Hello folks,

I am brand spanking new to this forum and I have a 2002 Dodge Durango SLT 4WD, 5.9L V8. Its gray and my first car.

Hell of a car to have for a first car right?

Anyways my parents bought it used in 2004 and after a replaced transmission and a replacing of the 4WD component it became mine in 2009. After I got it the transmission was replaced again and also the suspension had to have a repair done.

I have a ton of plans for this car however all these repairs are slowly changing my mind about keeping this old soldier and perhaps buying another.

Currently I am having problems with starting the vehicle. It just got cold out here and one morning I got up to start the vehicle and it was really slow turning over. It started but the next time I went to use the vehicle after it had been sitting out for the night it clicked repeatedly and did nothing. I tried jumping it but the same thing happened. I gave up but before I went to bed I went out and tried it again. This time I held the start through the clicks and it turned over really slow and eventually started. Of course by this time the computer had reset and the idle function had stopped working. I had to drive it with both feet, braking and keeping my foot on the gas to keep the car on. As soon as I operate the car for a while everything starts working well, of course this is probably because everything is warm, even the starting is quick and powerful after being warm. It only has issues on a cold start.

Currently it has been starting, but extremely slow turnover at first and I always have to use gas to kick the vehicle on.

I had contemplated taking it to the shop but I have to eliminate all the easy problems. I have cleaned off the battery cables but thats it. What else could be the problem?

As a recap :
- Clicking and slow turnover but eventually starts
- Only on cold starts
- I have cleaned battery cables

If anyone has an insight on my problem please feel free to share I have about a 27 out of 100 car IQ so if you need to type on all caps and use elementary wording I wont be offended.

Ill also take any encouragement.

Thanks

 

slow start is a sign of a weak battery, as is the clicking you heard.

the cold weather is hard on the battery, and makes the engine harder for the engine to turn over, my first step would be to replace the battery (a weak battery is also a symptom of poor idle which is what you described as driving with two feet).

if that doesnt fix it then check the starter cables, relay and IAC motor, and then the starter solenoid itself.

 

The battery was replaced a year or so ago. I think that's pretty good.

Either way it could be the culprit as well as those other things.

I'll go through your list. Thanks for your expertise!

 

I agree with this being a battery problem. You said you cleaned the battery terminals, but did you check where the wires clamp into the battery connectors? Corrosion can build up there and cause a poor connection.

 

I have a 98 durango that did the same thing but never died after starting, now it just wont start, and I live in Ohio so if u kniw anything about our weather, one day its freezing the next its not! it was 50degrees this morning, but it wont start and hasnt all day! any advice??

 

Hey Guys,

I been real busy so I havent even got a chance to take some time and do some little fixes, but ill make sure I post what I did and how I did it when its done.

As an update, I have been driving the vehicle since. Its started to have this problem on cold and hot starts, but more cold. Regardless of which it doesn't matter if I hold the starter down long enough it will slowly start to crank, and eventually gets enough power to get a kick start with the gas.

@amberfrank, I'm located in Michigan so for the most part I feel your pain. Does your vehicle do anything when the ignition is turned, or is it just dead?

Thanks again for all your expertise.

 

So I just got through replacing the spark plugs on the Durango.

They were worn but not too terrible. One of the spark plugs had the tip of the connector broken off, but im not sure if that was my fault during removal.

(Also I had to remove a spark plug that was split down the middle. That was a major pain.)

I started car up, it had a somewhat slow start but it began to idle immediately, I didn't have to hold the gas down.

So far its an improvement. Im going to replace the distributor cap and the ignition coil shortly . And Ill let the thread know the results.

 

just about any part store will check your battery for free, just let them check it before you damage your starter, it also could be your starter dragging , also most parts store can also test for the starter draw also... good luck with your fix.

 

Ok so I replaced the distributor cap and ignition coil.

The distributor cap had quite a bit of corrosion on the connectors. So no doubt that has added to overall car improvement, however it has not fixed the problem.

The ignition coil was augmented as if someone had took a flathead in between the coils and separated it. I replaced that but still the problem persists.

The car starts reliably every time I try however it still needs gas and always needs continuing gas power to remain on and drive.

Perhaps maybe the problem persists because of the belt? or maybe I do need to look at the starter itself?

Thanks for all the advice, anymore thoughts with this recent update?

 

your start and needing to hold the gas to keep it running is a pretty classic symptom of a bad IAC motor, replace it and reset the computer and let us know what happens.