I have a 99 Dodge Durango 5.9L which has had a lot of work done to it. For the past year I have had several issues with it not wanting to idle. If I don't have one foot on the gas at all times it will cut off on me. For the past month it has been giving me problems with starting at all, especially if I haven't driven it in 12 hours or longer. Also, when I accelerate there is an unpleasant rattling noise. Yesterday while I was driving, I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The smoke smelled sweet. I checked the temp gauge and it was under normal conditions. However there was clear fluid everywhere. I waited until the engine had cooled down and drove home. By the time I got home the smoke was really bad and the temp gauge showed it was overheated. The radiator, water pump, upper radiator hose, and thermostat have all been replaced within the past 2 years. Any thoughts as to what I should check or needs to be replaced? Thanks

 

Your idle problems sound like a fuel issue..bad fuel filter, semi clogged fuel line, etc. The overheat issue could be an antifreeze problem....have you flushed out and added new 50/50 mix antifreeze. On the clear liquid problem...could you tell if it was water. The sweet smell is definitly antifreeze, but antifreeze isnt clear unless you had 80% or so water in your radiator.

 

for the idle problem my first check would be the IAC motor/valve at this point id just replace it if i were you

as for the overheating, how much fluid was in the overflow reservoir? as stated clear does not sound like anti-freeze unless the wrong mix was put in (it should be 50/50 as stated)