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Dodge Durango Maintenance and Repair

851 messages,  Last post on Apr 07, 2013 at 7:13 PM

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What is this discussion about? Dodge Durango, Dodge, SUV

Messages Page 67 of 85

#661 of 851 2002 durango cold weather problem by kristenb9

Dec 31, 2008 (7:21 pm)

whenever it is cold my durango has some weird problems going on.
 
all the dash lights come on and the speedometer, the oil gauge, the battery gauge, the rpm gauge and the gas gauge all stop working. also the light that shows what gear you are in is gone.
 
once the car warms up all this returns but sometimes im driving for 40 mins before this happens . i live in illinois so its pretty cold in the winter time.
 
is this some sort of glitch? or is there something broken that can be fixed?
i dont really want to take it to dodge because the last time i did they tried to tell me a whole bunch of stuff was wrong with it that wasnt wrong with it.
 
ive already replaced the central control modual (or something like that) one of the computers because i lost all the power doors and windows the head lights and the wipers. at least with what ever is wrong right now i can still drive it.
 
thanks kristen

#662 of 851 2001 Durango with no parking lights, plate lights, or dash lights by JHayner

Jan 01, 2009 (6:36 pm)

Please help me. My husband and I have been trying to figure out what is up with our vehicle. He is right now looking at every fuse in the vehicle. As we were coming home today our dash lights went out. We figured it was a fuse and waited till we got home to look. We then noticed we had no parking lights and the license plate lights were also out. If it is a fuse or module, which one? Everything thing else works just fine. Please help, I hope its an inexpensive fix. This vehicle is seems to giving us a lot of headaches as of late. I cant take another $300 job and neither can our bank account. lol Thank you.

#663 of 851 Re: All 2000 Durango 4.7L Owners [mvukas] by srhoffman

Feb 05, 2009 (8:16 am)

Replying to: mvukas (May 27, 2008 2:38 pm)
Can anyone tell me how/where to route this wire? I just ordered one for the same problem everyone else has had (and the supply of this harness is dwindling), but I don't know where it goes or how to get it there. Based on others description of this part, I'll be unplugging something at the PCM to insert this harness, but what does that affect? Will the PS pressure switch then be disconnected and throw a code again? I've been running without the O2 sensor plugged in for a few days and performance is right back where I'd expect it but with an inspection coming due I won't pass with an engine light on.
 
Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
Thanks,
Steve

#664 of 851 Re: All 2000 Durango 4.7L Owners [srhoffman] by mucuna

Feb 07, 2009 (1:40 pm)

Replying to: srhoffman (Feb 05, 2009 8:16 am)
I don't have an answer. But in respect to all those other 2000 4.7L O2 sensor sufferers in this forum, all of us out there that are checking emails for incoming edmonds forum to see if someone has answered this question. All of us that have attempted to install this harness bypass have asked it. If you have a willing and more competent parts dept person than I do at your local dodge dealership, they may be able to get the schematic and installation instructions. As for the smog cert, you may have some grace period for registration tags out of date, Pay the registration fees on time without the smog cert indicating you are in the process of smog repairs. You can get a 90 day grace in most states. Check for your state.
A warning to anyone going to the dealership for repairs- you go to them with these symptoms and they will charge hundreds even $1000+ replacing o2 sensors, doing fuel injection flush treatments, or replace injectors at $100+ each, or worse. None of this fixes the problem. It has to do with Power Steering (PS) fluid contamination from PS sensor failure, and leakage of the fluid into the harness ground wiring. PS fluid contaminated ground wires cause the PCM (Power Control Module) to send bad signals to systems like the fuel injectors, idle speed control,.and the problem child -the right bank upstream O2 sensor. The weak O2 sensor ground signal is interpreted by the PCM that an overly lean condition is in the right bank of cylinders. The PCM then sends long and short term fuel trim messages to the right bank of fuel injectors sensors to increase fuel mix to max rich causing soot and mileage drop. If you have this problem those are the problem codes the OBD2 will show. (right bank to lean, slow response on several fuel injectors, R bank O2 sensor signal delay) When the car is cold the sensors are inactive and defaulted at 0% which is a clean burning efficient fuel mix.
The whole problem begins with a loss of PS fluid and idle speed variations due to the initial PS switch failure. This occures long before the O2 sensor finally fails. Maybe early detection of PS fluid loss and timely replacement of the PS sensor could save some from this disaster.
Waited too long? there is hope- as I mentioned a simple unplugging of the upstream (from the cat) O2 sensor will bring the operating function back to normal. The PCM signal will stay at zero default mode which won't hurt the car. Gas mileage soot and performance will seem better than they have been for a long time. I went from 14.7 average MPG before the O2 failure. Suddenly I'm down to 8MPG when the problem hits, I now get about 16 average MPG. My engine light is on and because of the this it would not pass a smog test - if that is an issue for you at least you can continue operate the vehicle as normal until you get ti fixed.
I spent over $500 at the dealer for sensors and harness bypass install. They didn't install the harness saying I didn't need it. They didn't install it because THEY DON'T KNOW HOW. The part comes with no instruction or diagram.
I would sure like to see the solution posted on this forum. I will keep checking edmonds and waiting. For all those who don't have to worry about smog certs. and haven't already done so, replace the PS switch (30 bucks and real easy). Leave the new PS switch unpluged- it will just get recontaminated. runs fine unplugged. idle speeds are the best in years,- (PS switch sends to PCM to control idle speed -unplugged defaults to a steady 700rpm). The new PS switch will also stop any PS fluid leak. Finally unplug the upstream right O2 sensor. Secure all loose connector ends with plastic ties away from heat and harms way of the fan belt and exhaust pipe. Your car should run fine unless you have something else wrong. Smog certifiable aside, at least you can use your car without damaging cylinder walls, valves, and the cat. Peace

