2 Durangos / same problem

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2 Durangos / same problem - 9/18/2007 7:51:38 PM    dbagnew   Posts: 11 Joined: 9/18/2007 Status: offline My wife and I have 2 2003 Durangos. They both have the same problem. Here's problem with my Durango. 2003 SLT 4.7. (Auto). When I accelerate is sounds as if it's revving real high and it seems to move sluggishly. Couple this with the A/C not cooling correctly until I start moving above15-20 mph. I'm not mechanically inclined but I can tell you that the sound made while trying to move in drive is as if I have the car in neutral and step on the gas pedal. My wife's car started having this problem much earlier. She has a 2003 STX 4.7 (Auto). Thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this compounded issue. Post #: 1

RE: 2 Durangos / same problem - 9/19/2007 1:01:55 AM    steve05ram360 Posts: 11328 Joined: 1/22/2004 From: Elk Grove, CA Status: offline welcome to DF... post this question over in the durango forum and see what they have to say.  to me it sounds like the tranny is slipping. _____________________________ http://www.dodgeforum.com/m_1037052/tm.htm http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e266/sdoherma/ CarDomain: http://www.cardomain.com/id/steve00 (in reply to dbagnew) Post #: 2

RE: 2 Durangos / same problem - 9/19/2007 11:19:39 AM    Mean Green Posts: 3187 Joined: 6/22/2006 From: Reno, NV Status: offline First things first, the tranny fluid should be changed if it has been 30k miles since it's last service. Other than that you may just be low on fluid or your torque converter is shot... _____________________________ 2000 Durango 5.9L SLT+ Flowmaster 40 "Custom" Ram Air 31" BFG AT T/A KO's Bilstein Shocks Hidden Hitch Sirius Satelite Radio E-fan conversion Smittybilt brushguard SSU's (in reply to steve05ram360) Post #: 3

RE: 2 Durangos / same problem - 9/19/2007 5:29:01 PM    dbagnew   Posts: 11 Joined: 9/18/2007 Status: offline I checked the fluid color for the trans and it's pinkish. The oil level is also ok and doesn't smell burnt. I noticed today that the morning drive to work is ok but the evening drive caused the problem to surface every time I stopped and accelerated. I guess changing the transmission fluid would not hurt. Can you offer a ball park figure to it's cost? Thanks (in reply to Mean Green) Post #: 4

RE: 2 Durangos / same problem - 9/19/2007 5:42:34 PM    Mean Green Posts: 3187 Joined: 6/22/2006 From: Reno, NV Status: offline Go and buy your fluid (ATF+4) and the filter and take it to a shop that will use your fluid and I would say it shouldn't cost more than $45 each. _____________________________ 2000 Durango 5.9L SLT+ Flowmaster 40 "Custom" Ram Air 31" BFG AT T/A KO's Bilstein Shocks Hidden Hitch Sirius Satelite Radio E-fan conversion Smittybilt brushguard SSU's (in reply to dbagnew) Post #: 5

RE: 2 Durangos / same problem - 9/19/2007 5:44:33 PM    master tech   Posts: 1011 Joined: 4/27/2007 Status: offline Is the ck engine lite on? _____________________________ Master Chassis tech, Transmission Automatic and Manual and Suspensions. Also repair front and rear diffs and all engine repairs inc Diesel. A/C repair too. (in reply to dbagnew) Post #: 6

RE: 2 Durangos / same problem - 9/19/2007 5:51:43 PM    dbagnew   Posts: 11 Joined: 9/18/2007 Status: offline Funny you should ask. On the 13th of Sep. I took the car to AutoZone because the check engine light was on. In the past when this occurred,  I learned this from my wife's dealings with it, that if I wait to the next gas fillup or take the gas cap off and rock the durango it would go away. We where told this at the dealer in Miami, FL. This time the light would not go out so the folks at AutoZone hooked a device that displayed code P0440. It listed several reasons for the cause. I asked the AutoZone employee if these reasons where a cause for concern and he said no. 2 days later the check engine light went a way and now that I think about it that's when the problem started. (in reply to master tech) Post #: 7

RE: 2 Durangos / same problem - 9/19/2007 6:57:08 PM    Kensai Posts: 1649 Joined: 12/30/2003 From: United States Status: offline As far as your A/C goes, you may need to check if you have a Electric fan assist on your D.  If so, check to make sure it is running while your A/C is on.  If you do not have a electric fan assist, check your fan clutch.  Try spinning it with your hand when the engine is not running.  If it spins freely, your clutch is bad.  Otherwise, the fan should not more than 1/4 to 1/2 a turn when you try to spin it by hand. _____________________________ Black 2000 Durango 5.9 R/T Fastman 52mm ThrottleBody Fastman custom built Tranny Castrol Full Syntec OEM K&N Air filter Monroe Reflexes BFG Comp T/A''s Champion IR Truck Plugs 180 Stat Hypertech III (87 oct) Custom Made Ram Air Intake (in reply to dbagnew) Post #: 8

RE: 2 Durangos / same problem - 9/19/2007 7:22:50 PM    dbagnew   Posts: 11 Joined: 9/18/2007 Status: offline I've opened the hood and see the following:  (from front to back) 1) The grill where the A/C refrigerant goes, 2) the radiator, 3) a small fan (this is against the radiator) and 4) a bigger fan connected to the engine. Is the one in item 3) what you refer to as "Electric fan assist" or is the the "fan clutch"? Thanks (in reply to Kensai) Post #: 9

