[destroyerdurango]

Hi All - Having various issues seemingly with my Hellcat Durango ('21...)

It all started a week ago when I started the car after it sitting for an hour while at gym, blueish/white smoke was shooting out of the exhaust and smelled pretty foul, after driving it, it went away. It also stalled once upon restart. Took it to dealer and they said its normal and i should install an oil drip pan. moving on.

2 days later I get a engine light and I/C coolant level low. take it to dealer, no hard faults, they reset and say im fine. i leave.

next day i do some WOT runs, it goes into "limp mode" and wont go above 80mph affer a few runs. check engine light back on and I/C COOLANT LEVEL notice again.

its currently at dealer and all theyre telling me is they think the coolant pressure is low but they refilled and they see no pressure loss.

anyone experience similar? kind of sucks because there are so little durango hellcats and no one can tell me a thing that makes sense

 

[SRK]

Was there ever a misfire on a cold start, or any misfire count trouble code? So has the coolant dropped twice now with no visible external leaks?
Loss of coolant and nasty smelling exhaust can indicate a head gasket leak. Limp mode could be from a misfire count that the dealer is trying to ignore.
Something is not right and you should assert that with the dealer - not aggressively of course - and that a new vehicle does not exhibit this behaviour. Go up the chain of command fast - Dodge Cares maybe?
The good thing is you have a warranty, and this is what it is for.

 

[destroyerdurango]

yes, it stalled out upon startup once or twice. if that is what you mean by misfire. i will reach our to dodge cares. I agree something is really wrong. no misfire count trouble codes they ran all computer codes and nothing indicated that. but i do not know.

 

[Mopar23]

There sounds like something is definitely wrong. I would speak directly with the service manager and lay out your concerns. Don't waste time with the service advisors. If no joy the ask to speak with the dealership manager. Keep it polite. You shouldn't have to deal with both new car problems and people who don't know how to solve them. If you don't get satisfaction find another dealer.

 

[chaman]

Sounds definitively like a head gasket. Should be covered by warranty. QC seems way off in these vehicles, perhaps rushed due to COVID and lack of personnel? Damn.

 

[Blkout]

The IC coolant level low and limp home sounds like you have a IC loop leak which the engine is protecting itself because the IC pump might have air in the loop. The IC loop is separate from the engine coolant loop. Is the engine coolant low too?

 

[destroyerdurango]

The IC coolant level low and limp home sounds like you have a IC loop leak which the engine is protecting itself because the IC pump might have air in the loop. The IC loop is separate from the engine coolant loop. Is the engine coolant low too?

fhey told me the IC coolant level was a tas on the low side, they filled it and it held pressure so they had no idea, i didnt ask about engine coolant level but will tomorrow. i took pics of all my gauges and will upload them shortly in the midst of all issues that were ocurring

 

[destroyerdurango]

Sounds definitively like a head gasket. Should be covered by warranty. QC seems way off in these vehicles, perhaps rushed due to COVID and lack of personnel? Damn.

its possible, i ordered my car in november and it didnt come until april

 

[DDSRT0311]

Skip the service advisors and open a case with SRT customer service.

 

[destroyerdurango]

i opened a case yesterday by calling Dodge Cares and they said theyd call me today

 

[Rockster]

Hi All - Having various issues seemingly with my Hellcat Durango ('21...)

It all started a week ago when I started the car after it sitting for an hour while at gym, blueish/white smoke was shooting out of the exhaust and smelled pretty foul, after driving it, it went away. It also stalled once upon restart. Took it to dealer and they said its normal and i should install an oil drip pan. moving on.

2 days later I get a engine light and I/C coolant level low. take it to dealer, no hard faults, they reset and say im fine. i leave.

next day i do some WOT runs, it goes into "limp mode" and wont go above 80mph affer a few runs. check engine light back on and I/C COOLANT LEVEL notice again.

its currently at dealer and all theyre telling me is they think the coolant pressure is low but they refilled and they see no pressure loss.

anyone experience similar? kind of sucks because there are so little durango hellcats and no one can tell me a thing that makes sense

Unfortunately a cold cooling system pressure test won't uncover all leaks. Some leaks require pressure and the coolant be hot.

The symptoms read like there is coolant getting into the engine. A check of the plugs might turn up signs of coolant in the cylinder -- the plug would be very clean compared to the plugs from other healthy cylinders.

