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Dodge Dakota (ND). Manual - part 125

CONDITION

POSSIBLE CAUSES

CORRECTION

INADEQUATE HEATER
PERFORMANCE. THERMOSTAT
FAILED IN OPEN POSITION

1. Has a Diagnostic trouble Code
(DTC) been set?

1. (Refer to 25 - EMISSIONS
CONTROL - DESCRIPTION) for
correct procedures and replace
thermostat if necessary

2. Coolant level low

2. (Refer to 7 - COOLING -
STANDARD PROCEDURE)

3. Obstructions in heater hose/
fittings

3. Remove heater hoses at both
ends and check for obstructions

4. Heater hose kinked

4. Locate kinked area and repair as
necessary

5. Water pump is not pumping
water to/through the heater core.
When the engine is fully warmed
up, both heater hoses should be
hot to the touch. If only one of the
hoses is hot, the water pump may
not be operating correctly or the
heater core may be plugged.
Accessory drive belt may be
slipping causing poor water pump
operation.

5. (Refer to 7 - COOLING/ENGINE/
WATER PUMP - REMOVAL) If a
slipping belt is detected, (Refer to 7
- COOLING/ACCESSORY
DRIVE/DRIVE BELTS - DIAGNOSIS
AND TESTING). If heater core
obstruction is detected, (Refer to 24
- HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING -
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING).

STEAM IS COMING FROM THE
FRONT OF VEHICLE NEAR THE
GRILL AREA WHEN WEATHER IS
WET, ENGINE IS WARMED UP
AND RUNNING, AND VEHICLE IS
STATIONARY. TEMPERATURE
GAUGE IS IN NORMAL RANGE

1. During wet weather, moisture
(snow, ice or rain condensation) on
the radiator will evaporate when the
thermostat opens. This opening
allows heated water into the
radiator. When the moisture
contacts the hot radiator, steam
may be emitted. This usually occurs
in cold weather with no fan or
airflow to blow it away.

1. Occasional steam emitting from
this area is normal. No repair is
necessary.

COOLANT COLOR

1. Coolant color is not necessarily
an indication of adequate corrosion
or temperature protection. Do not
rely on coolant color for determining
condition of coolant.

1. (Refer to LUBRICATION &
MAINTENANCE/FLUID TYPES -
DESCRIPTION) Adjust coolant
mixture as necessary.

COOLANT LEVEL CHANGES IN
COOLANT RESERVE/OVERFLOW
TANK. TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS
IN NORMAL RANGE

1. Level changes are to be
expected as coolant volume
fluctuates with engine temperature.
If the level in the tank was between
the FULL and ADD marks at normal
operating temperature, the level
should return to within that range
after operation at elevated
temperatures.

1. A normal condition. No repair is
necessary.

7 - 12

COOLING

STANDARD PROCEDURE

DRAINING COOLING SYSTEM - ALL ENGINES

WARNING: DO NOT REMOVE CYLINDER BLOCK
DRAIN PLUGS OR LOOSEN RADIATOR DRAIN-
COCK WITH SYSTEM HOT AND UNDER PRES-
SURE. SERIOUS BURNS FROM COOLANT CAN
OCCUR.

DO NOT WASTE reusable coolant. If solution is clean,
drain coolant into a clean container for reuse.

1. Remove radiator pressure cap.

2. Loosen radiator petcock.

3. Remove cylinder block drain plugs (1).

REFILLING COOLING SYSTEM

WARNING: DO NOT REMOVE CYLINDER BLOCK DRAIN PLUGS OR LOOSEN RADIATOR DRAINCOCK WITH
SYSTEM HOT AND UNDER PRESSURE. SERIOUS BURNS FROM COOLANT CAN OCCUR.

DO NOT WASTE reusable coolant. If solution is clean, drain coolant into a clean container for reuse.

Clean cooling system prior to refilling. (Refer to 7 - COOLING - STANDARD PROCEDURE).

1. Install cylinder block drain plugs. Coat the threads with Mopar

Thread Sealant with Teflon.

2. Close radiator petcock.

3. Fill cooling system with a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/

FLUID TYPES - DESCRIPTION).

4. Fill coolant reserve/overflow tank to MAX mark on indicator stick.

5. Start and operate engine until thermostat opens (upper radiator hose warm to touch).

6. If necessary, add antifreeze mixture (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/FLUID TYPES - DESCRIP-

TION), to the coolant reserve/overflow tank. This is done to maintain coolant level between the MAX and MIN
marks. The level in the reserve/overflow tank may drop below the MIN mark after three or four warm-up and
cool-down cycles.

ADDING ADDITIONAL COOLANT

The use of aluminum cylinder blocks, cylinder heads and water pumps requires special corrosion protection. In
order to maintain the required protection for these components and cooling system performance, only use the
appropriate fluid (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/FLUID TYPES - DESCRIPTION) when servicing the
vehicle. This coolant offers the best engine cooling without corrosion when mixed with 50% distilled water to obtain
a freeze point of -37°C (-35°F). If it loses color or becomes contaminated, drain, flush, and replace with fresh prop-
erly mixed coolant solution. This coolant offers the best engine cooling without corrosion when mixed with 50%
distilled water to obtain a freeze point of -37°C (-35°F). If it loses color or becomes contaminated, drain, flush, and
replace with fresh properly mixed coolant solution.

