My 98 Durango is overheating and I need some advice.

This happens when I drive in stop-and-go traffic in 90+ degrees of heat. I took it to the shop and $200 later after some diagnostics I got a new thermostat. That did not fix the problem. After $500 more I got a new fan clutch, fan and fan shroud. The issue has become markedly improved and it no longer goes to boiling but it still overheats, somewhere halfway between the middle mark and red on the heat indicator. I don't trust that it won't go to boiling again if conditions deteriorate as some traffic days gets even worse. At this point I am running out of money and I really need a fix since I sit in stop-and-go traffic and high heat for many hours every day.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Julian

 

Are there any radiator problems that you know of?



-Matt-

 

Yeah the radiator would be one thing, maybe the water pump is going bad, a bad cap on the rad. Therre's not a whole lot more it can be. Does the Dakota have an auxilary electric fan on the radiator? If that's not kicking on in traffic, it could overheat. That fan should come on at a certain temp, and when you turn the A/C on.

 

I am having that same problem with my 2000 Durango, City driving it will hit the 210 degree and times the A/C will even shut down until the temp goes down then it will work again. I've replaced the thermostat, thinking of the fan clutch as well. Never had this problem until now. Any suggestions?

 

Hey, I'm new but I think you might have a problem with a hairline crack on the head of the engine. Or a crack in the head gasket. Usually it is hard to detect. If you have noticed a drop in performance I think that might be the problem. By changing the thermostat and checking the fan clutch assembly that should have corrected the problem. If it continued, I crack would be my guess.

 

I would be curious to know what temperature rating the thermostat is that they installed. I would check that and look at putting a lower threshold stat in, 195 degree maybe if you are in a warm climate all the time.

 

First check the radiator cap. $5.00 if in question just replace it. What about having the radiator back flushed you might have crap in the logged in the fins or in the ports of the motor by the cylinder walls. There are small openings on the head gaskets between the ports that can get clogged up with crap. I don't know what you can do but (maybe) a flush kit will work for this. But not for the radiator, a shop needs to back flush it. Have a 180 degree thermostat installed your heater wont be as hot but you might just save yourself a full head replacement about $1500.[sm=badbadbad.gif]