1999 Durango Won't Start
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Joined: Jun 2008
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1999 Durango Won't Start
Hi, this forum was really helpful before and solved my last problem for a lot less than the dealer so I thought I'd try again. Here's the situation:
I went out to start my car the other day and it seemed like it had only enough juice to make the starter click, but all other lights/dings were OK. The voltmeter was registering about 12V (just on the low side of normal). The battery was 4 years old, so I thought it just couldn't hold enough charge any more to start the car. I got a jump and drove it to work (an hour away). As soon as I turned off the car, I couldn't start it again. Same problem as above. I got a new battery at lunch, but same thing, it wouldn't start on its own but started fine with a jump. When I got home, it got a little more strange. When I had turned the key to the off position, I heard a clicking from behind the glove box, and the lights and radio also were blinking on and off.
By the way, I just replaced the starter a month ago, so that's unlikely. I also don't think it's the alternator because I wouldn't have made it to work if it wasn't charging the battery. I don't have an alarm in the vehicle but it does have a remote starter.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
I went out to start my car the other day and it seemed like it had only enough juice to make the starter click, but all other lights/dings were OK. The voltmeter was registering about 12V (just on the low side of normal). The battery was 4 years old, so I thought it just couldn't hold enough charge any more to start the car. I got a jump and drove it to work (an hour away). As soon as I turned off the car, I couldn't start it again. Same problem as above. I got a new battery at lunch, but same thing, it wouldn't start on its own but started fine with a jump. When I got home, it got a little more strange. When I had turned the key to the off position, I heard a clicking from behind the glove box, and the lights and radio also were blinking on and off.
By the way, I just replaced the starter a month ago, so that's unlikely. I also don't think it's the alternator because I wouldn't have made it to work if it wasn't charging the battery. I don't have an alarm in the vehicle but it does have a remote starter.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
Professional
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 180
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From: Benton IL
Check your ground connections. A loose ground can cause all sorts of neat electrical issues. Hopefully someone can chime in on locations as I have not have my D that long and haven't been under the hood much as of yet.
Hall Of Fame
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 14,228
Likes: 19
From: Riverton, UT
Check your battery connections first. Ensure they are clean as clean can be.
Next:
And here is a DIY for replacement of the starter: https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...-and-5-2l.html
Next:
You have a bad battery, bad starter or bad connection.
Test the voltage with the key in the on position across the batery posts (not terminals) and have someone turn the key to start (engaging the starter) and read the voltage drop across the battery posts (not terminals). If you see it drop down about 1.4 volts or so the solenoid is gone and grounding or bad contacts so you will need a starter. If nothing then it's a bad connection. Check the terminals and connecting points on both ends.
Test the voltage with the key in the on position across the batery posts (not terminals) and have someone turn the key to start (engaging the starter) and read the voltage drop across the battery posts (not terminals). If you see it drop down about 1.4 volts or so the solenoid is gone and grounding or bad contacts so you will need a starter. If nothing then it's a bad connection. Check the terminals and connecting points on both ends.