RE: 2 Durangos / same problem - 9/20/2007 3:55:07 PM    Kensai Posts: 1649 Joined: 12/30/2003 From: United States Status: offline quote: ORIGINAL: dbagnew I've opened the hood and see the following:  (from front to back) 1) The grill where the A/C refrigerant goes, 2) the radiator, 3) a small fan (this is against the radiator) and 4) a bigger fan connected to the engine. Is the one in item 3) what you refer to as "Electric fan assist" or is the the "fan clutch"? Thanks 3.  Electric fan assist 4.  Fan clutch Also, check to make sure the A/C condenser coil (Coil in front of main radiator) is not clogged, if you see debris stuck inside, go to a carwash and use the high pressure spray to clean out the A/C condenser. _____________________________ Black 2000 Durango 5.9 R/T Fastman 52mm ThrottleBody Fastman custom built Tranny Castrol Full Syntec OEM K&N Air filter Monroe Reflexes BFG Comp T/A''s Champion IR Truck Plugs 180 Stat Hypertech III (87 oct) Custom Made Ram Air Intake (in reply to dbagnew) Post #: 10

RE: 2 Durangos / same problem - 9/20/2007 4:44:25 PM    dbagnew   Posts: 11 Joined: 9/18/2007 Status: offline I noticed the Electric fan assist when the car was turned off. Is there a way to determine if this fan is working without turning the Durango on? It's smaller than the fan clutch and while the fan clutch is on, it's very difficult to see of the Electric fan assist is working. With this information I can talk at bit more educatedly at the dealership. Thanks so much for all your help. (in reply to Kensai) Post #: 11

RE: 2 Durangos / same problem - 9/20/2007 9:42:09 PM    Kensai Posts: 1649 Joined: 12/30/2003 From: United States Status: offline If it is very hot outside, you can burn a gallon or two of gas and let it idle for a good long while.  Eventually the fan should kick in on/off to help regulate the temperature of your engine.  Better yet, turn on your A/C, the electic fan will immediately come on.  If this does not happen when you turn on the A/C, you should check the relays, fuse, wiring, and lastly if the electric fan itself is fried. _____________________________ Black 2000 Durango 5.9 R/T Fastman 52mm ThrottleBody Fastman custom built Tranny Castrol Full Syntec OEM K&N Air filter Monroe Reflexes BFG Comp T/A''s Champion IR Truck Plugs 180 Stat Hypertech III (87 oct) Custom Made Ram Air Intake (in reply to dbagnew) Post #: 12

RE: 2 Durangos / same problem - 9/21/2007 8:18:51 PM    dbagnew   Posts: 11 Joined: 9/18/2007 Status: offline I will try these suggestions over the weekend. The worse that could happend is that I end up at the dealer but better informed.  The best case is that one of these suggestions saves me a couple of hundred dollars. Thanks for all you help. (in reply to Kensai) Post #: 13

RE: 2 Durangos / same problem - 9/25/2007 5:39:55 PM    dbagnew   Posts: 11 Joined: 9/18/2007 Status: offline Well as the story goes... I went to my local car wash and pressure washed the A/C and Radiator coil. I figured it was the same theory as the home A/C so I placed the stream of water in the direction the grill traveled (not accross). I also wanted to check the level of anti-freeze. This is where I almost panicked. I was guided by what I remember of my old Chevy and lifted the cap where the radiator car would have been on the Chevy. When I did that I pulled a dip stick out and it was way past add. I could actually see bottom. (I should have know then the radiator cap would be tightly screwed on and not just a flip cap!) After explaining the layout to a friend. He explained that that was the reservoir. In any event the reservoir was empty so I added antifreeze in the reservoir. Long story short... the problem is still present. One pattern that I have noticed. First, since adding anti-freeze to the reservoir the durango doesn't go to the middle of the temperature gauge right away and the A/C cools  better. The pattern that has emerged is that if the Durango's temparature needed (red) is at the left of the background thermometer drawing (white) the high revving is not present. When It's past this drawing (to the right in the direction of overheating) the high revving starts. Which occurs when I'm in traffic in the afternoon. When traffic starts to break-up and I can drive faster the needle moves to the left of the thermostat drawing and the high revving stops. This is really fustrating ! (in reply to dbagnew) Post #: 14

RE: 2 Durangos / same problem - 9/25/2007 6:06:05 PM    Kensai Posts: 1649 Joined: 12/30/2003 From: United States Status: offline Hmmm, first things first, when your D cools down, pop up the thermostat, then start the D and add more antifreeze if neccessary.  Then squeeze the radiator hoses to help bleed out the air.  This can cause your temp guage to bounce around.  Also, did you check your clutch to see if it is bad?  As I stated earlier in this post, which your engine not running.  try to spin the fan (one that is connected to engine).  If the fan only moves like 1/4 to 1/2 a turn when you try to spin it, the clutch on the fan is good, if you can get it to turn full circle or more, the clutch is toast.  Thus, may be reason why your D seems to get hot idling, but seems to cool off when your D is moving along. _____________________________ Black 2000 Durango 5.9 R/T Fastman 52mm ThrottleBody Fastman custom built Tranny Castrol Full Syntec OEM K&N Air filter Monroe Reflexes BFG Comp T/A''s Champion IR Truck Plugs 180 Stat Hypertech III (87 oct) Custom Made Ram Air Intake (in reply to dbagnew) Post #: 15

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