Expert: Steve Forbes - 9/27/2004

Question
my 2.5 liter dakota is making a popping sound, i replaced the distributor and rotor, while it is better it is still making the sound. also the plugs are comming out blackend after very short periods of time. your help will be greatly appreciated.

Answer
The pop your hearing is a miss fire, comming back through the throtle body.  you need to look at the wires and the timing, You should be about 10 to 12 deg btdcwith the coolant sensor unpluged.

The plugs are black because of the miss fire.

Good luck,

Steve