Q: Cold engine misfire and hesitation - 1997 Dodge Dakota

asked by on November 04, 2016

My issue is when I first start the truck I have to let it sit for a minute or so before I take off. If I try to take off without performing this warmup ritual it will misfire and lose power until it warms up. Once warm it smooths out and seems to run perfect. It doesn't seem to idle up like most cars do on cold starts. It goes strait to normal temp idle speed. Somewhere around 725-750 rpms. It will idle with a misfire for a minute or so and then smooth out and won't return until the next cold start. Theres not a check engine light. Ive changed the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, tps, iac, and pcv valve with no change. I had a parts store hook a scanner up to it while running and at normal op temp and the upstream o2 sensor was bouncing from .14-.900 volts. The intake air temp was 165. It was 45 outside. Its taking in air from the fender well not from the hot engine compartment. i know it will read hotter than 45 b/c it's in the manifold but 165 doesn't seem right. Is that normal?

My car has 150000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Hi. I believe the ambient air temperature sensor, which measures the intake air temperature for engine management, has failed. It is reporting a far higher temperature than the engine is getting, as you have noted. Engine management is creating a leaner mixture for the engine than it really needs during cold start, so it misfires and has low power.

Replacing this sensor should improve cold start behavior. I would recommend having a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to determine why the car is hesitating and replace the air temperature sensor if needed.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Car vibrating
If the brakes are vibrating when stopping, then the rotors are warped out and the bearings are bad. If you also have a vibration during acceleration you may be having a transmission or mount issue. You may have one or...
stuck in first gear
For this issue I would first recommend having your transmission inspected by a certified professional. There are a number of things including faulty shift solenoids (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-shift-interlock-solenoid), low fluid level, or catastrophic damage that could be causing your transmission to have...
During acceleration, the car behaves as if the brakes are being applied.
This is a known problem with this vehicle related to a faulty brake master cylinder (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/brake-master-cylinder-replacement). The symptoms are very similar to what you are describing in that the brakes will feel as if they are being applied when the...
Oily thick coolant
Hi there. This is a sure sign of a blown head gasket (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-replace-a-head-gasket-by-jerel-lawrence). This can happen when the car overheats causing the cylinder head gasket to fail. When this happens, this will allow oil to leak into the engine coolant...
Traction Light coming on
Hello. Your car is equipped with wheel speed sensors (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/wheel-speed-sensor-replacement) at each of the four wheels which monitor wheel speed while relaying this information constantly to the ABS and traction control system which are controlled by the car's ECU. When...
Heater and coolant not working
Engine coolant is not only responsible for cooling the engine, it provides heat for the interior as well. Coolant flows from the engine into the heater core, which is located inside the car behind the dash. If coolant is not...
trunk light
Hello. Thanks for writing in. Just like your door, there is a switch that is controlled by the manual opening and closing of the trunk. When the trunk is opened, the switch closed the connection which allows voltage to run...
New front pads & rotors (2mths) and hear a grinding noise when coming to a slow gradual stop. What could be causing this?
Hello, thank you for writing in. The last technicians that worked on your vehicle are not wrong. There are certain types of brake pads that will make a squealing noise when the brakes are applied. These are typically made from...
I went to get an oil change, and the mechanic noticed a leak in my transmission. This was on Saturday. They put more fluid in it.
There could be a leak on the input shaft, output shaft, oil pan, dipstick grommet, or the seal on the shifter linkage could be leaking. I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you...

Related articles

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Camshaft Position Sensor
Common signs include the Check Engine Light coming on, the vehicle not starting, and an overall reduction in vehicle drive quality.
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Mass Airflow Sensor
Common signs of problems with a mass airflow sensor include running rich at idle or lean under load, decrease in fuel efficiency, and rough idles.
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Timing Belt
Common signs include a ticking noise coming from the engine, an engine that won't turn over, engine misfires, and oil leaking in front of the motor.