Ok guys, so I have a really good friend of mine with some engine troubles. Her car is a 2002? Dodge Stratus, and I really want to try and help her get it taken care of. Basically, it idles rough (like the engine is trying to stall and the whole car shakes a little with each shutter), and when she has it in drive or reverse, it will stutter until it hits around 2000 rpm. The transmission also seems to shift a little hard sometimes and slip a bit (but I am thinking a little bit of Lucas Transmission Fix should clear that up.. I had kinda the same thing on my 91 XJ and Lucas fixed it perfect). Any ideas? Thanks guys, and Im sure she really appreciates help too.

 

it could be many things. we are gonna need more info to help. the most common thing i can think of is a misfire. check the spark plugs and the plug wires. my corolla i had would sputter because of a misfire till it hit higher rpms.

 

Alright, tomorrow when I see her I will ask when the last time she changed her spark plugs/ wires was. Also, what info do I need to try and get for a better diagnosis?

 

Have it scanned for check engine codes

 

when was the last time it had a full tune-up, that year should be all coils and sounds to me like a baaaad fuel filter.

 

Sounds to me like a mis-fire. Get it scanned see what codes come up and go from there because honestly it could be a lot of things. I see those cars all the time at the shop and most of the time I see mis-fires, Throttle position sensors, and crank sensors. All of which will essentially make it run like ****.

 

When I get the chance to ask her, if she needs spark plugs can I do them at her house with regular tools? I ask because I know it has the coil-over-plug setup.. didnt know if it was a huge difference or not. Also, the TPS and crank sensor, if they are bad how do I go about telling? Just pull em out and check? Im gonna follow her to autozone and have them plug up and check for anything. Thanks again for all the help guys.

 

my mother has an 01 with a 2.4 did about the same thing,was a cam sensor.but have it scanned and see if theres a code.

 

so pretty much a sum up, check out general tune up items, fuel filter, plugs, wires, coils, air filter, ect....any other simple item, run it for codes, if it has codes, get the stuff fixed.

A bottle of seafoam never hurts either.

 

if you can't trace it by looing at plugs I say scope&scan believe me will be cheaper at the end 40yr ech retired

 

One other thing I would check is the idle air control sensor. I just recently had a car that was running terrible and the idle air sensor was all gummed up inside. Sprayed it out with carb cleaner and it runs great.

 

Check the battery connections for corrosion. I see it all the time of chryslers... Its stupid im sure some of you know about it. If there is corrosion on the battery or the cables ANYWHERE even if you cant see it then it can cause problems with the fuel delivery system and the igniton system. simple fix is to put new cables on it if thats it. Just my .02


ASE Tech 3 years.

 

I suggest traceing the problem before any money is thrown at it.