So - I just bought my Durango 3 weeks ago. It seemed like a good reliable truck, but it has started to cause me some problems.

I took it for a 600 mile drive and when I arrived at my destination, I could hear a nasty sound from the engine compartment. Kind of like the sound you get from a refrigerator when it is really fighting to keep up with burning temperatures. I found out it was the pump to the ABS brakes.

Even after I turned off the ignition and removed the key, it kept on running. I quickly stopped at a mechanic who pulled the bigger of the two plugs on the ABS pump which made it stop.

Before doing that, he even tried to pull the fuse for the abs in the drivers door. Didn't help either.

Now it doesn't count the kilometers, cruise control doesn't work, speedo doesn't work. I guess the bigger plug has something to do with the speed sensor.

My local mechanic, who mostly does engine work, tried to unplug the speed sensor from the rear hub, and that didn't make it stop from running either. He plugged his computer into the vehicle, and it seemed like it couldn't really communicate properly with everything in the car. Some things came out ok, but it complained about the speed sensor.

I am very much in doubt, what this can be caused by. I've researched a bit on various forums, and I guess it could be the CAB.

I've already payed too much for this vehicle, so I would like to keep repairs at a minimum.

Any ideas?

Cheers.

 

Oh yeah, its a 2000 Dodge Durango 4x4 SLT Plus

 

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...lp-please.html

This is a link to something similar that I had a recent problem with.

My Durango initially had the brake and ABS light illuminated. Easy fix right?, replace the rear sensor. Lights went away but a new problem appeared. Just like you, the ABS pump kept running. I chased around problems, changing out every sensor as well as getting the ABS computer reworked. I finally gave in and took it in to get looked at.

The mechanic had trouble diagnosing the problem as well. I suggested he look at the rear differential seeing as the problem with the pump arose when I fixed the rear sensor. Sure enough, he found a few chunks of metal when he opened it up. The pieces of metal turned out to be mangled pieces of the clutch pack retaining clips. Once those were replaced everything worked fine. Total cost was a little over $700. I hope this helps you out a little.

 

It sounds to me like first your ABS pump and module is shot and secondly, your transmission VSS is in need of replacing. The mechanic obviously doesn't know much about Dodge because there is a speed sensor located on the output shaft of the transmission and is an easy simply fix.

As far as you keeping the ABS unplugged, I wouldn't recommend it but it wouldn't be the worst thing you can do for your truck. Also, you can just pull the main 40AMP fuse for the ABS that is located in the PDC under the hood.

For future reference, it really does help to let us know which engine you have because saying it's a 2000 SLT Plus, just lets us know you have one of three engines and transmission that were offered that year. Do you have the 4.7, 5.2, or 5.9?

 

Replace the ABS Module.

 

Thanks for all the great replies.

Sorry, I actually meant to write that it was a 4.7L, but I must have missed that.

I've already paid too much for it (I am not the best negotiator in the world, and it did have some rust that I didn't notice until a few weeks after I bought it) so I really hope that I can keep the repair costs to a minimum.

I've searched ebay, and it seems you can get an abs module for around 99 dollars. I take it that they work, but I guess that's not always a guarantee when buying used stuff off ebay. Any recommendations there?

I don't think that the pump is gone, although it does sound a little harsh. But it did sound like that even before the module went AWOL.

My Mechanic is an engine specialist, and works mainly with Fords. As he said, he became a mechanic even before ABS was introduced in cars, so he doesn't know much about it. But I trust him, and he didn't charge me anything for the hookup. I take it that my local Dodge dealership would charge me for the diagnosis and tell me that I needed to fix everything and that it would be very expensive.

If I could do this myself, I would like to. I just don't know if it is a job for a pro.

Thanks!

 

You have 2 options;

You can get under the truck at the front wheels and see if you have ABS sensors on each of the front wheel bearings. You will know because you will see the wires coming form the bearings. If you don't have them then you only have 2 Wheel ABS meaning you don't have front ABS sensors. If you do have them then you have 3 wheel ABS system.

Go to a junk yard and find one of the same year and ensure they have the same system as yours does (motor doesn't matter), either 2 or 3 wheel ABS and the grab a module with the same system as yours.

It will be a easy plug and play swap, as long as it's the same system.


Next, you can buy a new module but you still need to have it flashed with your type ABS system.

 

I have the same problem in my 2001 Dodge Ram. One of the rods inside the ABS pump snapped, cause it to constantly run. It killed my battery twice, so my mechanic disconnected it as your mechanic did and he basically told me to spend the few hundred dollars to fix it if i wish, but its not really necessary. I chose not to replace it and it sucks not having a working speedometer and odometer, but other than that, I have had not one problem with the braking system. My advice would be if your not looking to put money into it like I'm not willing to put money into my Ram and focus my time on my Durango, keep it unplugged.