Idling issues...

20689 Views 26 Replies 9 Participants Last post by madeforeachother, Feb 21, 2012

Willster

Discussion Starter · Feb 28, 2011

I have a 2003 Durango SLT with a 4.7. When it is parked or at a stop with the brake on (idling), the RPM guage fluctuates from 500 to 1000 or so intermittently but often. I have replaced the TPS, the wiring harness to the TPS, and the gaskets to the intake and throttle body, which seems to have improved it, but not fixed it, it still has the issue when idling. It is giving an OBD II code of P 0499, Unknown Auxiliary Emission Circuit High. Any suggestions or ideas of what else I might check or replace to take care of this? Thanks

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jkelly16

· #2 · Feb 28, 2011

Googled it and found these two things, don't know if they will help.

And if any of you reading this have over sized tires, you should go check this on yours too and solve it before it happens. My wires WERE tied up like they were supposed to be, but for my size tires, it just wasn't enough. This is in the drivers side tire well on the side toward the cab. You can see a connector there of 2 wires. Mine were worn down right at the connector so that they were touching and 1 wire was broken completly off of the connector.

Disconnect the NVLD Assembly harness connector. Measure the resistance of the NVLD Solenoid coil. The resistance should be between 7.5 and 8.5 ohms. If not- Replace the NVLD Assembly. (If I remember correctly, I bought one and it was not the problem. So let me know if you need one, maybe we can work a deal out...)
If that is okay, probe the wire side of that connector, wire color "white with dark green stripe" (power) and other side of tester to a GOOD ground, or negative power. Is the voltage above 1.0 volt? If yes. You have a short in the wiring somewhere like i did. follow the wiring from the NVLD up to the engine compartment looking for the problem.

Tymont

· #3 · Mar 1, 2011

Have you checked the PCV valve or the Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor? Possibly a vacuum issue.

Willster

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 6, 2011

I did change the map sensor today, and it seems to have helped it but not fixed it; now it is still doing the same thing, but at higher RPMs; it is bouncing from 750 to 1000 RPM now and once in awhile even revs up to around 1200 RPM and stays there for a few seconds, then kicks back down to around 750 and fluctuates between that and 1000 pretty consistently...so now I am going to disconnect the negative battery terminal first just to see if maybe the map sensor did fix it but the code is stuck in the PCM and needs to be cleared? If that doesn't work, then I will replace the PCV valve next since it is cheap and fairly easy; if that doesn't fix it, I'm lost.....EGR? O2 Sensor? I'm running out of ideas and getting more and more frustrated all the time.....

jkelly16

· #5 · Mar 6, 2011

I had a crankshaft position sensor go bad in my Dakota that caused that. Pull up to a stop and the idle was all over the place. It's been quite a while back but I think the code was specific to that problem.

Willster

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 7, 2011

Thanks J, I will certainly look into that; I just read up on that sensor and it did say that it can cause idling issues if one is going bad, and it's not terribly expensive (~ $32 at my local parts store), so worth a try in my opinion. Thanks again.

Willster

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 7, 2011

Well I reset the PCM today, unhooked the battery for a few minutes, and no good, it is still doing it, actually worse again now, so back to the drawing board....

kingoftow

· #8 · Mar 11, 2011

eratic idle...

Hey Willster, believe it or not, it"s possible that the TPS you installed may be defective,pick up another one from a different parts store ( at about $32.00 bucks it won"t shock your wallet too much and it may solve your problem... kingoftow

Willster

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 13, 2011

well king, I'm thinking you could be right, considering now it is throwing the P 0121 code for the TPS (again) too, and the idle has gone up to around 1500 RPM and winding out now, exactly the same sh_t it was doing before when the TPS was going out and it threw that code. I had the Dodge dealership replace both the TPS and the wiring harness to it less than 2 months ago, so it is going back to them and quick!!!!!!

Willster

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 14, 2011

Full update for all of you that have been following this thread: I got underneath it yesterday afternoon, didn't have real good lighting and the hoses going to (or from, depending on how you look at it) the NVLD were pretty dirty, but the connections to the NVLD were all good and solid, and I ran my hand along the hoses as far as I could and didn't feel any cracks or issues with it.

However, I did (re) encounter another issue last night and today. The idle kicked up to around 1500 RPM and was winding out, and NOTHING I did would bring it down (tapped the gas pedal, turned it off). It almost didn't even start back up, turned over good and strong but didn't fire the first try or two. Then did the turn key test to see if it would throw any new or different codes, to see if this is a different issue or part of the same, aaaaand sure enough, it gave me a P 0121 code, same TPS code it threw before I had the TPS AND wiring harness to the TPS changed at the Dodge dealership.

