QuestionI have a 2003 Dodge Stratus SE that has been having trouble with a hard start and rough idling. A couple of times the car would not start at all and had to be towed to a shop.
I've taken the car to two different garages and neither garage has been able to identify the problem. They have problems recreating the issue; the car always seems to start at the garage. There are no fault codes showing up. Everything they would normally test (electrical, fuel, etc.) seems to check out fine.
AnswerHi Gregory,
Because you didn't tell me which engine is in the car I am at a loss to give you details about one possibilitiy: the exhaust gas recirculation (egr) valve may be sticking slightly ajar which causes a no/hard start and rough idle, often without setting a code. So let me know the size of the engine that you have so I can give you the details. Use the 'thank/rate' tab below to get back to me without having to wait for me to 'available' to take a question. There is a space there for comments.
Roland
The car came with the 150-hp, 2.4-liter I-4 engine.
Hi Gregory,
If you will look below the throttle body from the rear of the engine you will see a tube that comes across from the firewall side of the engine whose other end is attached to the egr valve. That valve has three parts: the body of the valve is mounted onto the exhaust manifold, a round top with a vacuum hose attached, and between those parts is a flange with openings inside of which there is a horizontal rod which is the valve stem that connects together the valve body and the round top. If you look or feel along the rod/stem with the tip of a screwdriver you will find a slot which goes around the rod. If you use the tip of the screwdriver as a lever in the slot you can move the slot toward the round top and then feel a spring-action which pushes the rod back towards its original position. That spring-action should cause the rod to come to a dead stop with no significant drag. If their are exhaust fume deposits on the rod where is enter the valve body or a build-up of such deposits inside the valve where it closes the passageway, then there is a good possiblity that the valve will be stuck ajar which allows exhaust gas to pass along that pipe to the throttle body where it will lean out the intake air/fuel mixture which prevents the engine from starting or idling smoothly. The first thing to try is to improve the action of the stem by inserting the tip of a spray can with straw tip of WD-40 at the stem where it enters the valve body and spraying the stem. Then use the screwdriver again to loosen the valve action. Alternatively you can remove the valve from the exhaust manifold and crossover pipe and check its condition at the bench to be sure the valve moves well and is not partially clogged up. Once you have done either of those approaches see if the engine will start and idle well or not.
That condition of hanging ajar will often not be detected by the fault code system so that is why I suggest that may be your problem. Other than that I would suggest that you clean the throat of the throttle body and the both sides of the butterfly valve in the throat with solvent, and the idle air by-pass passageway so that any build-up of crud is removed. Use solvent and a q-tip.
Those are the actions I would recomment to you for this problem.
Roland
