Hello everyone! I'm sorry in advance but this is going to be a long post. It has to be to get everything that has happened in the last few days covered.

I have a 2004 D, SLT 4.7 4x4. Yesterday evening on my way to work my check engine light and airbag light both came on at the same time. A few minutes later, I heard the friendly chime and every warning light came on and my speedometer and tachometer died. My gas guage and temp guage kept reading but the other two just dropped to zero. Sort of a bad feeling doing 75 on the interstate.

There was a light rain so I had the lights and wipers on. I turned the wipers off and noticed the speedometer and tach came back to life. I turned the wipers on and they died. A few miles later they died again but would start working and stop working in one second intervals. (up. down. up. down) My wipers were still in the off position.

When I got to work and got out the motor was till running, even thought I the key in my hand. When the motor choked out and stopped, there was a clicking sound from under the hood. I checked under the hood for the clicking sound and it was coming from the fuse box closest to the firewall. When I opened the box the clicking was coming from what I'm guessing is a relay. There are two black plugs closest to the fender and the plug on the left side was ticking like a time bomb. When I locked it with the key button the lights didn't blink nor did the horn honk to indicate locking.

On my dinner break I went out and disconnected the battery and tried clear out the computer by turning on the key. When I disconnected the battery it arched over like something was drawing current from it. The doors were shut so there shouldn't have been anything drawing current. After starting it again it was idling rough and stalling out at red lights so I took it to Autozone. Their diagnosis gave me a code of U1120. Because it was 8 p.m. there's not much I can do so I finished my shift and drove it home. The darn thing ran well on the way home but the relay, or whatever it is, still ticked when I got it home

Today I go out to take it to a local NAPA who is owned by a friend for advice. It unlocked like normal, started like normal but on the gear selection display every position was highlighted like it was in all gears at once. When I dropped it down in reverse this cleared up. My buddy at NAPA was stumped but recommended changing that ticking relay under the hood. Money is REALLY tight right now and I don't want to spend money on something that may not even be the problem.

Anybody have a similar experience?

SO many things went wrong in such a short period.
Do I need a Dodge mechanic, priest or new vehicle?

 

Go to www.safercar.gov as the 2004 has recalls for the instrument cluster, battery cables and interior lighting:



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Report Date: March 1, 2012 at 07:25 PM
Search Type: VEHICLE
Make: DODGE
Model: DURANGO
Model Year: 2004


Results : 5 | All records displayed
Make: DODGE Model: DURANGO
Model Year: 2004
Manufacturer: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION Mfr's Report Date: DEC 12, 2003
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 03V528000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
Potential Number of Units Affected: 27,586

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Make: DODGE Model: DURANGO
Model Year: 2004
Manufacturer: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION Mfr's Report Date: JAN 13, 2004
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 04V020000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
Potential Number of Units Affected: 21,053

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Make: DODGE Model: DURANGO
Model Year: 2004
Manufacturer: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION Mfr's Report Date: DEC 07, 2004
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 04V578000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES
Potential Number of Units Affected: 71,763

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Make: DODGE Model: DURANGO
Model Year: 2004
Manufacturer: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION Mfr's Report Date: MAR 06, 2007
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 07V092000 NHTSA Action Number: EA06015
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL


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Make: DODGE Model: DURANGO
Model Year: 2004
Manufacturer: SABERSPORT Mfr's Report Date: MAR 28, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09E012000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING



I would call your dealer to see if your vehicle has the new cluster as the old one poses a fire hazard.
FF

 

Awesome! Thank you so much for the information. I'll call the dealer bright and early in the morning!

 

RANGO:

Before you get too far into this, have the battery load tested. Our Durangos are quite sensitive to an old or flaky battery.

Being an 04, if yours is OEM original, I would replace it just on principal.
Once you have the battery issue eliminated, go forward from there if need be.

Don

 

n8ech has an excellent point about the battery. You can call the dealer to see if your vehicle has any recalls.
FF