The 'road trip' thread got me thinking about what, other than routine things (plugs/wires, fluids, brakes, hoses, belt, battery, exhaust, etc.), what sort of things go bad our Durangos after say 100,000 miles? I don't usually do preemptive things like replace the main water pump or alt and such just because it's old. Does anyone?

I recently had the electric HVAC water pump start leaking, replaced that.

This past week I also got a 'check gauges' and saw the battery voltage was maxed out, but since it went to normal after 5 mins, I haven't looked into it yet, I'm still expecting that one back.

 

I've been thinking about replacing the radiator on mine since it's 16 years old and I don't trust old plastic tanks.

 

I'm at 188K, and on my 3rd alternator and 3rd set of front hubs and ball joints. I'm also on my second fuel pump and I've had 2 center console lids break, but I don't know how common that is.

 

I'm hugely not a fan of swapping out parts on speculation (not confirming they are bad first), but I'm thinking of doing the Alt 'just in case'. Since...I'm having odd electrical probs + I've got 108K on the odo + it is a moving part known to not last forever.

 

I'd get the original alternator rebuilt if I were you, replacement ones generally don't last more than a few years.

 

For me. Two trannies, on 3rd set of rubber grommets for my anti sway bar, set of shocks, water pump, radiator (swapped out due to built in tranny cooler may be clogged from first tranny failure). Tps sensor. Map sensor.

 

My 2002 has 149,000 miles and have owned it for 2 years. Have replaced:

Spark plugs
PCV valve
Radiator
Front hub assembly on both wheels twice
Lower ball joints
Upper ball joints
Both CV joints (one twice)
shocks all the way around
Rear wheel seals once
Brakes all the way around once
Front right shaft seal
4 front end alignments

Still has a vibration in the front that I am trying to work out

 

When I started this thread I had no specific parts in mind, but I was thinking the water pump would be on a 'likely to go bad around my 108,000 miles' list. Now it's a week+ later and I found this morning that my fan can wiggle a 1/4" at the tips as the bearing clunks back and forth. So, the new water pump went in over the next few hours. I'll finish tomorrow in the cool morning to get the Alt and A/C back mounted and the rest of the job done.

Us retired guys with two vehicles have the luxury of not having to work in the garage when the NM heat hits 95.

 

My original water pump made it to 150k miles. Original alternator made it to 140k miles or so. It failed spectacularly when it went; started it up one morning and the alternator started smoking as I pulled out of the driveway.

 

Based on those mile numbers, my failed pump now, and not liking 'spectacular' fails, I'm thinking a preemptive strike on the alternator might be a good idea. I think I'll look into that, start with Rock Auto for $$ research.