1988 Dodge Dakota Computer

BROKENEGGS

MEMBER
1988 DODGE DAKOTA
3.9L
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
20,000 MILES

Well Guys Every Number That Comes Up On My Mutimeter Always Shows As A Minus, Guess This Means Bad Computer (Right)? Also How Do I Know If My Distributor Rotor Needs To Be Replace? I Tested It With A Led Test Light By Hooking Up One End Then The Other End And Light Came On, Does This Mean It Is Good? If It Is, How Can I Tell If It Has Worn To Short?

6 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,650 POSTS

If you get - readings from a multi-meter, chances are you have the polarity switched. In other words, power is traveling through the meter in reverse. Check that.

As far as the rotor, if it shows signs of wear or is corroded, it should be replaced.

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Thursday, April 3rd, 2014 AT 5:19 AM

BROKENEGGS

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Since This Is The Very First Time I Have Ever Tried To Use A Multi-Meter I Don't Really Know What I Am Doing. So I Need Your Help In Finding The Right Settings I Need To Use On This Multi-Meter To Be Able To Check My Computer. What Should Show Up On The Meter If It Should Not Show A Reading?

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Thursday, April 3rd, 2014 AT 8:40 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

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109,650 POSTS

Okay, I will try to help, but I need to know what you are checking on the computer. To be honest, the computer can't be checked with a multi-meter. However, you can check to see if power is being sent to specific components. For example, you can check to see if the computer is sending a signal to the fuel injector.

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Thursday, April 3rd, 2014 AT 9:49 AM

BROKENEGGS

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I Was Told That My Computer Is Only For Spark Control, So This Was What I Was Trying To Check On To See If It Was Sending Out A Spark.

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Thursday, April 3rd, 2014 AT 11:21 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,650 POSTS

That is possible, but unlikely. I have to be honest, I don't see many this old very often. I did, however, just replace a computer in a 1990 because the alternator burned it up. The alt was regulated through the computer. Is the 88 fuel injected? Is it a larger computer about 10 inches by 8 inches?