Chrysler Repair: 97 2.5L V-6: multiple cylinder misfire, crank shaft position sensor, emission control system

Question
hi kevin i have a 97 sebring i use for a spare car to get back and forth to work  and it started to cut out on me while going down the road sometimes it will start right back up other times it wont start until the next day i had replaced the timeing belt crank shaft position sensor plugs cap rotor wires and still does the same thing could it be the distributor?  also getting codes of misfire on #4  #5  and #6    ty  joe

Answer
Hi Joe,
If the only codes relate to multiple cylinder misfires then there are a number of possible causes which each can be checked out (see below). However there is one possible specific cause that resulted in a Technical Service Bulletin for this engine in the relevant time frame that includes your car: replace the egr valve. This is something you can do yourself.


"NUMBER: 18-020-01
GROUP: Vehicle
Performance
DATE: Aug. 17, 2001
SUBJECT:
Rough Idle, Hard Start, Start & Stall
OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves installing a revised EGR valve.
MODELS:
1995 - 2000 (JA) Breeze/Cirrus/Stratus
1996 - 2000 (JX) Sebring Convertible
NOTE: THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE.
SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
Vehicle may intermittently exhibit any of the following conditions:
• Rough engine idle.
• Hard start or long crank after hot soak.
• Start and stall when started with cold engine.
• Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0300, Multiple Cylinder Mis-fire.

04287646AC Valve, EGR"


The troubleshoot manual gives the following possibilities, in addition to the wires which were replaced:
fuel pump or filter (unlikely as regards the filter), injector harness connectors, ignition coil circuit, spark plugs, mechanical problem (but compression test would probably have shown that), contaminated fuel, water in fuel. pcm power ground connections, injectors, restricted exhaust, intake restriction, the pcm itself, the evap emission control system, the exhaust gas recirc valve system (this is something I would certainly recommend that you check, as if the valve sticks ajar it will definitely cause misfiring. I suggest the you either change the valve as per the TSB (above) or lube the old valve stem with WD-40 and move it back and forth with the tip of a screwdriver in the slot on the stem to be sure it is moving to a dead-stop via internal spring-action), air gap at high rpm's, other mechanical (?), and damaged trigger wheel (something to do with one of the engine postion sensor (?)). The parenthetical items are my remarks.
Many of these also might set a separate code so you might not need to concerned with all of them. But the egr valve would be high on my list.
Let me know how this progresses, please.
Roland

PS Sorry for the delay in responding but your question only appeared in the 'pool' today when Kevin sent it there.