Clutch replaced and now 9MPG?

My 99 Dakota had its clutch go out when I was 60 miles from home. Some small Clutch shop replaced it for $600. As I'm driving home, I can smell exhaust coming from under the truck when at a stop light. Also, the truck is gutless going up hill. My digital display shows I'm averaging 9MPG going 60 down the freeway while I usually get 19MPG. When I let the foot of the gas and in neutral, the tachometer does not drop like it used to. And to top it off, the clutch rattles like a tin can with marbles.

Could the exhaust be on wrong or is the clutch to blame for change in fuel economy? I just picked it up and the shop is now closed until Monday.

I plan to prop it up tomorrow to see if I can find the leak.

Reply to
ssuckler
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TAKE IT BACK!!!

Reply to
thenitedude

Noooo!!!!

Take it somewhere else and then get your money back from the first shop. They have already demonstrated their (in)competence.

Reply to
Paul Hovnanian P.E.

They make left something unplugged.... like the maf sensor or the pressure reg.

Reply to
Paul

************ Sounds like the repair was erroneously performed...Could be several things. It wont heal itself, likely.
*********** Exhaust leaks, rattles, are annoying and maybe even dangerous, but I do not see this alone as being the reason for the gutlessness and loss of power. That is, unless the catalytic convertor innards have broken to pieces and destroyed the exhaust capability.

A slipping clutch could drop the economy and make the vehicle gutless. Burning clutch material could also give you a "hot" smell.

********* I hope you solve it quickly by yourself. Otherwise, you may have a fight getting the original shop to give you some of your money back.
Reply to
HLS

An exhaust leak before the O2 sensor can mean the O2 sensor is seeing weird values, and that could cause the computer to be knocking the mixture way off.

The OP should take the thing back on Monday and have them take a look at the exhaust. It's easy to screw something like that up if you aren't careful.

That's a very distinctive smell, though. The OP might not recognize it but his mechanic should be able to tell instantly when he smells it.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

I got under the truck and found that the O2 Sensor before the catlytic converter was damaged. It was like they forgot to disconnect it and just yanked on it causing it to crack. The put it back on but must have came loose because there is no clip or tension for it to stay on. I put on a new one and am back to normal.

Should the shop pay for the new O2 sensor since they broke this one?

Reply to
ssuckler

The shop should pay. cuhulin

Reply to
cuhulin

A ten year old cooked plastic clip broke and it's the shop's fault? Maybe they should do the labor free.

Reply to
Steve Austin

The O2 Sensor is only six months old. I replaced all of them at

120,000 miles.

Reply to
ssuckler

The 'tech' at the shop was clearly incompetent or really careless.

I would be worried about what else he screwed up and I would take the broken part to the shop's manager expecting to be reimbursed for it.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail > The O2 Sensor is only six months old. I replaced all of them at > 120,000 miles.
Reply to
Mike Romain

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