99 durango overheating - Engine Troubleshooting


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99 durango overheating

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texreb13
New User

Jan 7, 2008, 3:50 PM

Post #1 of 5 (4283 views)

99 durango overheating	Sign In

I have a 99 durango 5.2 Ihave replaced all cooling system components and rebuilt top end. The truck can sit in the driveway for an hour and run with the heater on and the engine temp. runs normally. When you start driving it runs normally ( getting up tp around 200 F and then dropping back down when the thermostat opens) After a few minuets of driving the temp. rises to about 240-250 just before the red line and stays there. Sometimes dropping a little and sometimes overheating. Slowing down will lower the temp. a little but after stopping you can see evidence that water has come out the overflow bottle. Im puzzled as to what it could be.

Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jan 7, 2008, 4:17 PM

Post #2 of 5 (4277 views)

Re: 99 durango overheating	Sign In

If all air is out of system it points to the thermostat not opening (in cold weather blasting the heater can about cover it with no load) or the thermostat could be backwards? Can you feel the hoses warm up as t-stat opens and transfer of heat off the radiator at all?

T

texreb13
New User

Jan 7, 2008, 4:39 PM

Post #3 of 5 (4275 views)

Re: 99 durango overheating	Sign In

Thermostat is in corectly upper radiater hose gets tight until thermostat opens then softens and gets hot. The weather here is not cold enough right now to use heater so cold weather is not a factor.

Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jan 8, 2008, 3:28 AM

Post #4 of 5 (4268 views)

Re: 99 durango overheating	Sign In

Ok: You said hose gets hot and system pressures up. Obviously the coolant doesn't throw off heat though thru the radiator.

I would see and be sure system is full of coolant and start it up cold---- feel the upper hose. It shouldn't have pressure all too quickly and if it does there's a problem and probably exhaust gas pressure is pressuring it up and not just the warming of coolant when it expands. Hose could be warm but until t-stat opens won't allow much flow and would be notably cooler quickly at the radiator. I feel for heat at the radiator and it should be progressively cooler along to return hose. Bet your return hose is cold even when engine is overheated. It it boils anywhere is could warm up backwards and the t-stat if in air will open but late.

This thermostat even if new might not be good. You said you did the upper end and gaskets there could have a problem - especially if this pressures up quickly. If you have an old radiator cap you can cut the rubber seal that allows pressure and it may behave better or much worse. It can be telling to try that.

Somethings reported and proved at this site: Water pump impellers can fail. Corroded? They can work for low loads and fail at higher RPMs and load on engine. The complaint usually was erratic temp and poor heat noticed. Once warmed up a vehicle should hold a steady temp and stay right there. One more fairly rare problem is lack of a spring in lower hose. If water pump is nice and strong just engine RPMs can suck the lower hose shut and engine will overheat and by the time you stop and look there's nothing wrong. It the length of that hose is enough so you can squeeze it shut when cold and there is no spring in it then it needs one if only to rule that out. THEY USED TO COME IN REPLACEMENT HOSES AND DON'T LATELY and vehicles that had them new you are expected to put it in the new one.

Problems at speed only can be a missing air dam/spoiler that alters the flow of air thru the grille - it's the one under the front bumper that I'm talking about and they count,

T

texreb13
New User

Jan 8, 2008, 3:29 PM

Post #5 of 5 (4263 views)

Re: 99 durango overheating	Sign In

I appreciate all your advise. The lower radiater hose has the spring in it and is new. Upper radiator hose gradually builds up pressure and does not get hot until thermostat opens. Under spoiler is in place had to replace some of those plastic buttons. Ive tried it with 2 different radiator caps and switched out the thermostats 5 times . There is no water in oil system and now water escaping from tail pipe. With that and the fact the upper radiator hose gradually builds up pressure tells me that the exhaust gasket is ok hopfuly. This hole problem has got me and several other people completly stumped. Cant check the timing on this particular vehicle either, but it is not running like its out of time. Engine runs smooth like normal. Someone told me it could be electrical but I dont know what it could be. Checked all fuses relays and wiring harnes all ok.

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