I have a 00 Durango 4.7, just recently purchased it. It has 90k on it, and twice when i've started it up, black residue has shot out of the exhaust. I've heard it could be running rich, anyone have ideas on this? Also, it hesitates sometimes.

 

Pull a couple of your spark plugs. If they're black instead of a medium tan, you're running rich..........

Dusty

 

Another reason is a clogged cat or one that has enough of a clog to produce enough back pressure at start up to give you a shot of black residue out of your tail pipe.
Do what Dusty mentioned first though and go from there.

 

Is your power steering switch leaking?

 

the power steering guess may be right, but i am pulling an o2 code. how can i check the switch? one time when i did pull the code, a power steering code did come up.

 

99.99% chance that this is your problem, as everyone who has this problem has a 2000 Durango with a 4.7L.

This was my request for help...

My 2000 Durango SLT with a 4.7L engine has failing (front) O2 sensor. 91,000 Miles. Replaced OEM o2 front sensor.

Repeated code being picked up: PO171 Fuel System Lean - Engine Light On.

The dealership did perform diagnostic checks on all possible problems - associated with the above code, but found all items to be OK.

Their conclusion is that the power steering switch is leaking fluid, pushing oil into the harness. Dealership states that the o2 sensors and the power steering switch wires are running in the same harness. The faulty switch and their related wires are interfering with the signal picked up from the o2 sensors - and providing faulty information back to the computer.

Their recommendation was to replace the faulty power steering switch, both o2 sensors, and take apart the wiring harness and create another individual harness just for the o2 sensors. No more cross 'talking' between sensors. Stated the o2 sensor is good just reading low voltage.

After my dealership noted the above, I researched the Internet and came across the following identical problem but with a different solution. Please see / read the top of the second page: ttp://www.wellsmfgcorp.com/counterpoints/counterp_v9_i1_2005_2.pdf

The dealership requested a hefty sum to correct my problem. I have paid for their diagnostic service and will repair the Durango myself, but after reading the Well's article, I question which solution is correct.

Dealership did contact their Tech Line, and either created a case number, or from previous similar situations - Case #8314819.

Today, I received my ordered power steering switch and replaced it. Prior to replacing it, I sprayed Brake Cleaner into the power steering switch connector and left it uncoupled for a couple of days. The item did leak fluid through the electrical coupler.

Put the new power steering switch in and put it on a scanner to have the 'check engine' light to go off. During this check, the o2 sensor was reading zero. I went back to the dealer, who accepted that the sensor was not reading, and again stated that the wires have to be cut and spliced with new wires, plus noted harness back to computer.

Has anyone else had this problem?

Does anyone have electrical diagrams for this vehicle to identify what the o2 sensors couple to - in order to splice new wires?

I look forward to all responses!

============

Tomorrow I am taking several cans of brake cleaner to the harness to get rid of the oil within the harness that is going to my o2 sensors. Your power steering switch is right up front, uncouple the 2 wire prong and shoot some brake cleaner in it and blow some compressed air into it. Do not couple it back up - but use the Durango and check it over the course of a couple of days - if it is filling up with oil, you got the same problem I do. I will let you know how mine turns out.

I sent an e-mail to another guy on here who had the same problem - as this was several months ago that his listed his problem, but no more details. He e-mailed me back and said he dumped a couple of cans of cleaner through the harness and within a week - no more codes. His has been working well for the past two weeks.

Hope this helps!

 

Have you checked to see if maybe there is oil leaking into the combustion chamber?

Just a suggestion you might want to check to see if your piston head seals are still good.

Durango's with the 4.7L are infamous for this.