An oil analysis can be used. Among other things this checks for the presence of antifreeze compounds in oil. There should be none. Any and that's a sign coolant is getting into the oil and that ain't good.

 

[destroyerdurango]

Unfortunately a cold cooling system pressure test won't uncover all leaks. Some leaks require pressure and the coolant be hot.

The symptoms read like there is coolant getting into the engine. A check of the plugs might turn up signs of coolant in the cylinder -- the plug would be very clean compared to the plugs from other healthy cylinders.

An oil analysis can be used. Among other things this checks for the presence of antifreeze compounds in oil. There should be none. Any and that's a sign coolant is getting into the oil and that ain't good.

thank you this is helpful. concerned that none of this was brought up by the service dept after having the car all day.

 

[Rockster]

thank you this is helpful. concerned that none of this was brought up by the service dept after having the car all day.

You mentioned the CEL was on. What were the error codes? Also, my 2nd hand info is the car's electronic system -- engine/body/drive train controllers in this context -- are capable of logging errors that are not necessarily OBD2 related and which if logged do not cause the CEL to come on. However, a tech with the Dodge diagnostic computer can check for and obtain these errors. These errors can shed some light on what is going on. I would have to believe the engine or transmission entering "limp" mode would be of some interest and warrant an error log entry.

You might consider next time when take the car in telling the service manager because of the car's untoward behavior your have lost all enjoyment from driving the car. Furthermore you are concerned the behavior could jeopardize your safety and that of any passengers. If the car suffers a problem on a busy freeway control of the car may be compromised. If you get any pushback insist then the dealer provide you in writing the car's behavior is not in any way a safety concern.

Stress one reason you bought the vehicle is because of the high quality level of service and care you were led to believe you could expect from the service department. The vehicle is obviously not right. The service department is not providing you with a reasonable degree of skill, care and experience in resolving what is a very serious issue with the vehicle. This could be construed as fraud.

Insist the problem with the vehicle be diagnosed and addressed to your satisfaction. You must be prepared to leave vehicle. When you pick up the vehicle arrange if at all possible to road test the vehicle to ensure the original complaint has been addressed and there are no other issues.

If the road test turns up any issues take the vehicle back and leave it.

Also, research lemon law in your state and build a case for just in case. Better to have this and not need it than to need it and not have it.

 

[DodgeCares]

i opened a case yesterday by calling Dodge Cares and they said theyd call me today

Hi destroyerdurango,
Glad to hear you are working with a case manager. Please do not hesitate to reach out via PM if you have any other questions during this process.

Rob
Dodge Cares

 

[destroyerdurango]

Hi destroyerdurango,
Glad to hear you are working with a case manager. Please do not hesitate to reach out via PM if you have any other questions during this process.

Rob
Dodge Cares

thank you - i am picking the car up as we speak and they insist the car came from the factory with "half the coolant" causing this issue. they dont suspect there is coolant intrusion into the oil or engine but the explanation was vague and the verbiage was not too confident. "we dont suspect this being anything else at this time but air bubble/lack of coolant from factory." - i am about to drive off and ill keep everyone updated but this has been quite unsettling. appreciate your response here.

 

[frictioncircle]

Thanks for keeping us informed....I hope after waiting so long mine will have proper amounts of everything...

 

[SRK]

Half the coolant from the factory? So it left the assembly line and no one noticed, and then went through the PDI you paid good money for and no one noticed? Doubtful. Sounds more like a loss of coolant - they've topped it up once already. Thanks from me too for keeping us informed.

 

[White Trash]

Sounds like a engine issue

 

[destroyerdurango]

well here is an update. they reassured me there is no coolant in the oil. they insist it didnt have enough coolant and the gaskets and supercharger are fine. they topped off the oil saw no other faults and the coolant held pressure for a full 24 hours. i drove the car for an extended amount of time yesterday and it was pretty hot out in NJ and there are zero issues and the cars performing as it should. ill keep my fingers crossed. the check engine light in my experience wouldve turned back on already and wouldve gone into limp
mode as i got on it a few times and replicated a drive similar to what would cause the issues. i am driving her today as well and just hoping its the end of it. still anxious and worried but less. ill keep you all updated

 

[destroyerdurango]

Thanks for keeping us informed....I hope after waiting so long mine will have proper amounts of everything...

i hope so too for you my friend, make sure!