Dodge Durango Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Need help reviving our 98 Durango!

Jump to Latest
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
S

sreum05

· Registered
Joined
·
8 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·


Hello all, I am new to this site. We are currently trying to get my dad's 98 Durango running again. The engine will crank and crank when trying to get it started, every now and then she will fire up if we're pumping the gas pedal but will NOT idle, then die immediately. Little back story:
-been sitting for about a year now, since no one can figure out what's going on.
-was hard to start during the last few months it was driven; had to pump gas pedal, idle was very rough, engine stalling..noticed quite a drop in fuel economy and engine power over the last year it was running.
-not so smart friend of ours offered to change oil, ended up draining the transfer case fluid. He thought it was the transmission fluid, added 2 more quarts of tranny fluid before realizing it was transfer case. Ended up changing oil and filter in the end, but after that my sister who was currently using the Durango stopped driving it because of our friends mess up.
-PCM in it is currently from a 99 Durango.

Recently, we have replaced:
-fuel pump
-air filter
-distributor
-spark plugs and wires, coil
-idle air control
-camshaft sensor
-new battery

When fuel is poured directly into carb she will run horribly for a few minutes, as soon as we stop pumping gas pedal it will die. Also noticed after we do that there is a ticking sound coming from the engine, not sure if that is even normal.

Does anyone have any ideas?? Thanks in advance.
 
#2 ·
The Durango will not run until your VIN is programmed into the new 99 PCM. The PCM and the BCM (Body Control Module) VINs must match and agree. Oh, and for the cost of all those parts, you could have had a real tech diagnose and fix it. ;)
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #3 · (Edited)
Thanks for the reply. Yeah, probably right but my brother and boyfriend like to try and figure things out themselves lol. So if that's the case about the VIN numbers matching up, then how come the original PCM from the 98 worked just fine in my sister's 99 Durango? :confused:
 
#4 ·
No way to tell… but it must match and can only be programmed for the VIN at the dealer.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#6 ·
The PCM has to be programmed to match the vehicle configuration (2wd/4wd, abs type, etc)

Does it behave any differently with the old and 'new' PCMs?

Any OBD-II codes?
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
The PCM switch happened after the 98 had already been sitting for a few weeks. The 98 computer worked fine with no differences as far as i could tell in the 99 Durango-thats what's confusing to me.

Tried the scan tool a little while back, few different times and it gave us no codes.
 
#9 ·
I have a mismatched VIN PCM in my 99 (from a 98) it runs find with no RE-programming.
I may suspect the Beer-keg intake may have given the gasket ghost, or another vacuum related issue.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#13 ·
Take a test light and probe the dark-green/orange wire in the connector in the PDC (C106.7).. this is the +12 feed to the injectors.

if that's good, then for some reason the PCM isn't firing the injectors.. I'd expect it to set a code saying why..
 

Attachments

#14 ·
Volphin said:
The Durango will not run until your VIN is programmed into the new 99 PCM. The PCM and the BCM (Body Control Module) VINs must match and agree. Oh, and for the cost of all those parts, you could have had a real tech diagnose and fix it. ;)
Click to expand...
tomk said:
The PCM has to be programmed to match the vehicle configuration (2wd/4wd, abs type, etc)

Does it behave any differently with the old and 'new' PCMs?

Any OBD-II codes?
Click to expand...

Just thought I'd add some input from past experience. I got a PCM from a 98 at the junkyard a couple years ago (thought I had a bad PCM, but it turned out to be a bad crank sensor), and it worked fine in my 99 for a while until I put the original one back, no programming or anything. The only thing I noticed was that the cruise control didn't work with it, everything else did though.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
tomk said:
Take a test light and probe the dark-green/orange wire in the connector in the PDC (C106.7).. this is the +12 feed to the injectors.

if that's good, then for some reason the PCM isn't firing the injectors.. I'd expect it to set a code saying why..
Click to expand...
Alright, gonna try that tomorrow.
Had it scanned a few months back so it couldn't hurt to take it down and try again. Maybe it will give us a code this time :wall:
 
#16 ·
I would recheck firing order as well, when you are running an engine by squirting gas into the intake, it will run like crap when the fuel ratio is off. There will be a "sweet spot" where the fuel ratio is acceptable and for a few seconds, the engine should run smooth, then start running like crap before it dies. If it NEVER runs smooth, there is something else causing it to run like crap. Have you done a compression test on this? It can have a blown head gasket that is causing a couple of cylinders having low compression which would explain some of your symptoms..
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
Tested the wire, its fine.. Rechecked firing order and its good as well. When squirting gas in the intake there is no point where the engine runs smooth at all. Guess we'll run a compression test next, been looking for a trailer so we can bring her on down to Napa and see if we can pull any codes off the computer.
 
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
About this Discussion
16 Replies
6 Participants
Last post:
sreum05
Dodge Durango Forum
posts
509K
members
60K
Since
2004
Welcome to the best Dodge Durango Forum around, where you can find a great Dodge Durango Wiki and discuss the reliability of the different trim levels including the GT and SRT!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Durango Discussions 2014+ Durango Discussions 1998-03 Durango Discussions Dodge Durango 2018+ SRT and Hellcat Durango Purchasing