Chrysler Repair: 1994 Chrysler Concorde/Just dies on me., exhaust gas recirculation valve, side exhaust manifold

Question
I will be just driving and the car just stops dead. I have noticed the fuel level will be full on time you start the car and the next empty gas light on. Could this be the fuel pump?? Where is the fuel pump located?? I need help.. Please any advice...If it is the fuel pump is it hard to replace yourself?

Answer
Hi Megan,
I doubt it is the fuel pump, but keep track of how many miles you have driven since the tank was filled as the gauge could be inaccurate. The fuel pump is in the gas tank and if you listen carefully you should hear it humm for about one second when you turn the ignition switch to the run position, then stop, until you turn to the start position but then the noise of the starter motor will drown out the humm. So when you stall just listen again to see if you hear a humm or not. You might have to open the window to hear it from the outside or sometimes you will hear it through the floor coming from under the backseat cushion.
I would do two things: one is to ask the engine computer if it has notices anything wrong and stored a two-digit fault code number in it memory. Turn the ignition switch: "on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing this in 5 seconds or less. Then watch the check engine light to remain on, but then begin to flash, pause, flash, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause, and keep track of them. Then repeat to make sure the count is correct. Then combine the numbers is pairs as they readout. The last number will be 55 which means "end of readout". You can then either write me back with the result or go to www.allpar.com/fix/codes.html for a code number translation.
Then there is a pollution control part that when it gets dirty will cause a stall. I would take a look at the exhaust gas recirculation valve which is located behind the engine near the air intake throttle valve. It is mounted in a pipe that runs between passenger side exhaust manifold and the air intake manifold. The valve is mounted horizontally and has a valve stem between its round vacuum actuator top and the body of the valve attached to the pipe, inside the flange that connects the two parts. The stem has a slot into which you can insert the tip of a flat-bladed screwdriver so as to lever the stem back and forth against spring action which should move freely and close tightly. If the stem seems to be sticky so that stem doesn't close all the way by spring action, then you can try spraying some penetrating solvent like WD-40 on the valve stem to freeup its motion.
If the valve is sticking slightly ajar it will make for a rough idle and poor acceleration, or even a frank stall and refuse to start, such as you describe because the mixture is too dilute. It is one of the most common causes of this symptom. So see if you can find the valve and check/lubricate the stem. To check it in motion you can rev the engine from idle to 2500 rpm and back to idle and watch to see if the valve stem moves freely in both directions to the extreme open and closed positions. It may be that the interior of the valve is cruddy so that might require that it be unbolted from the pipe where it it attached and cleaned. But chances are good it will only be a sticky stem. Feel free to write back with the results and other questions you might have.
Roland