Coolant Leak Question On 2001 Durango

To All,

I was changing the oil on the wife's 2001 Durango today and noticed a coolant leak dripping on the ground. I started looking around and found the culprit. It is a black cylindrical object with coolant lines going to and from it, and it sits near the firewall on the passenger side. It also has electrical lines going to it.

My first inclination is it is some sort of coolant line diverter or valve, but I can find no reference to it in any parts house web site. Can anyone out there point me in the right direction? I can fix most anything, but it is hard to do so when you don't even know the proper name for it.

Thanks for any help in advance, I appreciate it.

May God bless America,
Paladin

From what you describe that is the aux coolant pump for the rear heat as the engine water pump is not strong enough to do it alone.

Might be an aftermarket block heater (coolant) or an original equipment A/C coolant shutoff for when the A/C is in use you dont want hot coolant counteracting the cooling. I'd take off the heater hoses, trim them an inch, goop them w some sealant then reinstall them & clamp them tight. Or if it still leaks take it off & bypass it by connecting the 2 heater hoses w a piece of pipe and see where it is leaking & either fix it (if it is fixable) or replace it.

mod381,

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction. What you said made sense and I started prowling around the Internet using your nomenclature. I found the OEM part through a dealership and it should get here next week.

This Durango has been a good vehicle for us, but as soon as the wife wears it out completely we are going back to our old Ramcharger. Cheaper to operate and much simpler to work on.

Again, "muchisimas gracias".

Paladin