Durango not starting

groundpilot · 09-10-2009, 05:41 PM

Daughter has weird problem with her 2000 Durango. Wouldn't start after work last Friday. It would spin just fine, just not start. I sprayed some starter fluid into intake, but no fire, so that ruled out the fuel pump. Pulled plug 1 and grounded it and had no fire. I know next to nothing of Dodge engines or how the spark is generated. After several minutes of thinking I had her check her gas cap and it was tight. Just from frustration she tried it again and it fired up!! I followed her home so she could get some stuff and run to Walmart. It started fine at her house and the store. Not a clue as to what it was. She started it Saturday night and it was OK. Monday afternoon the same problem came back and then the battery went dead. Jumping didn't help start.
Last night I went down to try to help and while jumping it I found the negative post clamp was loose. Since I had to get to work I brought her battery home and it's now charged.
Anybody got any ideas?

leolkfrm · 09-10-2009, 06:15 PM

how has it been with a tightened ground cable? as it could cause the problems

Crmzendrgone · 09-10-2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leolkfrm

how has it been with a tightened ground cable? as it could cause the problems

2x that. I have worked on Dodges in my past I know some of the ground straps have to be connected or it won't start. maybe loose ground strap. Perticularly near the compressor around the t-stat if i am picturing it right.

groundpilot · 09-11-2009, 05:40 AM

Don't know about the ground cable when it was running, just know clamp was loose on the post when I pulled the battery. But that would be the same thing anyway. An incomplete connection on the ground. Plus it probably was not getting a good charge into the batt. I'm hoping that with a fully charged battery and a new cable end on the negative cable that the problem is gone. If not I've eliminated low voltage as a cause.

BernieB · 09-11-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by groundpilot

Don't know about the ground cable when it was running, just know clamp was loose on the post when I pulled the battery. But that would be the same thing anyway. An incomplete connection on the ground. Plus it probably was not getting a good charge into the batt. I'm hoping that with a fully charged battery and a new cable end on the negative cable that the problem is gone. If not I've eliminated low voltage as a cause.

A new cable end will help, but might still cause problems due to high resistance. Those things are notorious for corrosion problems. I suggest replacing the whole cable.

groundpilot · 09-13-2009, 06:35 AM

I think we found the problem. Charged battery and new cables didn't help it start. Pulled plug 1 and it was sooty and wouldn't spark when we turned it over, so we put in new plugs as they were all sooty. No start. It had to be the control module. When we pulled the wire connection we found it full of a brown oily something. Didn't smell like oil or gas and I've seen a circuit board melt and leave a resin like goo over everything so I believe it's fried.
Do you think I'm on the right track and does anyone know where to buy one? I've heard they have to be programmed with VIN and milelage before they can be used. Any truth to that?

09-10-2009, 05:41 PM	#1
groundpilot Full Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 13	Durango not starting Daughter has weird problem with her 2000 Durango. Wouldn't start after work last Friday. It would spin just fine, just not start. I sprayed some starter fluid into intake, but no fire, so that ruled out the fuel pump. Pulled plug 1 and grounded it and had no fire. I know next to nothing of Dodge engines or how the spark is generated. After several minutes of thinking I had her check her gas cap and it was tight. Just from frustration she tried it again and it fired up!! I followed her home so she could get some stuff and run to Walmart. It started fine at her house and the store. Not a clue as to what it was. She started it Saturday night and it was OK. Monday afternoon the same problem came back and then the battery went dead. Jumping didn't help start. Last night I went down to try to help and while jumping it I found the negative post clamp was loose. Since I had to get to work I brought her battery home and it's now charged. Anybody got any ideas?

09-10-2009, 06:15 PM	#2
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,300	how has it been with a tightened ground cable? as it could cause the problems __________________ 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul B.W.A.I

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09-11-2009, 05:40 AM	#4
groundpilot Full Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 13	Don't know about the ground cable when it was running, just know clamp was loose on the post when I pulled the battery. But that would be the same thing anyway. An incomplete connection on the ground. Plus it probably was not getting a good charge into the batt. I'm hoping that with a fully charged battery and a new cable end on the negative cable that the problem is gone. If not I've eliminated low voltage as a cause.

09-13-2009, 06:35 AM	#6
groundpilot Full Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 13	I think we found the problem. Charged battery and new cables didn't help it start. Pulled plug 1 and it was sooty and wouldn't spark when we turned it over, so we put in new plugs as they were all sooty. No start. It had to be the control module. When we pulled the wire connection we found it full of a brown oily something. Didn't smell like oil or gas and I've seen a circuit board melt and leave a resin like goo over everything so I believe it's fried. Do you think I'm on the right track and does anyone know where to buy one? I've heard they have to be programmed with VIN and milelage before they can be used. Any truth to that?