#665 of 851 Re: 2001 Durango with no parking lights, plate lights, or dash lights [JHayner] by elaney1981

Feb 19, 2009 (1:35 pm)

Replying to: JHayner (Jan 01, 2009 6:36 pm)
I had a problem with my 98 jimmy and come to find out it was the dimmer switch, I replaced it and everything is fine try that it is simple and cheap from a junk yard. Thanks Ed 98 Dodge Durango/98 GMC Jimmy

#666 of 851 Re: starts and dies! [mbradbury] by whiskey62

Feb 19, 2009 (10:23 pm)

Replying to: mbradbury (Nov 29, 2008 7:16 pm)
if that didnt help! have the manul for the 98 99 durango,dakoda it has a list of stuff. Incorrect idel speed,Fuel filter clogged and or water and impurities in fuel, Fauity fuel system or sensors,Fauity plug or plug gap or wiers, Vacuum leak at throttle body,intake manifold or vacuum hoses
   be happy to give whatever help i can from book or my own exp.

#667 of 851 Dodge Durango O 2 Sensor!!! by mcpryor

Mar 03, 2009 (5:33 pm)

dont know if anyone has thought about it, but my check engine light came on yesterday, and it says that it was the CAT! so my hubby reset it all and I drove it about 100 miles before I went to get it inspected today, ( had doctors appt an hr away)... anyways, right before I pull in, the light came on again!! MY LUCK!! so off to the shop we go, they replace the O 2 sensor and send me on my way, less than a mile down the road, BOOM!! Check engine light on again, still getting the same reading as before!! So, get my oldest from school and back to the shop we go...... MY O 2 SENSOR WAS FINE,............ ITS THE O 2 SENSOR RECEPTACLE..... it is damaged and we have no idea how, probably for the fact that it is almost 11 years old, LOL!!! so please, when you go in to have that sensor replaced, have them check the receptacle and save yourself some money!!!!

#668 of 851 Re: All 2000 Durango 4.7L Owners [mucuna] by julia1974

Mar 04, 2009 (4:51 pm)

Replying to: mucuna (Feb 07, 2009 1:40 pm)
Should we be thankful that we're not alone in this dilemna? I have suffered the same symptoms and thanks to this site, saved hundreds or thousands on repairs. I disconnected my O2 sensor and my truck has run fine. Engine light stays on, of course. I live in a rural area so no need to worry about passing the emissions test. Was wondering though, if so many of us are having this issue, what does it take for dodge to realize it? I think there should be a recall.

#669 of 851 Re: o2 sensor + power steering pressure switch Dodge Durango Nightmare [julia1974] by ncdodgeowner

Mar 06, 2009 (8:58 am)

Replying to: julia1974 (Sep 19, 2008 11:06 am)
I have a 2000 Durango with this very same problem. Unfortunately, like many others I had to fiure it out myself as Dodge is no help whatsoever. I am a DIY'er, because I cannot afford the incompetance that most dealerships provide. My problem started back in 2007. I figured out the power steering switch link to the failing oxygen sensor, but like a lot of people, I still have gone through several sensors due to residual fluid in the wiring harness. Luckily, I have not needed the truck much since I only use it to pull a boat. But I cannot pass emmissions until the problem is fixed, and thanks to our state's new laws, I have been fined $50 for exceeding the inspection period. I have decided to tackle the problem and hopefully provide specifics: i.e. wire colors, locations, etc. so that anyone else who cannot afford dealership BS and runaround can have a solution to this problem. It has been mentioned in these posts before, but from what I have found, disconnecting the front O2 sensor will make the truck run much better if you are having the low MPG/black soot problem. This is caused by a faulty O2 signal caused by the power steering fluid contamination. When you disconnect the O2 sensor, you will get a fault, but it will put the computer (PCM)in a default mode that basically assumes the sensor is dead and will ignore the signal (or lack therof) and instead rely on a preprogrammed algorithm to make up for it. It is not the optimal settings, but you will get 15-16 MPG instead of 4-8, as you should not have the heavy black soot at the tailpipe anymore. For those of you who do not have to deal with a OBDII emmissions inspection, this is really all you need to do since the default program is almost as good as with the sensor (I personally cannot tell a difference). Unfortunately for those of us with emmissions, we have to fix it. I started my repairs last night, and hope to report back soon with specifics for all the DIY'ers out there if it has not already been posted here.

#670 of 851 2002 Durango 5.9 starting problem by atown

Mar 09, 2009 (6:53 pm)

My durango won't start. It cranks over but no start. The fuel pump comes on and I get 45lbs of pressure at the fuel rail. I sprayed carb cleaner in the air intake and nothing. I hit the gas tank with the back of a shovel and nothing. I'm lost! People say it's the fuel pump ,but I have doubts. Any help!!!!!

Messages Page 67 of 85

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