My 99' durango yesterday started up funny. I turn the key on and nothing happened, turn it back then on again and it started up. After it's been started it fires back up. But if it is off for any period of time it does nothing when the key is turned. Went out this morning to try it and it did the same thing. But now I noticed a scratching noise if you will coming from what sounds like under the engine. Then I noticed it was leaking coolant, but the coolant is rust colored. It was leaking right ontop of the cross member under the belt and draining off that. I'm sure it's coolant by smell. So I popped the radiator cap and there is rust colored sludge all inside my radiator.

Could this all be one problem, or do I have a couple problems and if so what do you think it might be.

thanks

 

Ok I put my D on ramps. The leak is coming form the lower hose, and I suspect the noise could be from the coolant getting on the belt and such.

But could the rust/sludge have anything to do with the starting, maybe gumming soemthing up. I'm gionna flush the system and replace the hoses and such.

I wondering if my starter may be going out though...

 

It sounds like 2 problems, get that leak taken care of and watch for new leaks after the flush. It could be many things that could be going wrong with your starting problem. The first thing I would check is your battery cables and grounds. If your battery cables are corroded clean them up with a wire brush. You can also use Pepsi or Coke (Coke is better, more acidity) but that is only a temporary fix. After checking those two things I would look at the starter solenoid and starter. I know that you can test the solenoid if you know what you are doing but electrical+me=duh so I can't help you there. Hope this helps let us know how it goes.

 

First fix the leak. Have the cooling system flushed.

Next Year, Make, Motor, and Model help us figuer out your problem. Check your conections then have your batery load tested. (Auto Zone or many other part stores do it for free) After that change that starter out. Hope this helps. I would go in this order from first to last.

 

it's a 99' durango SLT+ w/ a 360.

The battery is maybe a year old. From reading into it, it sounds like my Solenoid may be to blame. Hopefully it will be a lot cheaper than the starter...

Has anyone ever changed a starter, is it a big pain in this durango?

 

I don't think it is that hard to get to but I'll have to check my manual.

 

oh it was complete mother f%$#$*...

(to get out, I can't wait to put the new one in[:@])

 

I was gonna post up the info for you once I got into my manual but I guess you got it LOL. How long did it take? I did a starter in my mothers bronco II a while back and that was cake. I didn't have to remove anything to get to it. 20 minute job and that included time to read about it in the manual only to find it was easier than an alternator...

 

The one in my old 79 TA was cake.

This one took a couple hours to get out. But that was alternating between the Radiator leak and the Starter. I get pissed with one and switch to the other... Had to take off the skid plate to get to it. Had to remove the cross member and the croosmemebr bracket to get the damn thing off. And of course I couldn't get the battery cable off the starter so I had to disconnect it in 3 spots and break two clips and take it off with the starter to see how to even get the plug off the starter. But the worst were the bolts. The lower you have no room to get a rachet in there where I could get enough man power to break it free. I had to put a box end from the bottom and about break my damn hand just to break it free. After that the rachet could turn it from above about a 5 or 6 clicks. The top bolt was just as tight. But due to the emmense anger I forgot for a longer time than I like to admit that I have a BABB (big *** breaker Bar) I finally got the BABB out, dropped my left nutt, cussed, yelled, kicked the dog and got the SOB to break free... after that I had a fare amount of rachet action. Theres just no room for enough torque when they have been on there so long. And I couldn't believe the crap I had to disassemle jst to get it out.

Tommarrow should be fun, I haven't put it back on. After winging a rather large 1/2" extension across the garage, I realized I had better call it a night (that and NAPA was closed)

And of course I broke the drain plug in my D and the only place that has it is dodge, which is closed until Tuesday. Perfect 3 day weekend Bloody Perfect...

Right now I could choke a bitch...

 

DAMN! Sounds like one hell of a job DC made for you. They are always looking to make it harder so they can bend you over on labor later down the line I think. It'll go easier putting that back in and remember the golden rule of auto mechanics, always pull the wrench never push it, You'll save yourself a lot of bleeding knuckles.