!998 Durango 4X4 Key switch????

Russ50 · #1 02-08-2012, 12:29 AM

Hello all,, I am new here an even with being a Dodge Durango owner, I been wanting a Durango since they 1st came out with them, Well now I have got one an love it,, Its not the best but will do my best to get er in shape with help,, I got this Durango that has been setting for couple years, Got er home an had to get a key made, Well I put the batt in er an put a lil gas in carb, She fired up an sound great, but died after gas ran out, I pop the gas line off to see if the elc fuelpump was working, It works but man o man, the gas is very bad in it, So I ran the line into a 5gallon gas can then put a lil gas in carb again an fired er up, when gas ran out of carb she died, Ok now I kept cranking the motor over to let the pump pump out the old gas from the tank, So I put fresh gas in tank, Now when I turn the key on the gages don't go up then back down like they pos to, I don't have any fire to my coil an after I crank the motor over then stop, I see my mileages flashing,, I checked all my fuses inside an out under the hood an they are all good, I was told the switch went bad from all the cranking I had to do to it, Can anybody tell me how I can test the switch to make sure that it went bad or do I have ta spend 100 bucks for a new switch to find out, I really wanting to fix my Durango up so I can drive er everyday an pull my Bass boat to the lakes,, So the lights on the dash comes on when the key is turn on,, an cranks over good, But don't have spark to the coil an the gages don't go up an back down like they pos to, Hope I can get some help with this an sure hope all that I wrote here makes since to all,lol,, Please let me know an Thanks,, P.S. I did change the oil an oil filter before I even try to crank er over,,

This ad is not displayed to registered and logged-in members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Dodge Forums!

that_guy · #2 02-08-2012, 01:04 PM

a few things

1) all durangos are multi port fuel injected so unless someone put a carb on it (which I highly doubt) there isn't a carb.

2) I don't know about other peoples durangos but my gauges do not go up and then back down when I turn on the key.

3) if the gas is as bad as you said it was it may have plugged up the fuel injectors. Check for pressure at the fuel rails.

edit:
also how old is the battery you put in it. A weak battery or poor battery connections (dirty terminals) can cause all kinds of electrical issues

Russ50 · #3 02-08-2012, 01:46 PM

Hey that guy,,, Thanks,, I didn't let the bad gas get into the injectors an yes it has the multi port fuel injector on it,,, An my Batt. is great with contacts an everything tite,, But still don't get any fire to coil to start the motor,,, U mite be right about the gages not going up then back down,, But I do know that my gas gages went up to a 1/4 of a tank but when something happen it won't go up now an I put 10 gallon in the tank to make sure I have fresh gas,, So I was told that the key switch went bad on me an thats why I was wondering if there was anything to jump just to test the switch an see if it will get spark an make my gages work,, Cause I will go buy the new switch If I know for sure thats what the prob is,, They told me when I buy the part an because it is a elc. part that it can't be return back to the dealer,,,

that_guy · #4 02-08-2012, 03:52 PM

If you take the plastic off the steering column you can see a connector with a red, yellow, blue (maybe a few others too) wires. I remember that the yellow is the starter but I can't remember which one is the 12v constant and which one gets turned on by the switch. Maybe someone can chime in with that since I don't have my FSM at my dorm

Russ50 · #5 02-08-2012, 07:36 PM

Hey, Thanks that guy,,, Yea I know whats ya talking about an everything seems fine with the wires at the switch, It seems to be working ok there,, I going to try the cranking sensor tomorro, Get a new one an try it,, But I don't know if that would keep the coil from fireing or not,,,

Old_School · #6 02-08-2012, 11:15 PM

A few things....

1) Were in the hell are you getting an ignition switch that they are charging you $100?? Go to www.rockauto.com there like $40 or $50 dollars there...

2) If your talking about when you turn the key nothing happens with the starter?? if so, Check the connections to the starter relay in the PDC.. i had an issue where mine would not start with the key and came to find that the part that holds the connector in place broke and was allowing it to slide down and not make a connection with the relay.

3) I have a copy of the 1998 FSM that i will share with you. It is in a compressed file and i can email it to you if you PM me your email address.

Russ50 · #7 02-09-2012, 07:45 AM

Hey there Old School,,, Yea at the Dealer here in Corbin Ky. they want right at 100 buck just for the switch for the elc. part of the key switch,, My motor dose crank over good with the key, It just not getting any spark to the coil now,, Lights on the dash works when ya turn the key on also,, All the fuses are good an all the grounds are good,,,

shrpshtr325 · #8 02-09-2012, 08:49 AM

did you check for voltage at the coil?
did you check the coil? (i know there is a thread in this section on doing it, if i can find it ill post it up)

Russ50 · #9 02-09-2012, 10:07 AM

Thanks shrpshr325,,,, Only tester I have is the kind ya hook one end on the coil where the coil wire for the cap gose,, I hook to the coil an the other end I plug it into the coil wire going to top of cap,, Sparkplug wire I talking about,, An I not getting any spark at all,,

Russ50 · #10 02-09-2012, 01:59 PM

I took my light tester an hook one end to the ground on my batt.,,,, Then put the other end on the hot wire for the coil,,(I talking about the hot an ground wire that plugs up at the bottom of the coil) I turn the key on an the tester didn't light up,,,,,, I crank the motor over an my tester still didn't light up,,, Ain't there pos to be juice in the hot wire to the coil at all time when the key is turn on, ???