QuestionQUESTION: i have a 97 dodge stratus and a 98 chrysler cirrus both with the 2.5 v6 on the 98 i changed the fuel pump,timing belt and gave it a complete tune up and on the 97 i changed the fuel pump,plugs and wires i only changed the pumps not the entire fuel modules if i pour gas in the tbi's they will start and run good i can hear the pumps humm when i turn the key on. is it possible that the fuel regulaters went out on both vehicles? the 98' did run good for a couple of months after changing the fuel pump .
any help you could give would be greatly appreciated and thank you in advance Jeff
ANSWER: Hi Jeff,
Have you tried to get any fault codes that may be stored in the powertrain control modules? If you turn the ignition key:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time, then watch either the check engine light, which remains 'on', to begin to flash, pause, flash, etc. and then count the numbers of flashes OR watch the odometer window to see if any 4-digit numbers appear preceeded by a P in place of the mileage reading. Those numbers are the fault codes in either case. The '97 may only give you the check engine light or nothing while the '98 may well give you the odometer window data. Repeat tje routine to be sure of an accurate set of data, then let me know what you learned.
The other item I would check is the exhaust gas recirculation valve which if stuck ajar will result in a too lean mixture to start or maintain an idle. The first thing I would do is check the mechanical function of the egr valve which is located along a pipe that runs from the left exhaust manifold (on the side of the engine facing the front of the car) to the intake manifold area (where the incoming air in the large rubber tube enters the throttle). That valve is metal and has a round fitting with a vacuum hose attached, mounted on the top of the valve, and the round part is attached to the main body of the valve by a sort of saddle. Inside the open saddle you will see a metal rod (with a slot) that connects the round top fitting to to the valve body. That rod is a stem on the valve and it is supposed to go in and out in response to the engine vacuum which varies with RPM and throttle opening (gas pedal position). Take a spray can of WD-40 or other penetrating lubricant and spray the stem where it enters the valve body and then use a regular screwdriver blade tip inserted in the slot to lever the valve in and out to try and free up its motion. Also check all the rubber vacuum hoses associated with the valve and a nearby vacuum solenoid valve. If the valve seems to open (against the action of a spring) and close firmly by the spring action when using the screwdriver blade to facilitate the motion, then you should be able to now start the engine. You can, once it is idling, check that the valve stem moves when you rev the engine from idle to 2500 rpm and back to idle. If it still won't start, then removing and cleaning the interior of the valve, or buying a new one if it seems too crudy and corroded inside, is the next step to getting the engine to start.
Roland
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QUESTION: ok on the 97 i got a 12 and a 55 the 12 is probably from running the battery down trying to start it on the 98 no codes i also have an autoxray 2000 and it isn't showing any codes both egr valves seem to function properly and they both look real clean.
is there a way to check the egr valve solenoid without a vacuum pump?
AnswerHi Jeff,
All the egr system tests require a hand-held vacuum pump, but the starting problem whould not be due to an egr that didn't open but rather a valve that didn't close by its built-in spring. Did you try moving the stem to be sure it is closing tightly to a dead stop by the spring-action? I think is sounds like a mixture issue but maybe there is another cause that involves a vacuum line. Without codes it is difficult what to recommend beyond the egr.
Have you taken a look at the throttle body throat area? Cleaning the walls of the throat, both sides of the butterfly plate, and the idle air side passageway may also change a poor mixture situation.
Roland
