Trans. shifting and Ball Joints

My '99 Durango seems to take forever to shift to high gear when under pretty hard accelleration. Does anyone know if the speed sensor could be the cause of this? The check engine is on but it seems to run fine except for the shifting problem and of course it has always loved gas.

Was also wondering if anyone has been successful in making Dodge replace the front ball joints? My truck is still very low miles at under 29,000 and there is a popping and squeaking in the right front, sometimes extremely loud. It is out of warranty time wise but well under the mileage. It seems to drive OK but it has worn the front tires on the outter edges and I moved them to the rear.

It has been a pretty decent truck otherwise. The only other problem was the power steering pump went out in the middle of Atlanta rush hour traffic while pulling a big trailer with another truck on it. The dealer replaced it under warranty.

My Ball Joints on my 98 Durango went at 61k, Just after my extended warranty expired...DOH! Anyway I made the mistake of replacing them at my Dodge dealer which just put another set of crap ball joints which failed 13months later. Neither of which Dodge paid for.

Do not go back to a Dodge dealer to replace, I believe Moog and TRW make replacements.

There is a fairly public battle going for Dodge to fix their ball joints.. I believe they have been failing around 30,000 miles on some vehicles. Dodge suggested to bring it to the dealer to have it looked at if there is any clunking or front end noise... This holds true with the dodge dakota .. for they have the same ball joint assembly

[QUOTE=Smoke24]My '99 Durango seems to take forever to shift to high gear when under pretty hard accelleration. Does anyone know if the speed sensor could be the cause of this? The check engine is on but it seems to run fine except for the shifting problem and of course it has always loved gas.QUOTE]

First thing to do, before even beginning to speculate on the cause of the shifting problem, is to get the code read and fix what's wrong. The light is on for a reason, whether your truck is running fine or not.

I tried to get the code with the key off/on three times and it won't work on mine. Is there another way to get it without going to the dealer or someone who can plug into the computer? I am poor, broke and not hired out and can't afford the cost of dealer service.

My local Autozone reads codes for free, see if yours does.

I have my doubts but will call and see.

My 99 Durango had the engine light come on when it was running fine too! It would come on, oil pressure guage would bottom out for a few seconds, then evrything would go back to normal. It did this about 3 times, I had the oil changed before it was actually due, and 2 days later it did it again....this time it blew up!!!

Sludge was said to be the cause, and the sludge was due to lack of maintenance...so chrysler said...I have all my maintenance records, and still chrysler will do nothing!

I had it taken to a shop where I know the owner/ mechanic and had him replace the motor...$3,500+ and while it was in there I had him check the front end out because my tires were getting really bald at 50,000 miles and I rotate them at every other oil change.

He told me the ball joints were shot, and the inner tie rods were shot. $650+ to repair that...chrysler did nothing!

I just took it back to the shop to check out the brakes I had replaced for the 3rd time since getting the truck in 99, and the rotors were shot, and the shocks are now shot! the truck itself has 53,000 miles on it, there is no way it should need 4 sets of brakes, new shocks, ball joints, tie rods, and an engine!!!!!! I'll never buy another Chrysler product as long as I live!

Was your Durango under warranty when the motor went? If so, and you had records, they should have covered it. If not there's no reason they would do anything for you.

i have heard of a lady who threatened to call the news if it wasn't fixed and they did it. I also heard from a guy who's had durangos that they all go and if you complain enough they'll do it for free because it should've been a recall.