Hello everyone!

So the story is we have had this durango for a while. Its a 2001 SLT 4.7 liter, with 4x4. And needless to say, it took some abuse. (Mostly from me).

This was my first car so as many high schoolers who are just given a car, I didnt treat it very well. But during my senior year in high school I used money I saved up (Yes, all the money was mine ) to buy a used bmw. Every since buying the bmw, ive become a mechanic.

So after awhile the durango was neglected and now needs some serious TLC. The oil was not changed for a long time and after my mom continued driving it, the lifters were shot. We got those replaced (Expensive) but continue to have poor performance with the engine. There is also a very loud noise that comes from the back right end whenever you hit a bump, and I believe that its the back right spring that is shot.

Im familiar with my car due to a bmw forum that has saved me endless times so Im hoping you all can help me out a little too!

It has about 75,000 miles, and like i said 2001 SLT 4.7. What are common problems that come with these models? I suspect there is a vacumm leak somewhere...

I can hear a noise while the engine runs and when I turn off the engine you can hear pretty clearly that air is escaping from somewhere. A 3 second 'tsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss' sound.

Ill eventually make a recording of it so you know what Im talking about.

Thanks for all the help! If you need more information let me know!

 

definitely sounds like vacuum leak to me when you shut it off, just need to find it.

these motors are not known for any real problems(however neglect causes lots of problems in all engines including build up internally), they are pick about plugs tho (they like the cheapo champion copper core plugs best), how long was the oil left in there (miles) and what do you consider poor performance, this is a small v8 we are looking at, its not as nice as the big old time proven 5.9 power wise, but should have plenty of power for moving the truck itself (even loaded up with 7 adults, which idk why anyone would do)

 

Well ive driven the truck a lot in the past and the power is still there but the engine, I can tell, just isnt running very slowly. Im hoping its just from the vacumm leak. And I dont remember how many miles were put on the car but it went over a year without getting it changed.

Also are springs known for going out on these cars? Because it sounds like a spring but I know at least on my other car, its the shocks that go out, not the spring.

Thank you !

edit
just tried listening to the leak, definitely sounds like its coming from the right side of the engine.

 

springs are defintely not a common failure item on these trucks, more than likely the shocks as the factory equipped shocks are really not very good.

not sure what you mean by 'just isnt running very slowly' could you clarify?.

 

i notice you are one of the few people that post on here, as youve responded to a lot of threads. Thanks for taking the time to help me out.

well the idle kinda bounces up and down at a stop light. it floats around 500/600 though, so its nothing too serious. also it seems to hesitate a little bit when i press on the gas. also a little shakey at idle but im kinda picky. im guessing all of these are related to the vacuum leak im having.

and are there rear springs on these cars? I looked and the shocks most definitely will get replaced, they look to be original. couldnt spot a spring though.

shocks look to be an extremely easy diy forunately

 

your welcome,

shocks are a very easy DIY the rear of the truck rides on leaf springs, the front of 4x4s are on torsion bars and front of 2wd models are on coil springs.

the idle issue sounds like a bad TPS, my 4.7 idles at 500 rpm even and you cannot feel it(iv had people ask why i shut the truck off at lights thats how smooth it idles), i would expect fixing the TPS and vacuum leak to fix the issues there.

 

are the leaf springs easy to replace as well? i cant find a guide on it

 

i have only seen one case of leaf springs failing on these trucks (Duranged408) and that was on a far from stock vehicle that appears to be abused pretty regularly. Your springs should be fine, however i would imagine that the leafs arent too hard to replace if you do one side at a time and just put the new one in the opposite of how the old one came out

 

Yeah but looking at the shocks, they look to have been gone for awhile. And with bad shocks im guessing the springs would have taken more abuse. Plus im sure when my mom drove it, she wasnt avoiding potholes either. (MN roads are bad)

The sound just sooooooounds like a spring going bad, I dont think a shock would make the noise. But shocks will get replaced first. Hopefully its only the shocks

 

Try the shocks first. I agree with MN roads I spent the Winter of 2009-10 up there and definitely didnt help my alignment or do my suspension any favors. The shocks are easier than you think. The rears didnt even require jacking, I just sprayed some PB blaster...WD40 will work also apply about 24-48 hours prior to removal spray the bolts heavily and they should come right off. Rears took me about 30 minutes. Fronts took me about 1 hour but in my defense I removed the tires on the fronts and with only one jack.... one side at a time. If you have access or know someone with access to a lift and all parts available and ready it should take less than 60 minutes for all four.