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View Full Version : 2002 Durango no-start


EZSnow
02-13-2007, 10:20 PM
My wife is supposed to be delivering flowers for out shop tomorrow, and the Big D is acting up. It seems to have left the radiator fan running, which killed the battery. I was busy wrapping roses for Wizard's wife at work, so I wasn't able to get home. My wife and mother (what a combo) attempted a jump start. They got it hooked up, and as soon as they did, the fan began to run. I had her pull out the fan relay, and the fan quit.

Upon attempting to crank, she reported that the engine cranked over strong, then fired, but died immediately. When I got home, there was enough juice in it to crank it over a couple of times. Sure enough, it would fire, but died right away. I tried a full-throttle crank, and it started, but as soon as I let it back to idle, it died. Slowly, I was able to let it down to 1500, 1250, 1000, 750... and then I took it around the block. At the first couple stops, it had a real "lumpy" idle, but then it smoothed out. After 5 min or so, it seemed to be running like normal. However, the engine light is on. I also re-installed the fan relay, and the fan does not run. I also installed a spare relay I keep in the truck for just such an occasion- didn't run on that one either. Of course, I doubt that the PCM is calling for the rad fan at 2*F.

So what causes the won't-idle after a jump condition? Is it just an extremely dead battery? I have the truck hooked up to an automatic charger overnight. Hopefully she'll be fine in the morning. Any tips? Things I need to check before sending her out for the day?

on edit: The first time I tried a full-throttle start, it coughed. The second time, it started.

BigMike
02-14-2007, 05:31 AM
One possilbity is that if that battery was completely dead before the jump, the computer may have ran its "first start" program. That would explain the truck starting then losing RPM til it died. The vehicle will run horribly for about 15min -30 min then it will run like normal. The computer is trying to determine "normal settings".

But normally there would be no lights on the dash idicating anything. any chance that you or someone you know has a service code reader? that will give us an idea of what the computer thinks is wrong or which sensor is reading an abnormal condition.


As for the fan, was the Durango over its "normal" operating temps? that can cause the fan to run on some newer trucks even after it is off.