I'd start by looking at your O₂ sensor

greg

 

hm. P0545 is suspect, AFAIK there's no exhaust gas temperature sensor?

I'm not near my '99 diagnostic manual so I can't look up what these codes mean on early Gen1's?

?tom

 

Since it's a 98 it could also be his catalytic converter is shot?just a thought

greg

 

Since it's a 98 it could also be his catalytic converter is shot?just a thought

greg

well, if that's the problem, it'll be taken care of when I get my exhaust done. all I need is $$ :cheesy:

 

I checked my 98 FSM and the first two codes match what's shown in the manual however, there's no P0545 code in the code table (that doesn't mean the PCM can't throw such a code, just that it's not suppose to be applicable to the D ? which makes sense if it's for an EGT sensor the D doesn't have!)

BTW, my own 98 D threw a P0420 code last Tues but, after it was reset, it hasn't come back. Since this happened right at the "end" of a tank of gas with the Lucas gas treatment in it (I had to refill shortly after the code was read and reset) and it hasn't come back, I just chalked it up to something about how the Lucas stuff does it's job??

 

My 2000 FSM describes P0545 as A/C Clutch Relay Circuit - Problem detected in air conditioning clutch relay control circuit.

May not be of any help because I don't know how much the codes change from year to year, but thought I'd throw it in.

Joe

 

I called Holden Dodge here in Dover and the service guy couldn't (or wouldn't) tell me much. He said to bring it in and he'd have one of his techs scan it with their scanner to see where the problem is. Typical answer from what I hear from others. :wall: He said the P0545 could be about an O₂ sensor. Then I remembered that I had cleaned the 4 passenger side injectors on the 12th. To safely do this, you have to depressurize the fuel system. To do that, you pull the fuel pump relay & attempt to start the engine to reduce system pressure. :doh: So that's where the P1282 code probably came from. If the P0545 is the A/C clutch relay, maybe that could be from when I was trying to add freon and disconnected the pressure switch from the compressor to see if I could get it to stay engaged long enough to get the freon into the system. hmmmmmmmmm :? So, maybe we've solved 2 out of 3 of the codes. Now, about the last code?

 

You got it! The PCM stores any codes it detects (regardless of whether they cause a CEL light or not) so, if you pulled those relays and hadn't disconnected the battery for anything since, that's what set those 2 codes!

When I had mine read because the CEL was on and they found the P0420 code, they also read out a P0308 code (cylinder #8 misfire) and a P0351 code (ignition coil primary short/open.) The P0308 was from 6 months ago when my #8 plug wire got against the header pipe and burned thru and the P0351 was from Easter weekend when my Accel coil died on me while driving back from VA (thank God I happened to have the old OEM coil in my trunk kit!) Since I never got a CEL light for either of those, I never bothered getting a code scan done and they were still stored in the PCM. The guy at Autozone that scanned it for me said it's generally a good idea if the CEL is on and there's multiple codes in the computer to, read/record all the codes, reset them and then drive the vehicle until the CEL comes on again so you can isolate which code is the real problem. In my case it was obvious the coil and plug wires were OK, so he just ignored those codes.

BTW, anyone know how many codes the PCM can store?? (FSM doesn't cover that one.)

 

Then I remembered that I had cleaned the 4 passenger side injectors on the 12th. To safely do this, you have to depressurize the fuel system. To do that, you pull the fuel pump relay & attempt to start the engine to reduce system pressure.

I depressurized my injectors too? (on a cold engine) I simple unpluged one and it spit, sprayed and trickled a tiny bit of fuel out and then voilá, no more pressure!

The Stealer's way sounds like expensive words because I bet you a dollar they do the same thing.

IndyDurango

 

Then I remembered that I had cleaned the 4 passenger side injectors on the 12th. To safely do this, you have to depressurize the fuel system. To do that, you pull the fuel pump relay & attempt to start the engine to reduce system pressure.

I depressurized my injectors too? (on a cold engine) I simple unpluged one and it spit, sprayed and trickled a tiny bit of fuel out and then voilá, no more pressure!

The Stealer's way sounds like expensive words because I bet you a dollar they do the same thing.

IndyDurango

The thing is, I was the person who did the injector cleaning, not the stealership. why would I pay for someone to do the same job I can do in 1 hour??

 

Then I remembered that I had cleaned the 4 passenger side injectors on the 12th. To safely do this, you have to depressurize the fuel system. To do that, you pull the fuel pump relay & attempt to start the engine to reduce system pressure.

I depressurized my injectors too? (on a cold engine) I simple unpluged one and it spit, sprayed and trickled a tiny bit of fuel out and then voilá, no more pressure!

The Stealer's way sounds like expensive words because I bet you a dollar they do the same thing.

IndyDurango

The thing is, I was the person who did the injector cleaning, not the stealership. why would I pay for someone to do the same job I can do in 1 hour??

OIC. I still wouldn't mess with the relay, etc. Just pull, depressurize on the 1st one and go from there.

IndyD

 

AC clutch relay should be P0645 and not P0545? the '99 FSM (which I suspect has the same codes as the '98) doesn't list P0545.

P0645 could be caused by running the AC with open/jumpered switches.

Cranking the engine without the fuel-pump relay will surely cause P1282.

I think it's possible that you might have loaded the cat or the O₂ sensors with excess fuel or whatever chemicals and that might cause P0420?

