check engine light is on and then off

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Durango

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Feb 15, 2007
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Los Angeles, California
Hello to all,

I have an 01' Dodge Durango 4.7 V-8 and recently had noticed on my control panel that the "engine check light" was activated. Since this doesn't occur very much with me I deiced to pull the codes (P0305) and reset the light to see if the engine reactives the light again.

Two week later it did activate and the same code was produced.... no big deal I'll just have to have the dealership look at the engine and advise me BUT when I drove home from dinner with my brother he told me the "engine check light" was NOW off!!! LOL and behold it is off.

Can anyone tell me what the deals is with this trouble light on and off again condition????? This has never happened to me ever until now. Perhaps it's not my engine at all.

Durango
 
a misfire can be caused by: bad plug, bad coil, bad fuel injector, wiring issue for any of the above, low compression, leaking intake gasket. I would replace the plug and also swap the coil on that plug with the coil from another cylinder. if the problem disappears, it was the plug. if the problem moves, its the coil. if you still have misfire on the same cylinder, check the compression, then the fuel injector, then wiring... then intake gasket.
 
I would put in new plugs and throw some techron in the gas.

If the code come back, swap the coil on # with another and see if the problem changes to the new cylinder. If so get a new Mopar coil pack ,not the junk ones from Autostoned. Or goto a boneyard and get one form the same year 4.7
 
Hi guys,

Thanks for your fast reply. All my services are current and my current mileage I just rolled over the 85K and had that serviced on time.

If it is the coil pack then what I want to do is have the Chrysler handle the service even though it'll cost me more money. I just need to get an idea of the possible bill/invoice when they present it to me.

Again one thing that I noticed was that it happened just after I added a bottle of Regain to the gas tank. Could adding this have caused the misfire???? If so then next perhaps it might clear up ad I burn up the bad gas. What do you guys think??

Durango
 
Then see if the code comes back. Could be from the FI Cleaner but not liely.

How many miles on the plugs?

Changing a coil pack is a 5 minute job, save yourslef some coin if you have to go that route and change it yourslef.
It is a 10 mm bolt on the coil and a wire conector feeding the coil, just lift up, that simple.

Originally Posted By: Durango
Hi guys,

Thanks for your fast reply. All my services are current and my current mileage I just rolled over the 85K and had that serviced on time.

If it is the coil pack then what I want to do is have the Chrysler handle the service even though it'll cost me more money. I just need to get an idea of the possible bill/invoice when they present it to me.

Again one thing that I noticed was that it happened just after I added a bottle of Regain to the gas tank. Could adding this have caused the misfire???? If so then next perhaps it might clear up ad I burn up the bad gas. What do you guys think??

Durango
 
VNTS,

The dealership just changed the plugs this past February cuz they saif they were ready for a swap out! So the plugs should be fine on that issue.

For now I'll wait and see if the "trouble engine light" comes back on again. In the mean time I'll keep it garaged until the weekend and take it for another nice freeway drive.

If it does appear to be the coil packs then what I might do is have them all changes and get it over with.

Durango
 
What scanner are you using? This is a time where having the freeze frame data is really helpful. It would narrow it down a lot if we could find out whether the miss is happening at WOT, cruise or idle.
 
calvin1,

I don't need a scanner. The electronics is built in to my dash where I turn the key and get the code that way.

My guess is that it's happening during driving. Guess only.

Durango
 
I bet changing the plugs will cure your problem

A new coil pack is about 40$ a piece, you would be looking north of 400$ to swap in new ones at the dealer.

Originally Posted By: Durango
VNTS,

The dealership just changed the plugs this past February cuz they saif they were ready for a swap out! So the plugs should be fine on that issue.

For now I'll wait and see if the "trouble engine light" comes back on again. In the mean time I'll keep it garaged until the weekend and take it for another nice freeway drive.

If it does appear to be the coil packs then what I might do is have them all changes and get it over with.

Durango
 
VNTS,

You mean JUST swap out the plugs for a set of new ones?? I wonder cuz that's better than changing the coils packs. At $40 bucks for a set of new coil packs doesn't hurt my budget but to change ALL of the for a price of $400 bucks will. Back in February I gave them over a grand of service that really burnt me royally.

Durango
 
When a plug misfires for a while, it can be tough to clean properly. Getting a new one in the bad hole is probably smart, even if the coil is the real core problem.

Honest to goodness, this is an easy job. Obtaining parts AND tools will be far less than the dealership total.

100% chance of success? No. but very strong.
And believe me, dealerships 'throw' parts at cars all the time, and you get charged.
 
Last edited:
mechtech,

Changing out the plugs is mosy likely what the dealership will do anyway along with the new coils for that bad no 5 plug. Right now I can't get the time to take it in right away now so perhaps towards the later half of October. In the mean time I'll just keep it running in the city just in case.

For myself changing out the plugs is a no no in my condo complex along with rules the association puts into place. Changing out the spark plugs will constitute a violation and a hard fine.

Anyway the light is out for now so let hope the spark keeps coming. Obviously this is a comdition that happens only sometimes and that appears to be why the trouble light activates itself and goes away. Once it's lite then I thought it would stay that way until the light is reset by the mechanic.

Keep your suggestion coming please I ned as many opinions as possible to keep my nerves low.

Durango
 
If you can't work on your vehicle at home, do the work in the parking lot of the parts store. Especially for something as simple as a plug change. Also makes it handy if you need some other part.
 
hsd,

I did that long ago when I was much younger and wound up at the police department for a short while. The owner of the store came out and told me I can't work on my old 74' Vega in his parking lot. I had all my stuff on the ground and he called the police on me. Because I could gather all my stuff up fast enough the police came/arrived and took me in and called my parent to come and pick me up. My car wound up in the impound lot and paid dearly to get it out.

Either case I'm in my mid 50's dude and with my back the way it is now I can't do those simple mechanic work anymore by orders of my doctor. The dealership will have to suffice.

Durango
 
Last edited:
What's a coil pack? I keep hearing people mentioning that and usually it is from the big 3 truck/suv. Is it something at the other end of the spark plug wires with a cap on it?

Please educate.

I attach pics of my engine bay before I had work done. Please tell me where/which part it is:

P1050493.jpg


P1050500.jpg


P1050501.jpg


P1050502.jpg
 
Last edited:
M1Accord,

The "coil pack" sits on top of the spark plugs and replaces the so called spark plug wires found in most typical engines like your Toyota engine pic. I believe these new items a found on Dodge products like my Durango V-8 starting in the 01' years on up. It is believed my coil pack for my number 5 cylinder (spark plug) is failing and needs to be replaced. Since I only drive my truck on the weekends I can afford to wait for a bit of time before getting a mechanic to handle the job.

My other possible cause is that this issue just happened after I added a bottle of Gumout/Regain fuel additive to the gas tank like I always do after a service (3K) but usually I use Techron or Redline SL1 aditive. I'm hoping the issue will dissapear after burning up this tank of gas. This is the first time my engine has acted up in this manner ever!!!! Personally I'm kinda shocked as my Durango has been ultra reliable since bought with very little to no issues at all.

More updates to come later.

Durango
 
As far as I know, what has shown by M1Accord does not have Coil-On-Plug. He has old style distributor and high tension wires going to the plugs.

- Vikas
 
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