Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) What were they thinking?

[NPierce]

Ok, I like dodge, well maybe not dodge, but the motor I like. Seems like the guys/girls at chrysler corp. Have no idea of whats actually going on past the assembly line. (but I'm no engineer either, so bear with me) The way things are put together! Its like they put the bare motor in and said, oh no, we need fuel, so the FIRST thing they put in was a fuel filter and fuel system. Then they thought, oh no, we need to start it, so lets put some batterys. Ok, now its going down the road, we gotta stop it, lets put the ALL the brake stuff (lines booster etc) on top of what people normally work on and change like the FUEL FILTER! GOOD IDEA! Ok now to the transmission..... lets put the 5th gear on it, with nothing at all to hold it there, save some weight! (but they made the transmission from cast iron?) Ok, now lets put the transmission in the truck, ummm, lets make the crossmember tapered so you have to SPREAD THE FRAME to get it out (and still put 8 bolts in it), YES!!!! and to run it all, lets put a computer in it that has to be reflashed every 8-10 years! Sorry folks, I'm just a young punk kid or whatever, but these things in my book arnt good ideas!

 

[JO'Leary]

:-laf :-laf :-laf Well said!!!!

 

[Johnstra]

Why does the computer have get flashed every decade? That's one I haven't heard.

-john

 

[Forrest Nearing]

your 98 has hydraboost... takes about 3 minutes to change the fuel filter

 

[NPierce]

This isnt every truck ya'll. I have read tons of people having to have things reflashed because of one reason or another. And the fuel filter, well that is under the 400 brake lines that are in the way of everything... ..... and I can see about 4 GOOD spots to put another filter that could have been mounted in the first place. My old ford IDI, fuel filter right on top of the motor, good idea, easy to get to and replace, just unscrew and drop, not dodge, lets snake and bend everything to get it out! I'm just saying, when you start from scrach on a truck and do anything you want, why make everything so difficult and cramed together? And again, I dont know it all, as you already probably know, but these are just a FEW MINOR things that make life easier! Oo.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

IDI V8 brings the fuel up to the top of the engine... makes sense to put the filter up there too...



non IDI straight 6 brings the fuel on the side of the engine towards the pump...



but I know what you mean

 

[MMeier]

Oooooh, sounds like someone is having a bad morning!! :-laf

 

[QWaller]

Jusst try sticking even a finger under the hood of let's say a new Ford diesel. No thanks.

 

[LandShark]

NPierce: I know what you mean. I just changed my fuel filter yesterday. Took 15 minutes of stretching and snaking my arms thru the ABS parts and wire bundles. I filed down the razor sharp ABS milled aluminum parts years ago, so at least my arms don't look like someone took a razorblade to me. Only spilled about 4 oz. of diesel onto the starter this time. It would we nice if Dodge would require their designers to do normal maintence and actually drive what they design.

 

[Greenleaf]

Good thing your not a tech wrenching on a furd or chubby V8.



I luv my engine compartment on the first gen rigs. Plenty 'o room to set in there and take a nap if you wish. I have never wrenched on the second or third gen rigs. Looks like they took a step backwards in the orientaion of the pieces parts.



Whats a "hydraboost" ?????



Scott

 

[biggy238]

Hydroboost replaces the vacuum booster on the brakes with a hydrulaic piece that runs from the power steering pump.



I hate the the Oil filter like death. Cancer... war... oil filter I get told every time I put one on that it isn't a problem for anyone else. It takes me a minimum of 25 mins to put an oil filter on. I hate it. I hate the fuel filter too but my hands are long enough that I can thread it every time. @!@#$%#@$#%^%%$ oil filter though. Whatever.

 

[Willys]

I can agree with most of the original post, a lot of things on MOST newer vehicles don't make any sense as far as maintenance is concerned.



Though I don't enjoy it, changing the fuel filter and fuel supply/return lines is not really hard once you've done it a few times and have leetle hands...



Biggy, I remember the 1st time I changed oil in my truck. I probably spent hours trying to get the filter off- using various tools and wrenches that would NOT fit around the filter with the trans. lines in the way. After I got that original filter off(must have been put on with a wrench), I can loosen them by hand. I tighten them securely too, past what the instructions on the filter say, I just have strong hands. Using rubber gloves helps grip them.

 

[BigPapa]

An old girlfriend had a Ford EXP. To change her oil filter I had to drive the car up on stands, on a hill so the car would be level to drain the oil, crawl under the car and reach as far as I could to reach the oil filter. The engine was mounted sideways and the filter was on the back side, close to the top but you couldn't get to it from above for the stuff mounted above it. Our relationship didn't last very long :-laf



Scott