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I have a 1995 Dodge Dakota 4×4 3.9v6 automatic
As I live in Wisconsin a few weeks ago after a bad storm I was driving it on the interstate in 4 High doing 50-65mph. After about 20 miles I started noticing foul smells, an increasingly loud knocking noise, and the truck was unable to keep speed. I HAD to get to a National Guard drill so I couldn’t stop. I pulled over, tried putting it back in 2 High and continuing… All the symptoms got worse and eventually the truck wouldn’t do more then 30mph and was shuttering and jerking all over. I got it to where I was going and parked it and two days later when leaving it would only travel about a total of four feet frontwards and backwards before something would lock up and the truck wouldn’t move.
I left it there since and went back tonight to see if I could break it lose and get it home and save myself a tow fee. Both 4×4 options did nothing but make loud whining noises, I put it in 2H and rapidly floored it in reverse and it eventually broke loose and I was able to drive it away. The knocking noises continued for about two miles before they went silent (something broke free?) and I was able to get it back up to 65mph and back home. The entire way though the truck still made foul smells, shuttered, and pulled hard left which was a new symptom.
This is my first RWD and 4×4 so I’m new to transmissions, transfer cases, all that. I know the engine itself is running fine I’m guessing its the transfer case or transmission or something. Does anyone know what this could be and what it would approximately cost to get fixed? The truck is a beater so it’s not worth a new transmission I’d like to save as much money if possible if I have to cut my losses.
I appreciate any help! :pinch:
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That kind of noise from an automatic transmission is never good. They are a beast of their own. Are you sure it is the transmission making the noise? My guess is it might be the differential(s), as you mentioned it was pulling to the left.
Like I said I’m new to trucks, transmissions, differentials, transfer cases all that.. All I know is that its not the motor.
If you lift all 4 wheels of ground you can spin them and change transfer box options (4wd/2wd). That way you know is problem in transfer case, rear or front differential. If it pulls to side differentials are most likely. If it doesn’t have friction locks you can spin one wheel of an axle to one direction and another should spin to another direction, if not or its hard that differential is faulty.
Pulling to the left is not typical of a central driveline problem. I wonder if you may have a seized caliper or drum, or wheel bearing, or whether there is something wrong with your differential. Or, maybe there is a problem with unlocking the front wheels when you shift out of 4WD.
It depends on how much you want to investigate this yourself — having it up on a lift would make it safer and easier to diagnose, especially to localize that sound with the wheels turning. You can do that with jack stands but it is not very safe. There’s nothing wrong with getting advice from a pro, and often the diagnosis and estimate are free. After that you can make the decision as to whether you feel confident to tackle it yourself….
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