CAUTION: Do not use coolant additives that are claimed to improve engine cooling.

COOLING

7 - 13

Do not remove the radiator cap to add coolant to the system. When adding coolant to maintain the correct level, do
so only at the reserve/overflow bottle. Remove the radiator cap only for testing or when refilling the system after
service. Removing the cap unnecessarily can cause loss of coolant and allow air to enter the system, which pro-
duces corrosion.

WARNING: DO NOT REMOVE OR LOOSEN THE RADIATOR CAP WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM HOT AND
UNDER PRESSURE. SERIOUS BURNS FROM THE COOLANT OR HIGH PRESSURE STEAM CAN OCCUR.

COOLANT LEVEL CHECK

NOTE: Do not remove radiator cap for routine
coolant level inspections. The coolant level can be
checked at coolant recovery bottle (2).

The coolant reserve/overflow system (5) provides a
quick method for determining coolant level without
removing radiator pressure cap. With engine not run-
ning, open the coolant recovery bottle cap and remove
coolant level indicator dipstick to observe coolant level
in coolant recovery bottle. The coolant level should be
between ADD and FULL marks. If the coolant level is
at or below the ADD mark, fill the recovery bottle with
a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water (Refer to
LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/FLUID TYPES -
DESCRIPTION) ONE QUART AT A TIME. Repeat this
procedure until the coolant level is at the FULL mark.

COOLING SYSTEM CLEANING/REVERSE FLUSHING

CLEANING

Drain cooling system and refill with water. Run engine with radiator cap installed until upper radiator hose is hot.
Stop engine and drain water from system. If water is dirty, fill system with water, run engine and drain system.
Repeat until water drains clean.

REVERSE FLUSHING

Reverse flushing of cooling system is the forcing of water through the cooling system. This is done using air pres-
sure in the opposite direction of normal coolant flow. It is usually only necessary with very dirty systems with evi-
dence of partial plugging.

REVERSE FLUSHING RADIATOR

Disconnect radiator hoses from radiator inlet and outlet. Attach a section of radiator hose to radiator bottom outlet
fitting and insert flushing gun. Connect a water supply hose and air supply hose to flushing gun.

CAUTION: Internal radiator pressure must not exceed 138 kPa (20 psi) as damage to radiator may result.

Allow radiator to fill with water. When radiator is filled, apply air in short blasts. Allow radiator to refill between blasts.
Continue this reverse flushing until clean water flows out through rear of radiator cooling tube passages. Have radi-
ator cleaned more extensively by a radiator repair shop.

REVERSE FLUSHING ENGINE

Drain cooling system. Remove thermostat housing and thermostat. Install thermostat housing. Disconnect radiator
upper hose from radiator and attach flushing gun to hose. Disconnect radiator lower hose from water pump and
attach a lead-away hose to water pump inlet fitting.

7 - 14

COOLING

CAUTION: On vehicles equipped with a heater water control valve, be sure heater control valve is closed
(heat off). This will prevent coolant flow with scale and other deposits from entering heater core.

Connect water supply hose and air supply hose to flushing gun. Allow engine to fill with water. When engine is filled,
apply air in short blasts, allowing system to fill between air blasts. Continue until clean water flows through the lead
away hose.

Remove lead away hose, flushing gun, water supply hose and air supply hose. Remove thermostat housing and
install thermostat. Install thermostat housing with a replacement gasket. Refer to Thermostat Replacement. Connect
radiator hoses. Refill cooling system with correct antifreeze/water mixture. Refer to Refilling the Cooling System.

CHEMICAL CLEANING

In some instances, use a radiator cleaner (Mopar Radiator Kleen or equivalent) before flushing. This will soften
scale and other deposits and aid flushing operation.

CAUTION: Follow manufacturers instructions when using these products.

SPECIFICATIONS

TORQUE

DESCRIPTION

N·m

Ft. Lbs.

In. Lbs.

Automatic Belt Tensioner to Block - Bolts

Automatic Belt Tensioner Pulley - Bolt

Block Heater - Bolt

Generator/Compressor Mounting Bracket - Bolts -

No. 1 and 2

No. 3

Fan Shroud Mounting - Bolts

Fan Blade to Fan Drive - Bolts

Idler Pulley - Bolt

Radiator to Support - Bolts

200

Thermostat Housing - Bolts - All Except 4.7L

200

Thermostat Housing - Bolts - 4.7L

112

Transmission Auxiliary Oil Cooler - Bolts

Upper Radiator Closure Panel - Bolts

Water Pump - Bolts

FILL VOLUMES

SPECIFICATIONS

DESCRIPTION

SPECIFICATION

Metric

Standard

3.7L

15.4L

16.2 qts.- to the middle of the cold

fill range

4.7L

15.4L

16.3 qts.

5.7L

15.4L

16.2 qts.

COOLING

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