Please help diagnose my Durango

[Dave Kanofsky]

Please help me diagnose what is wrong with my Durango.

It is a 1999 Durango, 2 wheel drive, 5.2L with 110K miles.

On Saturday night it drove just fine, on Sunday morning it wouldn't start.  It turns over just fine, but no sign of life.  As soon as my wife heard it crank over too long, she said, "It's not gonna start, this is exactly like it sounded (one day a month ago when it wouldn't start in the morning, but when I tried it after work it stumbled to life and has been fine ever since).

My "clip-around the plug wire" type timing gun says there is spark going to all cylinders except cylinder 2.  Even after changing the list of ignition related items below.  I verified a decent looking spark by taking the #1 plug wire off, sticking in a new plug and resting it on the exhaust manifold.

There is fuel pressure in the fuel rail when I push in the valve, and the injectors are firing.  I can hear them tick while cranking and I can smell the fuel.

While cranking it over I sprayed starting fluid down the wide open throttle body and still no sign of life.  No backfire, no kick/burp/shutter/anything.  This should pretty much take the fuel system out of the equation.

It has no active or pending diagnostic codes.  Even after cranking it for 15 seconds with the code reader attached.

I have changed the coil, cap and rotor, and crank sensor, yet the symptoms have not changed.  Still no sign of life, and still no spark in Cylinder 2.

WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE / EDUCATED GUESS / JUST PLAIN GUESS TO WHAT IS WRONG ? ? ?

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

[UFO]

This falls in with the just plain guess category,Is the vehicle equipped with a immobilizer?
Have heard those things can create havoc.

[Dave Kanofsky]

No immobilizer, and I've owned it since new.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[Back N Black]

Check your ASD  (auto shut down) relay. With that much cranking check the oil for fuel. I have seen valve cover blown apart when the vehicle finally started with gas in the oil pan.

[bull]

A weak battery and a bad plug wire?

[Dave Kanofsky]

Any idea how tot est the ASD?  I'll give the dipstick a whiff for too much fuel.

Battery is strong, and I've charged it between excessive cranking sessions.  Bad plug wire is a good possibility, although I expect it should still give me some sign of life.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Todd Wilson]

Any idea how tot est the ASD?  I'll give the dipstick a whiff for too much fuel.

Battery is strong, and I've charged it between excessive cranking sessions.  Bad plug wire is a good possibility, although I expect it should still give me some sign of life.

Thanks for the suggestions!

This is for the Dodge Ram but I would assume it would work for your 99  318.........

http://dodgeram.org/tech/gas/Trouble/Fault-42.htm


Todd

[Dave Kanofsky]

cool, thanks!

[chrisII]

curious to know how it goes..A 2wd durango? never seen such a beast.  could be a cool cruizer. I just picked up a loaded 99 w 318 and 4wd. with 99k miles. ride is slightly rough, but im lovin it! all but the 14mpg. I needed something to pull a 6x10 trailer full of PA and lighting. this fits the bill.

[bull]

curious to know how it goes..A 2wd durango? never seen such a beast.  could be a cool cruizer. I just picked up a loaded 99 w 318 and 4wd. with 99k miles. ride is slightly rough, but im lovin it! all but the 14mpg. I needed something to pull a 6x10 trailer full of PA and lighting. this fits the bill.

Wow, really low miles for that year. I've got 96k on my 03.

[Todd Wilson]

curious to know how it goes..A 2wd durango? never seen such a beast.  could be a cool cruizer. I just picked up a loaded 99 w 318 and 4wd. with 99k miles. ride is slightly rough, but im lovin it! all but the 14mpg. I needed something to pull a 6x10 trailer full of PA and lighting. this fits the bill.

I almost bought a 2006 2wd Durango a few months ago. They are out there but rare.


Todd

[chrisII]

yeah, 99k was cool. I was looking at 2000 and 2001 dakotas at around 6grand with 135 to 150k. drove all over the state that day and wound up finding this one a mile from home fer 4500 an he paid the tax n title. tires are in better shape (near new) and its totally loaded with leather, 3 row seating, and power moon roof..I also like that the 318 is an old friend,  the 4.7 while a good engine would be new ground for me

[Dave Kanofsky]

I think I found it!

I unplugged the 10 year old aftermarket remote starter and it stumbled to life.

That would explain why there were no codes.  It still idles a little rough, so I will put new plugs and wires on it and clean the IAC and see how it does.

As for the 2wd - I searched that out on purpose for the higher towing capacity.  It has been a good truck.  I improved the mileage and power by pulling off all of the air inlet ducting and filter box and replacing it with a round open element air filter with a big K&N filter.  The throttle body opening is the same as a four barrel!