My '05 Durango Hemi - The malfunction indicator light (MIL) on the dash will come on for 1 to 2 days then will go off for 2 to 4 days. Cycling the ignition will make it go off for a few days. Is there a way to read the computer for this or is this a mechanic shop item? I have 85k miles.

 

There is supposed to be a turn key trick to display the codes, but I couldn't get my wife's 2006 to do it. I used my SCT programmer to pull the codes.

Any auto parts store worth their salt (Advance Auto, O'Reillys, Autozone, etc.) will usually pull the codes for free. Don't ask a $tealership to do it, they charge sometimes as much as $100 to do the same thing.

 

Starting with the key in the off position;

Turn forward to run, then back too off.

Again forward to run, then back to off.

Finally, forward to run and then look at odometer window for any PXXXX codes.

If you see Pdone, there are no codes. If there are codes, it will show them first, then give you the Pdone.

You need to do this whole procedure in 5 seconds or less.

Don

 

Hopefully that trick works on your 2005, because it does not work on a 2006.

 

No code shows on the odometer last night and this morning. Maybe the MIL trouble codes are only stored in the computer and read at a shop? At any rate, it's in the shop. I was driving today and slowly accelerating at 40 mph, and there was a loud clunk somewhere near the transmission and I lost all gears. I coasted to the shoulder and turned off the engine. Restarted a few times in 5 minute intravals and no engagement of gears; D, 2 or 1. Towed to the Dodge dealer and tomorrow I will hear the good news. This may be related to my MIL warning, I just wish that I could have been able to read the trouble code. The MIL had been cycling on and off for about 2 months.

 

Jason:

The key dance will work for 04-05 D's as I have done it myself. Something else not widely known is that you can have the ignition switch in the run position, and then hold the trip odo reset in for about a minute.

The odo display will then give you a 4 digit number with hr behind it which is how many hours your engine has on it.

Racoon:

Not sure if the key dance will display all of the powertrain codes. Sounds to me like you may have lost the torque converter. Did you have reverse?

The 545RFE trans is a pretty stout piece of hardware. How many times was it serviced in its 85k miles. The recommended interval is 15k, but most folks can do 40-50k as long as you don't tow alot.

Whatever you do though, make sure that they put in ONLY Mopar or Valvoline ATF+4. Those are the only two factory approved fluids at this time. Both are synthetic, and are what the trans was designed to have in it.

If your TQ has died, somewhere between $500 and $900 should do it as the trans as to come out. They should also drain the old fluid and replace both internal filters to do the job right.

Don

 

thanks Don; I am in the category of schedule A for driving conditions and have not touched the trany and the fluid has looked good. Most of the miles are comuting in the Tacoma area and Washington/Oregon travel and I drive it 99% of the time. The trany had been shifting great and smooth. Have not towed anything. Did not check reverse, but no engagement in AWD, 4 lock, nor 4 low. Glad that you think the trany is fine, its like something broke and I lost connection to the trany. The engine seems fine. It is at a Dodge dealer and I will get a report back on Monday.

 

I got the word back from Tacoma Dodge service dept, and the torque converter spline striped out in a section. Their repair is bacially rebuilding the trany due to metal shavings scattered throughout. $3000.

 

Racoon:

WOW......... Did not see that one coming. I have to play devils advocate and wonder if the rebuild is really needed, or if they are having you make a boat payment or two for them.

The 545RFE has both a sump filter and a spin on return filter for the return line from the cooler which I would think would stop what ever metal is there from going too far.

Did they show you what the found, or are they just telling you? To have that serious of a failure at only 85k is ridiculous in my opinion.

Did you buy it new? if so, it might be worth a call to Chrysler corporate to see if they will help you out at all.

Being an 05, it would have come with the 7/70 powertrain warranty which has obviously expired.

What is the build date on your D? I think the one at work here was built in March of 05.

For $3000, I would think you could have a BRAND NEW one installed. What kind of warranty are they offering?

Don

 

A factory replacement trany was costing $4100 and a 3 year warranty. I chose the shop repair of my trany and I get a 12 month 12000 mile warranty. They say that the difference between the two is the warranty and not the serviceability. As for my trany, it will be like rolling the odometer back to zero in a sense. This issue has not really sunk in yet, as I was expecting to never have an engine or trany issue. I bought it used with 50k on it and it was a corporate lease vehicle before me.