Chrysler Repair: engine kills after driving a mile or so, then restarts, control sensors, 1999 dodge intrepid

Question
QUESTION: I have a 1999 dodge Intrepid ES when I first take off in the morning or when the car is first driven in the day, after about 1-1 1/2 miles the cars dies, if you let it sit for a minute it will start back up and run fine the rest of the day it will only do this once at the initial start then it is fine.  Thanks for your help, Randy Dodd

ANSWER: Hi Randy,
There are two ways to get to bottom of this. Either diagnose what is and is not working when the engine has cut off and before it will restart OR see if there are codes about faults that might be stored in the memory of the engine controller. You can get the codes by attaching a code reader to a socket under the dash near the steering column. If you have an Autozone Parts store near you they may do that readout for free. If so, get the 4-digit fault code numbers, what they say they mean, what they suggest doing, and how much? Or you may be able to do the readout with the ignition key:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the odometer window to see if instead of the mileage it changes to show fault code numbers. Not all vehicles/years will do that but it is worth trying. Let me know the code numbers once you get them and we'll go from there.
The problem appears to be a breaking down of one of the engine control sensors as it heats up, then recovering after a short cool down. The only problem with that hypothesis is it doesn't do it again the same trip. So I can't be sure, but maybe a code will reveal the reason.
Other than that, you would want to check for spark and for fuel pump action at the time the stall occurs. Then we try to figure out why.
Roland

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QUESTION: Thanks Roland! I did check the code and it can up 1684 the battery has been unhooked in the last 50 starts. We have had the car siense it was 1 year old and the battery has only been unhooked when the battery was changed and that was 2 years ago. I will try the Autozone Parts store. Thanks again, Randy Dodd

Answer
Hi Randy,
If the battery hasn't been unhooked for two years then this 1684 suggests that you do have a loose battery connection or a corroded battery connection: Take a look at the two battery clamps to see if they are shiny and tight at the interfaces with the battery posts, but be careful to disconnect the -post clamp first, and to reattach it last (after checking out and reinstalling the + post clamp then finally reattach the -post clamp). Then also check the ground connection of the -post wire at its other end where it attaches to the body near the electrical box that is under the hood, and also look for a ground wire from the transmission housing to that same ground point and check both ends of that to be shiny and tight. Other than those things, if it still dies on you, then you need to check the +12v supply thru the electrical box and to the engine controller module next to the battery. The 1684 is saying really that the module itself has been disconnected from the 12V supply from the battery, which usually means checking the items I listed above, but it also could be that the +12V supply is flakey from the end of the +post wire where it attaches to the electrical box and then to the engine control module.
I doubt that Autozone will find any other codes, you probably have the answer from the key readout. There is a loss of power momentarily for one of the above reasons.
Roland