View Full Version : Need recommendation for good Dodge mechanic
DireWolf
10-09-2014, 18:44
Does anyone have any recommendation for a really good mechanic with experience working on & fixing Dodge vehicles? My Durango is giving me grief, and after having 3 different mechanics look it and being unable to resolve the problems (including 2 dealerships), I'm getting tired of replacing things and not having the problem go away...I may not be a mechanic, but it doesn't seem like diagnosing and fixing a specific issue should be that difficult.....
Thanks in advance.....
Great-Kazoo
10-09-2014, 18:50
Year, Make , model, 4-6-8 cyl 2 or 4 WD. Issue occurs cold, warmed up, under load, idling etc . or do you have one of the blue ones?
Nothing personal, all i / we know is you own a durango with a hard to diagnose / troubleshoot problem.
I know what it needs... A letter and a number
C4.
Seriously though. What are the symptoms?
I am having troubles as well with mine.
2004 5.7l Hemi Engine stalls, shudders, dies out. In the morning, runs like a beast, in the afternoon, runs like crap. All started after filling up with gas.
P0307
p0172
plus others.
I do have this though: 2004 Dodge Durango FSM (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15497230/2004%20Durango%20FSM.pdf)
Firehaus
10-09-2014, 19:20
I take my '99 4wd to Dan at
Phillips automotive.
4358 Zuni St, Denver, CO 80211
I can't stress enough how great a guy he his and fixes it every time with no worries. His shop is an old gas station which is cool by itself.
Sent from my iPhone
DireWolf
10-09-2014, 19:31
It's a 2004 with a 5.7L Hemi (w/ 4WD). The main problem is that every time it rains, the engine starts running really rough, and a heavy rain will cause the engine to completely stall out/not start. As soon as the rain dies down, engine can start again (I don't need to wait for things to dry off, just for rain to stop). I've had the plugs, plug-wires, etc. all replaced to no avail. The engine light has been on for a while, but if it's throwing a code, that didn't help the dealerships fix it (I thought maybe an O2 sensor, but would imagine if that's what it was, it would have been fixed the first time in the shop).
I have also been doing some reading on several dodge forums, and they are saying to have the engine 'smoked' to see if the intake gaskets are bad, and also to see if the windshield wiper cowling gasket is intact, otherwise it funnels water to the intake and may leak past the gaskets and hydro lock the engine.
DireWolf
10-09-2014, 19:55
I believe that the windshield wiper gasket was checked and eliminated as the cause. If its a bad intake gasket taking water, wouldn't that mean I'd need to wait for it to dry before restarting? as it stands, I just need to wait for the rain to stop or at least die down, after which it will usually start immediately (will run rough for a bit still)
fairrpe86
10-09-2014, 20:00
Factory Trained Auto Repair at 80th and Sheridan are a good group of guys that are very knowledgable.
Ready Room
10-09-2014, 20:04
C.A.R.S. - Charley Chitwood (yes THAT Chitwood family) 303/789-6000 Dodge Master Mechanic. Solid guy - in Englewood.
Have you had your windshield replaced when this started happening? Could be leaking water onto a computer. Just a thought.
Now by no means am I an expert on the matter-been years since I worked for Dodge. We had one come in-Jeep SRT with a hemi that had an issue like your describing-cant remember of the top of my head what the DTC's were but it also had misfire codes. One tech replaced the plugs and a coil and sent it.
Came back with one of the plugs electrode closed like it was gapped wrong,replaced plug again.
Well to make a long story short we pulled the intake and found metal in it.Further investigation was that one of the pistons cracked at the ring retainer and sent it through the valve train- needed a motor.
Found out about the piston issue while surfing the Hemi forums and it seems like it's a common issue.
On my 04 cummins and many other dodges you can see what codes/faults are associated with the vehicle. Cycle the key on and off 3 times without starting the vehicle:
On-off
On-off
On-off
On
Then by your odometer it should begin displaying your codes. Have a notebook handy and write them down. Google that nonsense and it will give you a starting point. Good luck
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sounds like it's time to trade it in on a new Chevy, and your vehicle will soon be a new ford!
Does anyone have any recommendation for a really good mechanic with experience working on & fixing Dodge vehicles? My Durango is giving me grief, and after having 3 different mechanics look it and being unable to resolve the problems (including 2 dealerships), I'm getting tired of replacing things and not having the problem go away...I may not be a mechanic, but it doesn't seem like diagnosing and fixing a specific issue should be that difficult.....
