1988 Dodge Dakota Computer

1988 DODGE DAKOTA
20,000 MILES • 3.9L • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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BROKENEGGS
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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 ?
Apr 2, 2014 at 3:18 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
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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.
Apr 2, 2014 at 10:19 PM
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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 ?
Apr 3, 2014 at 1:40 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
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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.
Apr 3, 2014 at 2:49 AM
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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.
Apr 3, 2014 at 4:21 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 110,244 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?
Apr 4, 2014 at 11:52 AM
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BROKENEGGS
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The Length Of my Computer Is Ten Inches And The Witch Is Five Inches
Apr 5, 2014 at 2:10 AM
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