Hello DF,

I'm not a big dodge guy, however i had an opportunity to do an engine/trans replacement recently on a 01 durango with a 4.7L. From my experience so far it looks to be a well built SUV.

The replacement went about as well as should be expected with a number of snags and goofs here and there. Nothing to outrageous for this level of work in my opinion.

Once all was back together it started up first turn of key (of course with some stuttering and a little choke til it cleared itself) and ran like a champ. We didnt take it for a test drive that night but just let it run. Once the test drive day came, it started right up again and we let it run for a while to warm it up.

I would say it was about a 10 mile trip that we decided to take and it just made the half way point before the truck shut off on us while in motion foot on the gas. it would once again start up but would not hold idle anymore. Had to hold the rpms up in order for it to keep running. and it progressively got worse, i.e. if you held the throttle it would run but sputter and choke badly. Got to the point where we couldnt move it more than 50 feet before it would die, and noticed that tell tell catalytic smell when to much unburnt fuel is going through it. So had to get it towed back..... (Highlight of the night: we think a skunk sprayed the truck in the area that we were stuck at, could still smell it near the truck after it was towed and sitting in the driveway)lol

Came back to it the next day and cant start it at all now. The starter will crank for days but no kick.(turnover) Codes on the computer point to the Cam sensor and map sensor. Checked for spark and have no spark in cylinger 1. In a lot of the cars that i work on, the cam sensor plays a role in ignition. so that was first area i checked. Switch the sensor with the one that was on the old engine. same results.. Checked the wiring for the cam sensor and have continuity and 5v going to the sensor. but again still the same results. Does cam or crank affect ignition on the 4.7L?

Is there any suggestions on what else could kill spark on this engine?? any other things to look for or tests to run??

Any advice will be appreciated.
TIA

 

Check the battery connections for corrosion and make sure they're tight. You may want to get the battery load tested also. That's probably the easiest thing to check.

 

cam sensor and crank sensor control spark

the truck SHOULD run without the cam sensor iirc, but the crank sensor is 100% necessary for the truck to start.

 

didnt really clean the connections, but i did try two different batteries. will check connections soon.

 

good to know crank sensor is needed. OF all the sensors i checked that's the one i got lazy on last night. will be checking that tmrw.

wouldnt that normally throw a code of its own? currently i only get cam for the engine.

 

was able to check to see if the crank sensor was getting power from PCM. had 5v going to it. is there any way to check to see if the crank is sending signal back to pcm? Any suggestions on how to pull the crank sensor out? its currently soaking in PB.

 

im not 100% sure how the sensor comes out, but you should be able to download the 2002 Factory service manual, this covers the 4.7l engine and should contain instructions on removing the sensor.

it is available for download near the end of the FAQ thread which is stickied to the top of the section.

 

service manual has been acquired. crank sensor has been replaced with a new one. Cam sensor was replaced with a known working one. still no spark. I have no power going to the wire connecter for coil no.1 is there anything else that can kill power going to the coils?.... relays? fuses?

 

Have u checked the security system? I know mine acted up like that before and I had to do a few trick with opening the door with the key and stuff

 

security??... it actually shut off on us while it was running, that would be a strange one. most immobilizers cut fuel or maybe even the starter. does dodge cut ignition??

how about this ASD relay im reading about. are these commonly a problem? i see that it has the ability to cut power going to the coils. can anyone chime in?? (headed to test it now)

edit: do the 01 durango's have an ASD relay? if so is it labeled as something else? I dont see it labeled in the PDC under the hood.