2000 durango running rich
#1
2000 durango running rich
I am driving a 2000 Durango. 4.7L v8. 4x4
About two months ago I noticed I was getting ridiculous gas mileage all of a sudden. I mean I already get ridiculous gas mileage at 7-8 mpg but this was really crazy like 2 mpg. It was also blowing thick black smoke out of the exhaust and had a really bad Rich smell and was losing some power (engine power, not electrical) when I would go up hill or whatever.
My husband is not a mechanic but usually we can Google an issue and he can fix it so he replaced and O2 sensor and that did nothing and so we eventually took it into a mechanic who said it was one sensor that I can't recall and also the map sensor. He replaced them both and that didn't fix it.
It is not blowing out black smoke anymore but I'm still only getting 2 mpg and it still smells and is feeling like it's not as powerful as usual. (I'm not driving it right now, I am borrowing a friends car until we figure this out)
Obviously taking it to a mechanic and just telling them to figure it out would be ideal but we cannot afford that right now. We also cannot afford to just start fixing all kinds of things hoping for the best. I think I will need to make an appointment to at least have it diagnosed at an auto shop
The codes I am pulling right now are -
O2 sensor ckt slow response
System too lean
Ignition/dist engine speed input circuit malfunction
The car is old and I need a new one but that's not in the cards right now. Really hoping to get this running right. Any ideas?
Thanks!
About two months ago I noticed I was getting ridiculous gas mileage all of a sudden. I mean I already get ridiculous gas mileage at 7-8 mpg but this was really crazy like 2 mpg. It was also blowing thick black smoke out of the exhaust and had a really bad Rich smell and was losing some power (engine power, not electrical) when I would go up hill or whatever.
My husband is not a mechanic but usually we can Google an issue and he can fix it so he replaced and O2 sensor and that did nothing and so we eventually took it into a mechanic who said it was one sensor that I can't recall and also the map sensor. He replaced them both and that didn't fix it.
It is not blowing out black smoke anymore but I'm still only getting 2 mpg and it still smells and is feeling like it's not as powerful as usual. (I'm not driving it right now, I am borrowing a friends car until we figure this out)
Obviously taking it to a mechanic and just telling them to figure it out would be ideal but we cannot afford that right now. We also cannot afford to just start fixing all kinds of things hoping for the best. I think I will need to make an appointment to at least have it diagnosed at an auto shop
The codes I am pulling right now are -
O2 sensor ckt slow response
System too lean
Ignition/dist engine speed input circuit malfunction
The car is old and I need a new one but that's not in the cards right now. Really hoping to get this running right. Any ideas?
Thanks!
#3
2 MPG? REALLY? I mean even at 7 or 8, these things are not known to be "economy cars" by any stretch but I have not known any Durango to be 7-8MPG bad, unless they have been modified drastically. My 01 was getting 12.5-13 in "normal" driving, a little better on a solid highway run and that is a 5.9 engine with over 250K on it. I just rebuilt my engine completely (everything "stock") and after break in I have a couple of bolt ons that I hope will improve upon that somewhat. I have been fighting a problem with mine since before the overhaul that wound up being a computer that "went nuts" inside and frazzled out. (NOT the reason I rebuilt it, that was solely because with 258K miles it seemed like "time" for it)
While I say that as long as what you have now runs and drives, no sense getting a new car/ drive it into the ground.
but if you don't know what's going on with it, a trip to a local garage that you trust would be cheaper than putting up with 7 or 8 MPG, let alone 2 MPG.... I could drop an old school big block 440 with a huge lumpy cam into that thing, no overdrive in the trans and a big 4 barrel carburetor and get at least your 7 or 8 MPG.... no electronics, no computer, even.
with a puny 4.7, you should be getting "at least" 12-13 MPG unless you're sitting for hours on end in a Chicago traffic jam idling.....
While I say that as long as what you have now runs and drives, no sense getting a new car/ drive it into the ground.
but if you don't know what's going on with it, a trip to a local garage that you trust would be cheaper than putting up with 7 or 8 MPG, let alone 2 MPG.... I could drop an old school big block 440 with a huge lumpy cam into that thing, no overdrive in the trans and a big 4 barrel carburetor and get at least your 7 or 8 MPG.... no electronics, no computer, even.
with a puny 4.7, you should be getting "at least" 12-13 MPG unless you're sitting for hours on end in a Chicago traffic jam idling.....