I have a 1998 Dodge Durango 5.9L V8 4x4, and I am having some idling issues.


It started about two-three weeks ago.

I was going on a 250m trip, and when I started my truck, it started at about 2500 rpm, but finally backed down to about 1500. When I put it in neutral, it went up to about 1700 rpm. I had to leave town, so I drove anyway. About two hours later of driving, I pulled off to hit a gas station, and as I came to the stop sign, the idle went down and down as I slowed down until it stalled out. (Note: I had been driving 80mph that entire time, first time slowing down.)

NOW: I am having issues with it low idling. To skip to the here and now, I can start it up, and 75% of the time, it will fire right up, but it will jump up and then drop straight back down. It will not maintain an idle.

The other 25% of the time it will start up fine, and idle right at 700rmp.

To keep it running when I start it, I give it some gas, and slowly lower it from 2000 rpm until I get to 500. It will idle up to 700, then stall back to 500, then back and forth again... It'll do that for about two minutes until it maintains idle at 500. I can drive it, but if I tap the throttle and let off, it will go up and stall out. It will only idle at 500 if I slowly bring the engine down to 500, as in making a rather slow stop at stop signs.

I believe this to by my IAC (Idle Air Control Valve going out.)

I have the option to buy a $10 IAC off of a guy in town parting out a wrecked 2000 5.9L Ram.

OR, go to O'Reilly's Auto Parts, and buy/order one for about $30.

NOTE: I live in a very small town, and it is Sunday.

 

Update:

Started it up, RPM spiked to 1000, dropped to 400, up to 700, down to 550, then stabilized at 700.

Revved up to 3000 and let off, grumbled down to 500 rpm, then stabilized at 700.

Revved up to 2500, grumbled down to 500 rpm, then stabilized at 700.

Revved up to 2200, grumbled down to 500 rpm, then stabilized at 700.

Revved up to 2000, grumbled down to 500 rpm, then stabilized at 700.

Revved up to 1900, grumbled down to 450 rpm, then stabilized at 700.

Revved up to 1750, grumbled down to 400 rpm, then stabilized at 700.

Revved up to 1600, when I let off, it stalled out. I restarted the process, and any time I revved up to anything less then about 1750 would stall out and die unless I gave it intervened.

 

Sorry, I don't have any info to help, but this sounds pretty similar to what my 2000 durango just started doing. It had been sitting for a week, and when I tried to start it, I could only get it to run by pressing the gas pedal. Otherwise it just stalls immediately, so its basically undrivable.

I'll be very interested to see what answers you get. Maybe they'll apply to mine now too.

 

[geoff, you should start your own thread since your symptoms are different

however in both cases it sounds like a faulty IAC valve/motor i would replace that and reset the compute rin both cases and see what happens

 

That actually sounds very similar, because if I start it, it will start and die unless I give it gas. I can still drive it, but it can be hazardous, but I drive for a living, so I can cope with it. I'm waiting for my check to come in tomorrow before I go get it. But it's been an issue. IAC is the cheapest simplest fix.

 

Battery was faulty. Not exactly sure why it wouldn't function properly, but everything works fine now. Everybody thought it was the IAC, even two shops i visited getting other stuff done. So I'm not just dumb, good luck guys, hope somebody benefits from this!