2001 Durango - startup idle problem

[galea_joe]

I bought my wife a 2001 Durango at Christmas time at an auction. Didn't get much time to check out the car but we are starting to experience a problem with it. Occasionally when we start it in the morning it doesn't remain running. She tells me of the following observations.
Observation 1
1. Turn Key
2. Shuts off immediately
Observation 2
1. Turn Key
2. Puts foot on gas, Durango stays running
3. Upon removal of foot, it shuts off immediately
Observation 3
1. Turn Key
2. Puts foot on gas and other foot on brake
3. Put shifter in Reverse(because thats the way we have to go) and the car stays running
4. Upon removal of foot on gas, vehicle stays running
5. Stays running if we put vehicle in drive, park, or neutral at this point.

Any suggestions would be helpful thanks

BTW Durango has a Magnum V8 Engine 4.? Liter

[N8ECH]

Greetings Joe:

What you are experiencing are the CLASSIC symptoms of a failing battery. Have your battery LOAD tested ASAP!
Replace it if it tests the least bit flaky.

My bet is that you will find that a new battery has your D running good as new.

Dodge/Chrysler vehicles seem to require a strong, stable reference voltage from the battery for the many on board computers to operate properly.

Don