Thanks in advance.....
something like what you are describing ya it can be that difficult especially if they can't duplicate it. Hard to diag problems are the worst for all parties involved
Skywalker
10-10-2014, 07:53
My 2003 Hemi 1500 4X4 did this and started I think about 2006. Was when I first started it and engine cold and usually when I just put her into reverse. I freaked out of course as there was not enough power to pull out and move. I turn the motor off and start her right back up and fixed. Dealer never heard of it and did nothing after three visits with them during that time frame. Since this was like maybe 3 times a year I lived with it. Early this summer I took trip to Texas and was running about 80 mph when it felt like I lost a cylinder as power was down and truck was shuttering all over. I pulled over and for what ever reason I took my heavy pocket knife and started tapping the throttle body. After several times of starting her back up she was good as new. It happened on that trip about 5 times before I got back to the Springs. I removed the throttle body and thoroughly cleaned it with sensor safe carb cleaner and a tooth brush. That was early summer and I have not had a single issue since........... There was lots of brown crap in the TB and I'm sure it was sticky. From all the junk put in our fuel it's no wonder we have issues.
I am having troubles as well with mine.
2004 5.7l Hemi Engine stalls, shudders, dies out. In the morning, runs like a beast, in the afternoon, runs like crap. All started after filling up with gas.
P0307
p0172
plus others.
I do have this though: 2004 Dodge Durango FSM (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15497230/2004%20Durango%20FSM.pdf)
Four To Go on 44th west of Kipling.
Great-Kazoo
10-10-2014, 09:18
I believe that the windshield wiper gasket was checked and eliminated as the cause. If its a bad intake gasket taking water, wouldn't that mean I'd need to wait for it to dry before restarting? as it stands, I just need to wait for the rain to stop or at least die down, after which it will usually start immediately (will run rough for a bit still)
One visual symptom of intake gasket is your radiator reservoir tank goes low / needs topping off every now and then.
Buy a Chevy....Oh I like playing with Chevys. Can you come out and play?[ROFL1]
One visual symptom of intake gasket is your radiator reservoir tank goes low / needs topping off every now and then.
Most intakes on modern engines do not carry coolant anymore.
Oh I like playing with Chevys. Can you come out and play?[ROFL1]
That thing looks really dusty. Been sitting for a while huh?
Great-Kazoo
10-10-2014, 19:17
Most intakes on modern engines do not carry coolant anymore.
GM does.
hurley842002
10-10-2014, 19:31
Oh I like playing with Chevys. Can you come out and play?[ROFL1]
Why so much lift for such small tires.....
Why so much lift for such small tires.....
Your right. They are just 31s now. I had 35s on it {you can see them up by the house} but my wife has Alzheimers and things are getting worse as far as disability for her. I had to go back to the smaller for her and even buy a step stool for her. She still loves to ride in the truck so that was the least I could do to help her. It does look pretty funny.[ROFL1]
hurley842002
10-10-2014, 20:13
Your right. They are just 31s now. I had 35s on it {you can see them up by the house} but my wife has Alzheimers and things are getting worse as far as disability for her. I had to go back to the smaller for her and even buy a step stool for her. She still loves to ride in the truck so that was the least I could do to help her. It does look pretty funny.[ROFL1]
Sounds reasonable to me, sorry to hear about the Alzheimer's.
DireWolf
10-10-2014, 22:46
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions on things to look for and good mechanics to call....definitely some items that I haven't checked yet, hopefully one of them turns out to be the fix (other than the new motor), since I'm hoping to avoid having to replace ot and add another car payment....
Saw this a few days ago, so if I do end up having to trade it in, maybe a Chevy is the way to go...
http://youtu.be/UfHtcUZXljw
boomerhc9
10-11-2014, 19:39
Hey direwolf, just out of curiosity, does your durango have that feature that disables some of the cylinders at certain speeds? I worked at a dodge store in the springs when I first got into automotive. I was by no means a mechanic at the time, and remember dodge touting this great feature. I think it's multiple displacement system or something like that. maybe the computer that controls that feature is going intermittent?
boomerhc9
10-11-2014, 20:30
oh crap! looked into this a little more, and found this site: http://www.aboutautomobile.com/Complaint/2004/Dodge/Durango/Electrical+System
theres around 60 other complaints that sound just like yours.
do not park your durango in your garage until you get it fixed. sounds like there have been several fires on durangos with similar issues to yours. especially the issue where it stalls.
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