So at this point, my question is, could it be that the TPS and/or harness were not installed or repaired correctly to begin with, and that the 0499 code it has been throwing and the idling issue I have been having is a result of the TPS and/or harness?

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RamTech

· #11 · Mar 15, 2011

It could also be a PCM issue. Have you cleaned the TB and IAC passages out?

Willster

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 16, 2011

I replaced the IAC a couple of weeks ago, when the intake manifold gasket was replaced (because the shop I *was* taking it to said they were leaning toward a vacuum leak in the intake causing the 0499 code and idling issues).

Update: Took it back to the shop that installed the TPS and wiring harness a few weeks ago, because it was throwing the P0121 TPS code again. They put another TPS on it, and wouldn't ya know, the idling issue is gone, it idles at a good steady 600 RPM all the time when stopped or parked, and the 0121 code has cleared.

However, it is still giving the 0499 code and the CEL is on at all times, though it is idling and running better than it ever has since I bought it in October. Does that change or help anyone's thoughts on what might be causing the 0499 code and CEL besides what has already been mentioned about the NVLD? Or if it is still thought to be the NVLD or some component, does anyone have any idea which direction to steer me first as far as what to check out?

Thanks,

Will

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DslCJ8

· #13 · Mar 16, 2011

This is *exactly* the problem we're having with our 2006 Durango (2wd; auto trans; 3.8L V6). We bought it new (suckers!) and this has been happening since it was still well within warantee. The dealership looked at it several times but could never fix or even diagnose it. Very frustrating. Thanks to you guys/ folks that konw enough about new-fangled electrical systems to try to chase down this ghost. Did I mention it's very frustrating?!

RamTech

· #14 · Mar 16, 2011

There's a PCM flash available that addresses a false P0499 (TSB 18-005-03 REV. C). This may fix the problem but if the problem persists after the flash then diagnostics for the P0499 need to be performed.

RamTech

· #15 · Mar 16, 2011

DslCJ8 said:
This is *exactly* the problem we're having with our 2006 Durango (2wd; auto trans; 3.8L V6). We bought it new (suckers!) and this has been happening since it was still well within warantee. The dealership looked at it several times but could never fix or even diagnose it. Very frustrating. Thanks to you guys/ folks that konw enough about new-fangled electrical systems to try to chase down this ghost. Did I mention it's very frustrating?!

Which part is the same, the idling, P0499 or both? If the problem was documented while under warranty, then they still need to fix it at no charge. Give Chrysler customer service a call if the dealer gives you any grief.

DslCJ8

· #16 · Mar 16, 2011 (Edited)

RamTech: Good question, my post seems unclear. It's the poor idling issue that we're dealing with. And, good suggestion about taking it back to the dealer. I just figured they wouldn't do anything for us as we're at 110K+ miles, but it can't hurt to ask. And then to call Chrysler customer service!

Question: Has anyone installed a gauge to monitor fuel line pressure during an failing-to-idle event?? Just curious.....

DslCJ8

· #17 · Mar 16, 2011

RamTech said:
Which part is the same, the idling, P0499 or both? If the problem was documented while under warranty, then they still need to fix it at no charge. Give Chrysler customer service a call if the dealer gives you any grief.

RamTech: Good question, my post seems unclear. It's the poor idling issue that we're dealing with. And, good suggestion about taking it back to the dealer. I just figured they wouldn't do anything for us as we're at 110K+ miles, but it can't hurt to ask. And then to call Chrysler customer service!

Question: Has anyone installed a gauge to monitor fuel line pressure during an failing-to-idle event?? Just curious.....

RamTech

· #18 · Mar 16, 2011

Fuel pressure is constant during normal operation and doesn't fall more than a couple of pounds even during WOT operation. If off idle operation is normal then I wouldn't suspect a fuel pump related issue but it can't hurt to verify volume and pressure.

Willster

Discussion Starter · #19 · Mar 17, 2011

RamTech said:
There's a PCM flash available that addresses a false P0499 (TSB 18-005-03 REV. C). This may fix the problem but if the problem persists after the flash then diagnostics for the P0499 need to be performed.

Thanks RamTech, sounds worth looking into at least. Does this flash have to be done at the dealership? And is it expensive, or just an hour's labor type thing I wonder?

RamTech

· #20 · Mar 17, 2011

Some independent shops have the capability to perform flashes but it typically needs to be done by the dealer. I would expect to pay between 1/2 and one full hour labor.

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