1st Gen 1998 Dodge Durango Problems

Hi everyone,

I have a green 1st Gen 1998 Durango SLT 4x4 as a daily driver with 200,000 miles on the clock. It is a 318 and is a great "truck", however it has been giving me problems lately. I am not sure if anyone here can help me out, but if anyone can it would be much appreciated. The problems never happened before and they just recently happened on Monday of this week. The problems I am having with it is it stalled on me twice at a stoplight, it was jerking and/or bucking, was backfiring, and the idling/rpm's were all over the place too. It would not stay at a consistent idle. Interesting thing is that it is NOT throwing any codes. I hope the engine is not going on it, fingers crossed . The throttle position sensor was already replaced.

If anyone can help me out it would be much appreciated, thanks everyone.

Have you tried cleaning the idle air control (IAC) valve? Relatively inexpensive also as sometimes cleaning doesn't work. Either way, be sure to clean the port also.
I have had to replace several on my Mopars over the years.
Also, have you checked the fuel pressure?


Tim

Hi Mr. Tim,

The throttle body was cleaned already but not sure on the IAC. I would assume so if the throttle body and just about everything else was too. I suppose I will try it when I revisit the throttle body again. Regarding the fuel pressure we unfortunately do not have the equipment to do check it.

The IAC is mounted on the back of the throttle body with 2 screws. Not sure how detailed your disassembly was for cleaning the throttle body.
Fuel pressure was an afterthought. Does it run out OK when accelerating and cruising? If so, fuel pressure is probably not the problem. If you can raise the idle with your foot on the pedal at a stop and keep it running, my money is on the IAC. Lots of videos on youtube if you want to try cleaning it.



Tim

You said it's green? Blue Durango's didn't have the problems you are having

Yes sir, green. Full dark green, not 2 tone. Cleaned out the throttle body today, everything else looked good. See what happens.

I believe the TPS has to be "clocked" a certain way for it to work right. Are you sure it was installed correctly?

I remember a driveability guy telling me that after doing any work on the throttle body and/or IAC that you should start the engine and hold the throttle higher than normal idle speed and slowly lower the throttle so the IAC can learn again. If it hunts it hasn’t learned yet.

Hi All,

I got an update on my Durango 4X4 daily driver. We only cleaned the throttle body again so I decided to take it out yesterday since it was a warm day, it ran crappy on the last hot day, and I had some errands to run. I took it out, and it ran great ALTHOUGH it jerked/bucked/stumbled on me twice taking off from a stop. I sat in line at the gas station for about 15 minutes and it idled smooth with no problems at all.

I am thinking on replacing the idle air control valve first, does anybody have any other opinions of what it could be before I do this?

Thanks everyone for the help and advice.

Hi all,

Checked for codes and took the old Durango for a ride today. It did throw one code and it was for the charging system being low, but that was fixed already from a prior incident which was my fault. Otherwise it was fine with no other codes. I took it for a ride today and it ran great with no bucking/jerking/stumbling although the ride was very short, only down the street and back. However there was an incident today though, and thank God it was at my house and not elsewhere. I live on a main road so I pulled in my driveway, and I like my car backed in because it makes it easier to pull out and saves time in my opinion. Anyway I was at the end of the driveway and waiting for cars to pass, I was getting ready to back out in the street to turn the car around to back it in and the next thing I know it stalled. So I started it up and it was fine after that. [censored] could be causing this?!

, not to hijack your thread, but I have been having similar problems with my 2003 Durango, but mine only happens when it been warmed up. see post.

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthread...-diagnostic-help-needed.html#Post2769307

I have done diagnostic on all my controls, and still have not found the issue. but some of what has been discussed may help you.

Any recent trans work? We had issues with the filters not sealing good. Would stall when coming to a stop sign.Convertor going into lock up. Pressure hold lockup clutch off. Would feel like a stick shift car that you forgot to push clutch in.

No trans work done lately, no. My stepfather actually talked to our Mopar friend/mechanic/guru about the Durango problem along with another problem with one of our C-bodies while he was on the phone with him, and he seems to think it is the crank sensor. I looked at a thread 67vertman posted here, who was having the same problem with his 2003 Durango. One person on his thread thought it maybe an old battery because the cars do crazy things when the battery is old and on the way out, so the other day I went out and looked at the battery on my Durango and it did not have a date on it. I however do not think it is the battery because it cranks over just fine, so I AM THINKING on taking our Mopar mechanics advice and replacing the crank sensor. Please let me know if you have any other thoughts before I do this, thanks

When the sensor in the top of the bellhousing went in my 99 Dak it wouldn't start or run at all, and the hall effect pickups on the fwd turbo mopars would act the same...working or not working. FYI, it's a bit of a PITA to change but not terribly expensive.

I would buy a fuel pressure tester (fairly cheap at any auto parts store). There is a schrader valve on the fuel rail to attach to so really easy to check once you have the tester.

Hi All,

IT FINALLY HAPPENED! I took the big green beast out today, and I was going to a friends house 2 towns over from where I live. I was in his town and I decided to stop at Dunkin Donuts, and boy was that a mistake. It was running great until I got in his town. I pull into Dunkin Donuts, I am waiting in line with the car in drive NOT neutal and all of a sudden it stalls. Here's the kicker, normally it starts right back up after it stalls and continues running. THIS TIME it does not want to restart......perfect. So what I did was pushed it out of the way and let it sit for a half hour with the hood open. I start it up and it was fine after that. THAT said I had to tell my friend sorry I am not coming with the car acting up, and I did indeed make it home and luckily did not have to have it towed. So that prompted and motivated me to order a crank sensor. Here is what I ordered.....

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/dodge,1998,durango,5.2l+v8,1314463,ignition,crankshaft+position+sensor,7196

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10056624&cc=1314463&jsn=435

I also got this from Walmart as well to put in the gas tank when it runs low on gas and I need to fill the car up again, just in case

Hi All,

I been asking around about my Durango stalling problem, and someone suggested finding the computer and seeing if the connections are working like they should. That said we located it today, took it apart and cleaned it . Like the rest of the truck the connections were a bit rusty which could of been my problem. While we were cleaning the connections we decided to reset the pcm by disconnecting the negative battery cable and letting it sit. After that was done I took it out for a 15-20 minute ride, and it ran great. However I did order a crank sensor and it shipped today. That will still be put in although we did this work today

Hopefully you fixed it but one thing I can tell you is fuel problems do not set codes.

I had some computers corrode near the bottom moisture would seep in and turn them green if you take the rear cover off you would see this.

Got a good battery in it? They act pretty weird sometimes when the battery starts to go.....

Car turns over and starts every time so I would say yes. "Funny" you mention this as I looked at another thread on here when 67vertman had a similar problem, I took a look at it and It does not have a date on it.

I got the crank sensor from RockAuto in the mail today. It will most likely be put in tomorrow. I looked up a video on how to replace it and it looks kind of like a real B.....fill in the rest to do. Has anyone else replaced one before?

Factory repair manual says to R&R the wheel & tire and the inner fender liner. Probably be easy to get to after all that but I just leaned in over the R. fender and used a 1/4" ratchet and socket. Little bit aggravating but not too bad. Had to lean in over the drivers side to disconnect the pigtail from the main harness.



Tim

I looked up how to do it on YouTube and the guy went through like the manual said with removing the tire and fender liner, wasn't too bad actually and was easier than we thought

fwiw, Pulling the inner fender makes oil filter changes easier. Been doing it this way for years

Hi All,

Just wanted to give an update on my Durango. It has been running great lately, and I just put gas in it today. I put the Gumout in the tank first then put in about 18 gallons of gas......