Randomly shutting off only when the outside weather is hot

1998 DODGE DAKOTA
200,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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MOLLY WILSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Vehicle has been randomly stalling out, then taking from less than 5 minutes up to 3-4 hours before it will crank again. The weird part is that it only does it when it's hot outside. This started last summer, then went the entire winter without doing it. Now that it's getting hot outside again, it's back to doing the same thing.
May 31, 2021 at 5:10 PM
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KASEKENNY
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 18,907 POSTS
This could be a couple things but the only things that really care about the heat or outside temperature are electronics. So I suspect we have a sensor issue or PCM issue.

The most likely cause of this is a crank sensor. Here is a guide that will help with this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-crankshaft-sensor

I attached the replacement instructions below from the manual. One way to check this would be to see if when the engine is cranking and not starting, is the RPM/tachometer moving? Normally when it doesn't move that is a sign the crank sensor is failed. It could still be a PCM but I would go with a crank sensor first if this is the case.

Please let us know what you find with this. Thanks
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Jun 1, 2021 at 1:50 AM
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