I have a 2000 dodge durango, went to start my truck yesterday and the truck was dead, got a jump after 20 minutes of charge time, drove it for about 20 more minutes came home shut it off, tried to restart it just to see if it would start again and sure enough deader than dead? any suggestions would be great! Thanks in advance.

 

Have the battery & Alternator checked. You can pull these things off easily and take them to you local autozone or such and see for free. How old is the battery?

 

a year now, and there is corrosion around the terminal cables, I am going to get a new battery in about 30 minutes. When my husband opened the 2 things on top that I guess are called "cells" they were smoking and were really really low on "water" inside of them. As far as the alternator goes I have no idea if it were ever changed or rebuilt so to speak.

*fingers crossed* on just needing a battery!

 

The battery will make the truck start and run but for how long if the alternator is bad. Put the battery on the truck and take it in to autozone and have them run a test on the alternator. I believe they can even though it is still installed on the vehicle.

 

IIRC, they can test the alternator while it's still in the D. But my advise would be change out the alternator while replacing the battery. Over time, the alt would have been working harder and harder to charge up the battery but as you described, the old battery was on its last cells. Change it out now so you won't have any problems down the road. Just my .02.

 

Durango's throw temper tantrums when not supplied with a full voltage from the battery. For now do not change your alternator as im 99% it would be just the battery. Make sure the terminals are spotless and fit snug on the terminals, otherwise replace the terminals. Try using anti-corrosion spray aswell if underhood care is limited.

 

and so far so good, it starts right up no hesitation! Im just glad it wasn't my alternator. Which me being picky the battery cost damn near as much as rebuilding the alternator. But I love my Durango so only the best for him!

 

As long as that battery has a charge it won't give any problems. This is why I told you to take the truck in and have autozone test the alternator to insure it is doing as needed or the new battery will die and this isn't cause to get a new replacement either under the warranty.

 

i agree that you should get the alternator tested, or you could wait until this battery goes bad and have to buy another new one . . .

 

Glad to see you got it!