Hello all, I am desperately trying to help out my parents who are having problems with their 2000 Durango SLT+. I am a Dodge owner myself (07 Dakota) and have had the pleasure to get resolutions from my truck in the Dakota section. Now, i'm hoping you guys here can help me out as well with this Durango.

Here is what happens: Start the car, it turns on, and then suddenly the RPMs slowly decrease and truck shuts off. The only way to keep it going is to keep your foot on the gas pedal. Also, when they were coming home from church, they took a left turn at an intersection and it caused the truck to turn off again. They tested this again at another turn and the truck shuts off again. This has never happened and they've never had any issues with their Durango until recently.

They're the original owners and it has been more of a weekend / vacation car as they really baby it. Currently it only has 68k miles on it which is very low. Things to note: my Dad says he's noticed that the "steering fluid" has been leaking (i'm assuming power steering fluid?) and he always has to keep topping it off every now and then. There's no check engine lights.

Any advise or input would GLADLY be appreciated as they are so busy with work and always helping others out. They're in such a financial hole right now and always helping others that I really want to try and help them as much as I can diagnose and fix their truck. If these sound/seem like symptoms of a familiar issue please let me know where I should look to first. Thank you all in advance.

 

I've been only here for a few weeks, but I can try to help since I already experienced this problem. Any mistake others are free to correct.

First of all, 5.2 or 5.9?

For me it turned out to be the IAC (Idle Air control) valve. Check the connection located on the back end of the throttle body. Worst case scenario is replacement.

You also mentioned that this car is not driven much. From what I've read these trucks don't take well to being stationary for long. They also don't take well to batteries going flat (not ALREADY flat but about to be). For some reason the electronics don't like it. Won't hurt to check the terminals for corrosion and go through them with a wire brush.

Now when they took the turn, was their foot on the gas or are they those kind that coast through the turn? I mean even with their foot off the gas the engine is still under load so it still should be above idle during turning so it should prevent it from shutting off until they're at a complete stop. This I don't know what the cause is.

 

2000 could also have the 4.7 too. Anyway you're spot on with the IAC and/or battery connections. Not having enough power can screw with the computer, so poor connections (ie corrosion) or a weak battery can cause similar issues. The IAC can also cause issues too.

 

My take on this...

I also own a 2000 Durango with the 4.7.

check the high-pressure hose off the power steering unit for your leak. I replaced mine at about 100K. You may have fluid getting into the sensor on this line! When you turn the wheel the pump pushes fluid down this line. The Sensor sends a signal to the ECM to increase the Engine rpms to handle the added load. Its not much, but it is necessary. If the sensor is bad...you may experience stalling when stopped and turning the wheel. So, you say there is PS fluid on the ground...I suspect that the fluid is coming through the sensor connection on that HiPres line.

If fluid has gotten into the sensor (like it did on mine) the sensor is ruined. You can test this in the drive way. Fire up the truck, put the brake on and shift into "D" (for Durango!). Now turn the wheel all the way left and right...does the engine rpms kick up? Is fluid coming out of the hose at some connection? Did it stall? I would do this a few times...even a faulty sensor can work "most" of the time. You can pull the sensor and inspect it for fluid on the end. If you see fluid...its shot. Mine had fluid come out the back on the wiring harness!!!

If you do need to replace that line let me say this...it is a PITA!!!! you will need a 18MM and 16MM wrench to undo the line. This was one of my first repairs on the Big-D...so I had to buy them....never used the 16MM again. LOL.

Of course pulling the Throttle body and cleaning it wont hurt either. I just pulled mine this weekend and replaced the TPS and IAC (factory original at 163K) after the cleaning. I had a cold high-idle that Oscillated up/down until warm. It finally irritated me enough to do this. Its a 40 minute job. I got the sensors (DELPHI's) off of Amazon for about $44 each. Its worth it do this even if it is the High-Pressure hose.

Good luck and let us know what you find.

 

I had the EXACT symptoms (at least with respect to stalling on turns, etc.) on a 2003 4.7 about a year ago. Turned out to be the Cam Shaft and Crank Shaft Sensors gone bad. About a $150 in parts and 1 hour labor at the shop I use.

 

I have a 98 Durango, itried a lot of different things.I couldn't get a computer reading because on light came on. I changed the map sensor, havnt had a problem sense.

 

Thank you guys so much! I'm going to try a combination of everything you all mentioned, just in case. I will also note I bought him a pair of HIDs last christmas and they were running strong for 11 months, up until Thanksgiving of 2013. Only 1 HID works now so I am advising him to remove the HIDs (for good) and just run the halogens. I think that may be related to the battery issue in some way as he's never had any problems with the Durango pre-HIDs. So, since nothing has been worked on, I'll look at changing out the IAC Valve, Crankshaft Sensor, TPS sensor, Camshaft sensor, and looking at that high pressure hose. Thanks guys and i'll keep in touch!

 

Also, I believe the engine is the 4.7L since it is a all-time 4WD. From what I recall, the RWDs were 5.2L and then there was another bigger 5.9L.

 

If the airhat is round it's a 5.2/5.9 and if the airhat is square it's a 4.7. The 5.2 was rwd only in 2000 and the 4.7 was 4wd only.

 

Sounds like the common power steering pressure switch is leaking (needs replacement).

IAC or TPS can cause stalling.

Crankshaft sensor is a pain in the *** to replace. Mine threw a code when it was going bad. I replaced. And it wasnt pretty. If you can, drill a small hole and then screw in a heavy duty eye bolt. Attach chain or sling. Two guys to pull heavy and hard and it will pop out.