Recently started having this problem with my 1999 5.9l Durango. It was idling really bad. My wife started complaining (it is her beast) that when driving at low RPM's, the engine starts shuddering really hard...jerking. When she got home last week, the Check Engine light was on. So, I made an appointment at the dealership...left it. They told me the codes were for the upstream O2 sensor. They claimed to have changed...tested...everything OK. I believed them, thinking perhaps this is what was making it run rough.
So, on the way home from the dealership...driving around 40 MPH, the engine was in O/D...low RPM (1500 or so)...starts jerking. It feels like a manual transmission when you have it in too high of a gear for the speed. Unfortunately, I was behind another car, so I had to continue at that speed. It continued shuddering...jerking really hard. The Check Engine Light then flashed about 10 times, then went off. I drove the rest of the way home (avoiding the RPM's/speed producing the problem). When I got home, car idled for a few minutes (roughly)...Check Engine Light on again. So, I call the dealership and tell them...they have me drop it off again. I do so, they keep overnight (as they couldn't get to it immediately). Next night...just about closing, they call me and tell me that they talked to some Dodge technicians who gave them some tests to run. They said while doing this, they found a "broken wire" in the harness. They also had to replace the O2 sensor again (they didn't charge me this time). They said they test drove it according to my instructions and did not experience the problem I said I had. So, I pick it up...drive home. I still noticed a little hiccup in that "sweet spot".
Today, went out car shopping (have had so many other problems...ball joints...intake gasket...etc, etc..)...I just want to get rid of it (new Durangos are nice
)! Driving home...sure enough, it starts running rough again. Check Engine Light comes on... It flashes...stops flashing, stays steady. Does this another 3 times (flashes)...happens whenever it is running rough. I dropped off again at the dealer...
Anybody have any ideas? I had thought of the possibility of having bad gas (the car...not me), but would think the dealer would think of that themselves. They seem to be clueless (and have yet to admit they have "experienced" the problem). I am getting sick of taking it to them, but it I want them to get it right. I am going to offer to take THEM for a ride to show them what I am talking about. I don't know what else to do. As I said, I just want to fix the problem, so I can trade the car in on a new one. I am just really frustrated and clueless, and don't know what to try...
03-07-2004, 11:06 PM
Engines Got The Shakes...
