2000 Durango 4.7 Stalls when cold

2000Durango47 · #1 11-20-2006, 05:59 PM

I need some help from the experts. My 2000 Durango with the 4.7 starts right up regardless of temp (engine or ambient), but if it's cold (engine and ambient) it will stall out unless I keep my foot on the gas. It loves to do it as I'm backing out of my driveway. The idle used to be somewhat eratic, but it never stalled. Now the idle is steady but it stalls and it doesn't even try and save itself from stalling.

It has 98k miles.

New spark plugs, one new injector and a new crankshaft posotion sensor (done under warrentee)

Thanks!

Matt

Chris_Gorham · #2 11-21-2006, 04:14 PM

clean or replace upper snap connector on the back of your alternator - the plastic degrades with heat and age.
a quick squirt with a can of stuff to improve electrical conductivity should indicate an immediate improvement or not...

Chris

Mean Green · #3 11-22-2006, 12:59 AM

What kind of plugs did you use? I had a similar problem on my D when I put platinums in so I switched back to the OEM champions and never had a problem after that.

2000Durango47 · #4 11-28-2006, 07:07 PM

Update...

I inspected the snap connector and cleaned it. It appeared to be in good shape. No change.

I am not sure what type of plugs were installed. It was done by a Napa car care center. The issue started before the plugs were changed and has not changed since.

I picked up a Diehard battery last night but it did not fit under the battery cover, so I stopped by the local Dodge Dealer today and picked up an original replacement that will fit perfectly and cost $12 less. Hopefully Sears will take back the one I bought last night.

I will install the Mopar battery tonight and update this post with the results. I will have to wait for a cold day as the issue does not rear its ugly head when the ambient temp is above 50 degrees. The battery Iâ€™m replacing is 7 years old and has almost 100k miles on it, so Iâ€™m hoping that is the problem.

Thanks for the help so far....

...Matt

quinn · #5 12-09-2006, 09:18 PM

I'm having the same problem with our 2000 Durango. We just had it in to get looked at and they reset the computer, cleaned the battery terminals, and cleaned the throttle body. No change. Please let me know if get it figured out.

Kensai · #6 12-09-2006, 10:03 PM

Have you tried replacing the Throttle Position sensor (TPS). This sensor is very common to go out on the 1st generation Durangos. The sensor can be faulty enough without throwing a check engine code.

Otherwise, the only other thing I can think of based on what everyone posted on the forums may be your crankshaft sensor...

quinn · #7 12-10-2006, 12:01 PM

We had the tps and crank angle sensor replaced a few months ago (a month apart, I think) for trouble with the car downshifting randomly and starting problems - I think it threw a cel in both cases after a week or so of trouble.

Kensai · #8 12-10-2006, 04:03 PM

Does this only happen during the cold winter? Does this cold start occur during the summer or warm season? I wonder if you may have bad fuel or moisture in the fuel lines?

quinn · #9 12-10-2006, 05:00 PM

It only seems to stall when the weather is cold and (for the most part) before the engine warms up. I'll try adding some Heat or some other fuel additive and see if that helps.

NorcalDurango · #10 12-19-2006, 08:16 AM

I have a 03 Durango and it seems to do the same thing. Low idle and stalling. It don't seem to matter if it is 25 degrees outside or 105 degrees. This is not something that happens all the time but it does happen often. I had a 00 Durango and never had this problem.