Wife tried to leave for work this morning, and the 1999 5.2 Durango won’t start. Cranks over strong, and sometimes after trying to start it grumbles like it wants to start and the engine turns over a few more times before it quits. I squirted some starting fluid directly into the throttle body and tried to fire it up, with no change. So I'm guessing its not the fuel pump or filter. I used jumper cables from the Dak just to give it some extra amperage while cranking and still no go.

It is due for a plug change, I will get to that after work tomorrow (Friday) just to eliminate it as a problem. Any thoughts or suggestions? Of course it is pouring rain, and my water proof winter jacket could only take so much rain; it now looks like a soggy diaper.

 

Ck for spark first, no spark remove the dist cap and see if it dry inside. If its wet, replace the cap and rotor. And the same time replace the plugs too. They maybe fouled by now.

 

also replace the plug wires while you are in there and check fuel pressure anyway if you can

 

The distributor being wet makes sense. The weatherstripping at the back of engine bay had fallen off. I put it back up while I was working on it yesterday. However the weatherstripping is down every time I change the oil. But I guess we've had more rain than usual lately.

Can I check for spark by pulling a plug and using a voltmeter on it while trying to start the motor?

I've got a Superchips Tuner for Dakota that would also fit the Durango. But if there were trouble codes the check engine light or something would be on right?

 

The first time I have that problem it was the fuel pump and the second time it was the coil.

 

Well it is running strong now. Amazing what a little maintenance can do. New distributor cap, rotor and plugs and she runs strong. The cap and rotor got it to start, but I went ahead and did the plugs afterwards. The gaps on the old spark plugs were bad too, ranging from .035 to .080 when they should have been .040. I've never seen plug gaps get smaller, so previous installer was rather incompetent. I would say they were due for a change! When they sold the D to us they claimed it was the dealership owners wife’s vehicle. It hasn’t quite been 30,000 miles yet, but I’d say the last scheduled tune up wasn’t performed. Guess that’s what I get for assuming. Surprised it was running this long with these darn things in it.



Had a little trouble getting a couple of them out, even had to use the 1/2" ratchet on one plug. I put anti-seize on the threads of the plugs, and di-electric grease on the plug boot. What is the service interval for the plug wires? These appear to be factory as well..



BTW, Thanks for your inputs Master_Tech and Sharp

 

Wow those plugs are bad!

 

Used plugs for sale!

 

wow, how did they even fire???

 

that what mine looked like except none of mine wer closed thats horrible i feel bad for the truck