This will be a little ongoing thread to see how this is handled by the shop, Insurance Company and what parts we need. A little assuming right now on the rodent/cause of the issue based on some of the evidence and personal experiences so far.

The main character will be Baby Hemi as she is so affectionately called. A 2006 Durango Limited with the Hemi and only missing the Back-Up Cameras & U-Connect on her long list of options. She is silver with the stone leather interior and a very loved part of the family.

Yesterday, drove Baby Hemi up to Euclid and back (about 100 miles round trip roughly) and she behaved beautifully. Near the end (around the last 15 miles or so) an F-150 pick-up thought it would show off by tryin' to race against Baby Hemi. At first I was just laughing at his attempts, seriously. An F-150 against a Hemi? What next, a Yugo going to pull up and prove it's strength? After 1/2 a dozen or so attempts I finally looked over and noticed the drive and his friend laughing, like no way a Durango was gonna take 'em down.

Now, you Hemi owners already know how this story ends. An extended cab F-150 (around an '04 or so) up against the '06 Durango Hemi. Not really a fair fight. After all, that F-150 is a lot lighter, it doesn't have as much weight to throw around as the Durango. And it does have a V-8 like the Durango, but still not a fair fight. I took my right hand, stuck it up by the drivers window and proceeded to slip Baby Hemi into Nuetral. Gave 3 revs, waved bye bye and then slipped it back to drove and punched her to the floor.

Needless to say, Baby Hemi down shifted, let out that deep growl we all love so much and was gone, from 60-90 in around 3 seconds when I took my foot off the gas and let her slow back down. It was truly an hilarious moment as that F-150 just sat way back behind me in what I know was true humiliation.

So what does that have to do with the issue? That's when it started. Got off the expressway a few miles later and noticed it stank horrid in the area. Within a couple of minutes it was so bad I shut down the Auto Climate (just turned it all off) and pulled into a gas station. It was time for Baby Hemi to get her feedin'. That's when I noticed it was Baby Hemi that was smelling more rank than a skunk stunk in a barrell havin' panic attacks. The oder was definitely electrical and smelled like something was burning major. But no smoke, no flames. That smell like a clutch is burning up when you ride it way to long or a semi sets it's drum brakes on fire. Leaves a horrid taste in your mouth and just lays on your skin.

So this morning I took Baby Hemi to the doc (Progressive Dodge in Massillon) and she smelled beautiful. Not a hint of anything. Went ahead and got her an oil change and new air filter figuring with the mechanic that something had gotten on the intake manifold and burned off. We even noticed a net type material over a set of wires or something that is above the right valve cover but it was not the source. Just a little weird looking.

Picked up Baby Hemi a short time later and the temperature outside rose so without thinking I turned the ACC back on and drove about 3 miles. Then the smell came back, that skunk was havin' way more panic attacks than a hypochondriac cat in a rockin' chair warehouse. Instantly turned her around and back to the dealer we went. Now, we all know how this usually goes. Truck does something, take it to deal and it won't do it. Leave the dealer with the truck, it acts up again and begins a repetitious cycle. Not Baby Hemi. This time the smell was so bad when it pulled into the bay at the dealer (they have those nice indoor service adjuster bays so the service adjusters don't get wet, it's right outside the cashier's office/window mind you) she came in and the skunk went berzerk as she sat their and idled.

When I say berzerk, I mean berzerk. Sittin' right there she stunk up that entire dealership so bad they opened up every door and window they could. Even the guys in the showroom we're runnin' outside for fresh air. Baby Hemi it seems has something in the heater box causing the flap to not flip from Heat to AC and is thus burning the crap out of her motors in the box then pumping the smell out her vents and out from under the hood to the entire world.

We found the insulation behind the batter box (near the heater box) on the fire wall all chewed up, the insulation on the bottom of the hood is filled with droppings. No warning lights of any kind, the blower motor runs at full blast. Just this putrid smell and no cold air out of the AC even though the pump is running.

So, we have contact the insurance company, Grange, who wants the dash out of Baby Hemi and the heater box opened up, then they will review the case and determine if they are responsible or we are for the cost of fixing her. We will let you know how this process goes with both the repairs on Baby Hemi and whether we have to foot the whole Doctor's bill for her or the insurance company steps in to help out.

Think I can get her on the Obama Health Care Plan?

 

A friend of mine decided to veer towards an animal instead of swerving to miss it. He nailed the possum and even turned around to see it splattered dead on the road. He could not find it and thought that maybe it scampered off into the brush on the shoulder of the road. Two weeks later he had a strong smell from his car and he found out where the possum landed. Keep us posted about your mouse situation,
FF

 

If there is an animal in there, or signs of an animal that caused the problem... easy. Comprehensive claim and covered. If it isn't animal related, and is instead something broken, etc, the it isn't an insurance issue.

IndyDurango