Question on a Dodge Dakota 3.7 liter

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05-25-2009, 04:48 PM

CantRamItDodgeIt91

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Question on a Dodge Dakota 3.7 liter

My dad has a 2004 dodge Dakota SXT standard cab short bed 4x4, 3.7 liter V6 The question is on the cooling system, He is getting a high temperature reading on his dash gauge, but yesterday we changed his water pump, and thermostat, today yet again it is showing this. The strange part is when it heated up according to the gauge he was able to take off his radiator cap with little to no pressure behind it. Also yesterday we bled air out of the system. The only thing he is thinking that could be wrong would be a sensor, and I think it could be the Radiator cap. If anyone could help him/us out with this it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Brandon J.

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05-25-2009, 04:54 PM

richinny

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the cap should hold pressure. to verify the guage, get a thermometer that goes to 212 and see what you get.

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05-25-2009, 04:57 PM

CantRamItDodgeIt91

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Where do we stick said thermometer?

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05-25-2009, 05:07 PM

richinny

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in the top of the radiator, it should be close to the sender temp.

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05-25-2009, 07:00 PM

CantRamItDodgeIt91

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So just touch it to the top of the radiator cap? Because on this truck the radiator is like covered by a plastic overflow/windshield washer fluid reservoir. And the Cap is off about 8 inches from the actual radiator...

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05-25-2009, 07:44 PM

richinny

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sorry, i didn't know you had that kind of cap. hold it against the metal tank or core if the tanks are plastic, after it is warmed up.

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05-26-2009, 02:22 PM

ryan_e

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take the cap off and stick the thermometer into the coolant itself if it over flows it happens just dont burn yourself, use a shop rag

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05-26-2009, 08:16 PM

scotts74birds

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This may be of little value, but it seems that the newer engines are more suseptable to air pockets in the cooling system. Read they are recommending applying a vacuum to it and then filling. Dont ask me how you do that! We do that at the factory. Just a thought and hope it helps.