# Trusty ol' Durango gettin fussy **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** heating, transmissions, durango, shifters\ **Created:** [April 2, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trusty-ol-durango-gettin-fussy/12493 "2008-04-02T17:07:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![markhirt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@markhirt](https://community.cartalk.com/u/markhirt)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trusty-ol-durango-gettin-fussy/12493/1 "2008-04-02T17:07:45Z")
- 2003 Dodge durango - 105,000 miles - no major tunups EVER - always scheduled maintenance (oil changes) Symptom: Truck tends to over heat just a little as I’m idling (in a drive through, hot day traffic, etc). When it get a little heated, the transmission doesn’t shift out of first very nicely. The engine revvs pretty high before it grandually idles down. What say ye all?? ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trusty-ol-durango-gettin-fussy/12493/2 "2008-04-02T17:09:49Z")
You’re overdue for spark plug replacement, for one thing. Have you checked your coolant level? Has IT ever been replaced? How about transmission fluid and filter replacement? ---
**Author:** ![markhirt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@markhirt](https://community.cartalk.com/u/markhirt)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trusty-ol-durango-gettin-fussy/12493/3 "2008-04-02T17:16:38Z")
no, no, no and no… I considered it all. thought maybe a replaced thermostat would be most helpfel first. not too sure. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trusty-ol-durango-gettin-fussy/12493/4 "2008-04-02T17:19:56Z")
For th extra $5 I’d be inclined to change the T-stat when I changed the coolant to fresh stuff…which never hurts. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trusty-ol-durango-gettin-fussy/12493/5 "2008-04-02T17:29:28Z")
Everything I mentioned (as well as many more things) are ALL scheduled maintenance. Start with cooling system maintenance, including a new thermostat, and transmission fluid and filter change. The cooling system check should include (carefully) cleaning the bugs, leaves, and other debris from the front of the a/c condenser (it’s in front of the radiator) and the functioning of the fan clutch. Then get to the rest of the stuff pronto. Fuel is expensive and a Durango is thirsty under the best of circumstances; lack of maintenance can increase that thirst significantly. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trusty-ol-durango-gettin-fussy/12493/6 "2008-04-02T23:51:34Z")
It’s time to open that owner’s manual and catch up on all the maintenance that has not been done. ALL OF IT. Yea, I would replace the thermostat, but I would also flush the system at the same time. You are do for a coolant change.