Automotive/2000 Dodge Dakota

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Expert: - 12/18/2007


Question
My truck has had issues with the gauges since I bought it 3 years ago.  They periodically go out and "no bus" flashes on the odometer.

Recently, it has been stalling while traveling.  All power is lost.  If I bang on the steering wheel, it will start.

This seems to be on colder mornings lately.  It stalled out 3 times in a 10 mile stretch one morning.

It also has not started several mornings lately, but started after i banged on the steering wheel.  

I have already invested over $500 with the dealer and other mechanics with no improvement.

Any insight would be appreciated.  Thanks.

Answer
Intermittent connections can be the most difficult and the most frustrating to find.  It is a classic Murphy's Law observation that any such problems seem to "clear up" entirely whenever one is actively hunting them!  The good news is that intermittent connections generally are a very "low-tech" problem, and usually can be remedied quite simply, once the problem is found.

Expansion and contraction often plays a role, as noted when intermittent connections appear to fail more frequently when the weather is cold, as the detached ends of the broken bond contract away from each other.

I have no information on your vehicle, but do wonder if the problem may be one internal to your ignition switch (which I assume is on the steering column), or in the bus connections to or perhaps from it.  Perhaps you should take your investigation there.  Do a good visual inspection first, looking for any looseness or burned appearance to conneotors.  Work the switch mechanism itself, feeling for any roughness.  With the battery disconnected, use the ohms range of a digital multimeter (DMM) to look for breaks in continuity while operating the switch.  You might also try "Freeze Mist" or a similar product, essentially a canned refrigerant which goes to vapour phase as it leaves the spray can, taking up heat as it does so, and effectively freezing the connections or components to which it is applied.  Fast freezing will force any unbonded connections present to separate and thus pinpoint them.

If the above doesn't find anything, spray contact cleaner and lubricant into the switch and work it well again to distribute the product and wipe it over the internal contacts.

Any of the above will probably find the problem, and perhaps even fix it.  Your investment will largely be time and patience.  One thing nobody wants to do is just throw money at a problem in the hope that it will go away.

Good luck ... EGK

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Ernest (Ernie) Kenward

Expertise

The challenges I most enjoy are thoughtful technical questions of a trouble-shooting nature in both electrical, power electronic and mechanical systems, mainly automotive but also machine control and small-machine PLC applications. Please note, however, that I am NOT a walking shop manual! I DO, however, make it a point to have those manuals and other service literature for those vehicles I DO own, and highly recommend that anyone serious about maintenance or modification of their vehicles do the same; MOST of your answers WILL be found there. For that matter, I do NOT go out of my way to acquire shop manuals for any vehicle I do NOT own! That being the case, any general query to me along the lines of "What is the meaning of this code read from the ECU of my 2015 XYZ?" or "Where is the fuse for the windshield washer pump found?" (try your car's electrical distribution panel for a start!) will not go far. What I do offer is a pretty good collection of literature, insights and hands-on experience with 1950s to 1980's Ford products (plus a developing database of information and practice with the Mercedes diesel cars), along with an engineering perspective and the ability to design and implement custom control, electrical and mechanical subsystems for vehicles. For that reason, I am happy to make my thoughts and efforts available to those who are of like mind and/or are seriously making a point of learning about their vehicles. Use the Opportunity to Learn!

Experience

A key skill in my work and hobby pursuits both is STRATEGIC TROUBLESHOOTING. I am a senior instructor in Electrical Engineering Technology at a leading Canadian polytechnic, my areas being Electrical Power and Industrial Control, electrical and electronics design and manufacturing, and AutoCAD and related CAD/CAE software - plus equipment problem-solving and new equipment design and prototyping. Hobby-wise, I have 30-plus years of experience in auto restoration, mostly in electrical and mechanical systems. Ongoing projects include a 1959 Edsel Corsair, my 1978 Ford E250 class-B motorhome conversion, and the care and upkeep of my Mercedes 300CD. My vehicles become engineering test beds for electrical and mechanical upgrades as ideas present themselves. This includes the design and production of circuit boards to restore or enhance features for which no OEM replacement parts are obtainable, or where better specifications or reliability can be had via newer concepts. Regarding the E250 RV conversion, I designed and continue to revise a custom power distribution system, managed by a Programmable Controller (PLC); this has made most revisions as easy as uploading new firmware as I develop it. The "mini" PLC is a powerful device for custom automotive control systems. One good example (there are many) would be the Moeller "Easy Relay"; these offer a wealth of control, monitoring and variable-and-status display options for such projects. A good example project which has worked well is that one for my RV noted above, which has been on the job - revised in firmware only - for a decade now. It is a load management and charging control system to avoid the sulfation-induced early failure that often befalls deep-cycle batteries used in RV power applications. The battery installed in 2003 lasted long enough to more tnan pay for the PLC that contributed to its longer life ... and the PLC will be there for the next battery as well!

Organizations
IEEE - senior member ... past WCC Student Activities; SME - senior member ... past chair, greater Vancouver chapter chair 318; Edsel Owners' Club - have served in various capacities on chapter executive during seventies; have been Power and Driveline resource on the Edsel Owners' Club "E-team" for more than a decade.

Education/Credentials
Graduate of UBC

Awards and Honors
Certificates of appreciation from IEEE and SME for work in student and chapter activities

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