Chrysler Repair: 97 Plymouth Breeze wont start, plymouth breeze, wd 40

Question
I contacted you a few days ago about my Plymouth Breeze not starting. The check engine light only went on once like the rest of the lights on the dash. Sof 1.0 came up and after check 3 either 88888 showed or 888888. The car started today, but when a turned it off and turned it off, it will not start again. The engine is a 2.0.

Answer
Hi Jon,
I don't understand "The check engine light only went on once like the rest of the lights on the dash. Sof 1.0 came up and after check 3 either 88888 showed or 888888."  Could you explain that a little more fully, please? Is that what showed on the odometer? If so, then the only way to get codes is by a diagnostic reader plugged in under the dasy.
If you can get it started I would suggest that you take it to an Autozone parts store if there is one near you (for a free code readout) or to an independent shop ( where a readout would cost $40 or less). Get the 4-digit fault code(s) and ask what they mean, what they recommend, and how much? Then write back and tell me and we can go from there. There are so many possibilities that without a readout it is like shooting in the dark for the solution.
Roland

PS:Did you check the egr valve to make sure it is closed tightly by its spring-action?  I would check the egr valve to see that it isn't sticking slightly ajar. It is located in a pipe that branches off the front exhaust manifold and is routed to the throttle body area. You will find it near the thermostat housing and also that it has a round vacuum operated top, and the valve body is in the pipe itself. Between the two is a flange inside of which there is a rod which is the valve stem. It has a slot into which you can insert a screwdriver tip and then move the stem back and forth against spring-action which tries to close it. Made sure it closes to a full stop and that the action is not sticky. You could spray some WD-40 on the valve stem where it enters the body and then work it back and forth to loosen the action. Such an ajar valve will call poor idle/no starts, and the lean mixture resulting could smell "rich" because it won't ignite.



I was messing around with the car today and I finally got it to start. The only problem is that I have to spray a bunch of body throttle cleaner into the throttle body. Any advice of what could be wrong? Thanks for all the help.
Jon


Hi Jon,
That spray is "fuel", and it makes me believe that you are running too lean, and very possibly because the egr is stuck ajar. Check that out, for sure. Then get a code readout in case I'm wrong.
Roland