1998 Durango 5.2 135,000
Well today the 6th computer craped out. I dont know what else to replace along with the new computer. 3 years ago the first one went out driving down the hwy at 60mph.I replaced the battery with a Optima. 2nd computer died in a parking lot at idle couldnt figure out any issues had to have that new computer flashed at the dealer. Third-Forth computer died back to back bad alternator which killed that battery in the process(less than a year ago). 5th computer went bad again on the hwy ***** of fire leaving the tail pipe.
I replaced the Crank Pos Sensor on top of the Transmission. Ran great for 7 months Last month (Feb) on the Hwy with the cruise on 70 mph engine dies 150 mile tow back to the house. Now today in the parking lot at work cold engine dies again.
I never get a check light before it happends or after. Dodge techs say there is no problems with my truck the computers just fail.
After the computer goes bad truck will crank not start injectors are firing No spark I have been told over and over the coil could not cause this problem.
I did a general tune up in Dec, Plugs wires cap rotor. Truck runs great very slight miss at idle at times.

in the last year:
New Battery
New Crank Pos Sensor
New Alternator
New 02 Sensors both
New ABS Sensors Both (speedo quit)
New Steering box
New pitman arm
New Idler arm
Shocks & Ball joints!!


The only mods to my truck are.
MSD blaster Coil (replaced when stock went bad 4 yrs ago)
Flowmaster cat back
Magnaflow cat
6 new computers!!!



What the heck do I do. Selling it not a option.

 

I was a prefessional tech for many years and owned my own shop for quite a few... can't say I've ever seen more than one computer actually go bad in any vehicle. It always was attributable to something else... I would be looking real hard at wiring, especially in the area of the connectors at the computer and all grounding locations. Disconnect the computer overnight, plug it back in and see if anything changes.

I'm not saying it's impossible, just doubtful, that the computer is bad. Probably something in the wiring that gets moved around a bit when they change the 'puter out, then it works fine for awhile again after the new computer is installed.

 

When the issue occures leaving un plugged overnight does nothing but add more fuel to the cylinders when I try to start it. Dodge techs at two delerships said the ECM needed replacing. I have followed the wiring diagrams to every Ground point under the hood all good. I'm ready to try another engine harness but afraid of getting one that has broken connectors or someone has hacked into for some getto idea. I know the history of the Durango and know there has been no hacking on any part of the harness. I am a Mechanic for the airforce (Automotive) This problem is so weird from what I understand the Charge and spark circuit run through the ECM. I opened one of the ecm's up Fried circuit board!! Thanks for the reply

 

Yup I would be looking at a complete wiring harness if I had that many computes go bad.

 

Well, if you've actually seen fried components inside the ECM, there is certainly something drawing way too much current.

Given that you replaced the coil 4 years ago and now 6 computers have burned up in the past three years, it seems reasonable you might want to throw a stocker coil back on there and see if your odds don't improve some.

Maybe "Blaster" is a well-suited name for that MSD coil, eh?

 

Make sure the sparkplug wires are not near any sensor harnesses or wires= if the sparkplug wires leak any voltage from that msd coil=could zap the computer.
Check alternator output at idle and also 2500-3000 rpm=no more then 14.7=I seen regulator fail and the alternator puts out more voltage as rpm's go up.
Do you have a high powered stereo in the truck with capacitators hooked in? I 've seen backfeed take out a comp before.
Check grounds=body to negative terminal an engine to negative the computer is grounded to the body= bad body ground could caus comp problems.
check the relays=I believe their all the same=swap a new one in and chech for any heat build up on them or the comp.
Make sure that there's no melted wires grounding out=check the o2 wires=they run near the exhaust.
Make sure the bad is healthy with a load tester.
Check all connectors for sensors etc and try some dielectric grease in the computer connector.
what did you replace last before the computers started going bad and are you using the correct comps or any aftermarket programmers or chips?

 

Dang I wrote all that stuff above but I forgot to post it till just now=looks like the other peeps beat me to the punch=lol
Not to mention your a mechanic and not a under the hood novice.

 

I recall reading that blasters kill PCMs.

IndyD

 

I found some info on those msd{I'm guess these are coil on plug} coils=coil dwell heats up the coil drivers till it melts causing ignition problems=this was on aempower forum.Not sure if it has basis the dodge computer system but I won't be puttin a blaster in my truck.http://forum.aempower.com/forum/index.php?topic=18210.0

 

The 5.2 is a old school single coil. What I have found out is the computer controls the ground to the coil and so on controls the dizzy. I have some shaft play in the dizzy but the corrosion monster has attacked the inside of the dizzy not the cap but lower within the hall effect sensor so today a new one will go in. This last computer I had the dealer reprogram and check advanced diagonstics. The Dealer tech also found I had the wrong plugs (heat range not even close)in the motor.The motor has no spark at all this time around. This is a new symptom before plug in new computer and go. Lesson learned go to the parts store with part numbers in hand. So parts changing is in effect
New plugs
New coil
New Dizzy
New cap/rotor

I will post findings


I have checked the grounds from battery with a ohm meter and even did a voltage drop test on each wire I did find 2 connectors that had continuty but had high restiance so they got changed along with electric grease on all the sensors(this was done a few months back) Please no comments on the spelling remember mech not english major LOL