A side note: the FSM says that P0420 can be caused by "Upstream O₂ sensor older than downstream O₂ sensor"? so if the upstream sensor gets gunked up by a cleaning process, I wouldn't be surprised to see this code pop up.

 

Well since the early Ds only have one O₂ sensor?

greg

 

hm? the '99 FSM implies that all '99s had two? I don't know if the 98s were different?

rockauto and autozone list both an upstream and a downstream for a '98 5.2?

?tom

 

Tom:

I'm going by what Mike Leach said concerning the PPH headers and O₂ sensors as I don't have the FSM manual in front of me. But up to 2000 I believe they only have one and after that 2 and that was discussed at length at the time of sign-up as it seemed that those with 2 were primarily aimed at the CA market. So some 2001 had 1 others 2? I'll have to crawl under mine because I've found a few errors in the FSM (like radiator petcοck which nearly caused me to blow the engine) that I only trust it so far.
greg

 

Tom:

I'm going by what Mike Leach said concerning the PPH headers and O₂ sensors as I don't have the FSM manual in front of me. But up to 2000 I believe they only have one and after that 2 and that was discussed at length at the time of sign-up as it seemed that those with 2 were primarily aimed at the CA market. So some 2001 had 1 others 2? I'll have to crawl under mine because I've found a few errors in the FSM (like radiator pet? which nearly caused me to blow the engine) that I only trust it so far.
greg

2000D = I have 2 O₂s

IndyD

 

Just checked I have 1

 

hm.

I thought the possibilities were either 2 or 4, the latter with more stringent emissions packages (my '03 has 4)? the 4 configuration is later models only, with the close-coupled mini-cats?

Acording to the pictures, there should be one up near the exhaust manifold flange and one way back in the tailpipe behind the cat? :?

 

Well since the early Ds only have one O₂ sensor?

greg

my D had both upstream & downstream O₂ sensors. 1 in the "Y" pipe and 1 after the cat.

 

my D had both upstream & downstream O₂ sensors. 1 in the "Y" pipe and 1 after the cat.

Same here on my 98, one in the Y-pipe, one after the Cat!

Note, although mine was not sold in CA, my build sheet shows it came with the CA emissions package so I guess that's why it has two O₂ sensors instead of just one. Strange thing is, I "know" it came with the standard "Federal" PCM instead of the special CA emissions one as I had to cross reference the PCM's part number when I ordered my Mopar PPCM and it came up as the Federal model (and it's for sure had the Federal model Mopar PPCM it in for the last 6+ years with no problems!)

What's up with that??

 

Well, a couple of interesting things I discovered today:

- this is the only DOC Forum III thread with "P0420" listed in it. P0420 = Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1.) I assume Bank1 is the O2 sensor under the hood since my '00D has two O2s, one is also back by the CAT too.

- today at nearly 166,000K my D threw her first code, P0420. Out of the blue, the engine light came on. Driveability was unaffected.

- the on off on off on off key turning works on the '00 D and shows the code in the mileage window. If you turn on and off 4 times, it doesn't work, only 3 times provides the code in the window

- the SuperChips programmer is indeed a multi-tool. It read the single code, P0420 and allowed me to clear the code right there myself. No need for needing extra time to take care of it, or a trip to the autoparts store/dealer for clearing.

- in discussing this with a DOCer this evening, seems even if things are good? we should be changing the O2 sensors at 100K I guess?!? As for me, both my O2s, the TPS & the IAC are all factory originals right out of Newark. Wooo Hoooo, I may get better MPG and HP if I change them to new! or I may foul all my stuff up! Dad always told me, "don't fix it if it ain't broke."

- Drivability is still good so thinking ahead to keep it that way, I bought a can of SeaFoam and poured it into the tank with 16 gallons of gas, 1oz to 1 gallon per the can's instructions. This too is a first for me, I have poured 1/2 a can down the TB once and thought I was killing my D :shock: I think the Sea Foam will clean out anything and I'll go back in with fresh gas and some Lucas. Plus I figured the Sea Foam to probably be just as good or better than all the other gas treatments out there. Those than know me know I've put lots-o-stuff in my fuel over the years, including a long, valuable run at Acetone. I stopped for no real reason, just got away from it.

- knocking on wood!

<u>Update</u>
Two weeks to the day and another P0420 today. Looks like a new O2 sensor is in my future this weekend. Woo Hoo! More performance with new sensors.

IndyD

 

I believe you have two 0₂ sensors on that D Indy. I'd change both of them while I was under there.
Don't forget, Mike only recommends OEM replacements! :cheesy:
Steve
DOC Pres

 

I believe you have two 0₂ sensors on that D Indy. I'd change both of them while I was under there.
Don't forget, Mike only recommends OEM replacements! :cheesy:
Steve
DOC Pres

Yes I have two sensors. I'm avoiding the rear one, it looks hard to get to, etc.

IndyD

P.S. Anyone else with suggestions on brands and sources. I know Mike, OEM and not Bosch. Anyone else?

 

Cmon, you're an experienced Durango owner now. Get it done!
Steve
DOC Pres

 

P0420 again today. Two months since the last one. I bought a new OEM one from the stealer. Changing it today :| I guess 170,000+ miles isn't so bad on the original.

IndyDurango