Durango is Broke

[adodgegirl]

I have just had a serious problem come up on my durango... I am looking for ideas as to what may be the problem. Yes like most durango's I had to replace the speed sensor one week ago. About 3 weeks ago my truck started overheating (only to a little over midline) and I would shut it off and fill up the water because my water pump was leaking. While driving it home though the second time I lost compression in the engine for a very short time... like maybe 5-10 seconds and then the truck was fine. After this I bought a water pump gasket and replaced the speed sensor and 5 days ago I was going to an appt. made it maybe 1/4 mile and the truck started to sound like someone had blocked off an exaust port or something....? Again loss of compression and no idle. I barely made it back home by keeping the gas down to keep somewhat of drive out of the vehical. And yes at the time the truck was moving with use of the gas pedal and as soon as I hit the driveway it died on me??? Like the battery had died or the altenator went out? The altenator is in perfect condition though, and the battery is top notch. I am tearing the engine apart as I write and am hoping maybe someone has an idea as to what it could be... or has this happened to anyone else??? My thoughts are the slight heat elevation caused the rings and seals to expand and I am not getting the proper compression now??? No check engine light by the way??? Help.

[BleedDodge]

What do you mean by "loss of compression"?

Temperature being slightly over center like that will do no damage at all.

If you have to keep the gas down to keep it moving, it sounds almost as if your cat is clogging, but this should throw some codes. It seems like it might be your idle air control valve or throttle position sensor...

[adodgegirl]

Originally Posted by BleedDodge

What do you mean by "loss of compression"?

Temperature being slightly over center like that will do no damage at all.

If you have to keep the gas down to keep it moving, it sounds almost as if your cat is clogging, but this should throw some codes. It seems like it might be your idle air control valve or throttle position sensor...

Actually we just found rust in the engine exaust ports... which is showing that the head is either cracked or the head gasket is bad... The gasket is bad and so we are going to replace that but.... yeah we checked the compression and piston 1,3,5 are fine 7 is 100 psi and 2,4,6 are fine but 8 is 60 psi... so there is a major problem with either the block is cracked or the rings and seals are stretched??? My confusion is why????? Nothing serious happened so why is the engine going at only 71000 miles??? Any suggestions.... I hope these notes and messages help someone else who may be having the problem.... and my suggestion to durango owner do the work yourself or find a friend there is no way we could afford to buy a new engine.... we are military!!! LOL Thanks for the response and help from all who enter in there opinion and/or knowledge.

[slantsixness]

Bad head gasket(s) Change both at the same time, save the hassle of doing the job twice.
Check your truck for recalls and TSB's that have not been done (concerning the motor and the sludge problems mostly).

[adodgegirl]

Originally Posted by slantsixness

Bad head gasket(s) Change both at the same time, save the hassle of doing the job twice.
Check your truck for recalls and TSB's that have not been done (concerning the motor and the sludge problems mostly).

Bad gaskets, Bad pistons, and just all around bad engine. Even the dodge service techs tell you so. The recommend replacing the crankshaft, all pistons (with something other than dodge parts) and replace gaskets and head. According to him the heads are bound to crack and to just miss the problem all together to just replace it with something reliable and replace the parts I just mentioned. There is a class action suit going on now with diamon chrysler about this engine problem. The 5.2 that is. Thanks for all of the advice and hope this helps someone. By the way the engine is a bi_ch to get out!!!

[slantsixness]

Originally Posted by adodgegirl

By the way the engine is a bi_ch to get out!!!

2 1/2 hours is a b_tch? try taking a motor (only) out of a SAAB....

[BleedDodge]

She said she's in the military. I guess that means she doesn't have any patience or something...

[adodgegirl]

Lack of money not lack of patience.... But thanks for the response.... But thanks for the vote of confidence. Compression loss due to idle air control valve or throttle position sensor... nice thought though at least it would stay running at least for a while... more than likely a bad piston or two though.. especially when there is no code light coming on... thanks for the advice though. Hopefully the information on what the engine looked like when it was pulled and examined will help someone else...?

[slantsixness]

Without seeing the truck and motor, I couldn't say for sure, but the IAC valve will play some mean tricks on you. Don't rule it out so quickly.
Plenty of us have gone around robin's barn on the IAC and even torn down motors looking for head gasket problems, which turn out to be stuck/clogged/bad IAC valves.
Sometimes, not everything is what it seems to be. Just because yu have low compression doesn't necessarily mean the motor is shot, or can't have any other problem not related to the low compression, or the sludge.
Mind you, in EVERY CASE, the long-term sludged motor problems have been due to improper maintenence, failure to change the oil and antifreeze, or, in general, using the vehicle in an un-suitable fashion (towing too much weight, off-roading, extended idling periods).

Ok, so there's my two cents.

Slantsixness

[crowbar1982]

Wow, for being military, how on Earth were you able to afford to get all that work done in a shop? Good luck, and I hope you get it all fixed soon!