop at an idle? oil pressure is fine on highway. after truck warms up, that's when pressure drops. it's a 1989 dakota, 3.9 v6. i'm hoping it's sending unit.
Dodge Dakota
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5/15/2013
17:06:33
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To glincjr3, I had a ford with this problem and it
was a plugged oil pickup screen
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2013
19:26:59
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Changing the oil pump sounds easy until your doing it.
You will say...I should of taken it to the garage.
You will yell at your wife or girlfriend.
You will start drinking beer.
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2014
12:17:09
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I'm having quite a time trying to get my oil pan out. It's really frustrating because I've done it before on this same truck. I have the engine jacked up with the mounts sitting on the bolts as per instruction and I jacked the transmission to level the engine. I'm still about 3/4 of an inch from clearing the transmission housing. jacking the tranny end just lifts the truck off the jack stands at this point. Any ideas?
Dodge Dakota
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2/08/2014
06:28:29
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I told you so! Have fun!
Dodge Dakota
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6/29/2014
03:52:26
RE: oil pump removal IP: Logged
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knowledge and high dollartools thats why the
mechanics make it look so easy . welcome to
hardknocks college.
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