# Dodge Dakota **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** dakota, computers, dodge\ **Created:** [January 13, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-dakota/42479 "2010-01-13T18:56:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nomad79](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/0ea827/32.png) [@Nomad79](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nomad79)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-dakota/42479/1 "2010-01-13T18:56:11Z")
I am looking to buy a reliable used 4WD truck. I moved to Colorado and my 2WD truck does not cut it. I want something reasonably priced and reliable, something I don’t have to make payments on. I’ve been looking at older trucks and found a 96 Dodge Dakota for sale. It has 127000 miles and no problems other than what the current owner describes as a problem with the computer chip in the transmission. He says the car is sluggish when you hit the gas from a stop and takes a while to speed up, then runs fine. He took it to a mechanic and the mechanic told him it’s a problem with the chip and could be replaced for $500-$700 plus labor, but the car will run fine without it. My question is whether this is a reasonable estimate for repairing this problem, as I would most likely get it fixed if I buy the truck. ---
**Author:** ![edb1961](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/edb1961/32/122_2.png) [@edb1961](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edb1961)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-dakota/42479/2 "2010-01-13T19:20:19Z")
I had a 1995 Dakota 2wd I traded in for a 2000 Blazer (AKA The Antichrist) when it started to have transmission problems. The 95 did not have a computer controlled transmission. The 96 Dakota is OBD-II so there is a possibility that the transmission is computer controlled, but I doubt it. Hopefully Transman can clear this up. I did a quick search and found a link discussing the TV cable (mechanically controls the shift points) on a 99 Dakota. [http://www.dodgedakotas.com/boards/v6/11081.html](http://www.dodgedakotas.com/boards/v6/11081.html) The best forum for all things Dakota is: [http://www.dakota-truck.net/](http://www.dakota-truck.net/) They should be able to help. Ed B. ---
**Author:** ![Nomad79](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/0ea827/32.png) [@Nomad79](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nomad79)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-dakota/42479/3 "2010-01-13T19:26:05Z")
Sweet, thanks!