Question1997 Intrepid 3.5L, 189,000 miles, no major repairs. After the first startup of the day, the engine goes completely dead for 1-3 seconds after running about 5-10 minutes. No lights, buzzers, or codes. I am on the Interstate before this happens, so momentum keeps the car moving. Tachometer goes to zero, then engine re-fires, RPMs return, and it doesn't happen again until the next morning. This has been occurring for about 8 months. About 3 months ago there was a coil error code, but went away on its own and has not returned. Car runs great other than this hitch. Seems to be more pronounced when ambient temp is lower, but happens 6 out of 7 days, regardless of ambient temp. Something electrical related to heat/cold? Thank you.
AnswerHi Ken,
I am not exactly clear about one point:
you say the tachometer goes to 0 and then the engine re-fires. That means that you don't use the starter motor, correct? And that means that the torque converter is continuing to spin the engine during the 1-3 seconds and then something happens that brings the engine back to life.
All that being the case, and the absence of codes, causes me to wonder if the problem might not be in the ignition switch, one or more sections of it, that is opening up momentarily while in the "run position". That would explain the loss of power, the loss of the tach function (rather than the engine dropping to 0 rpm). It would be like you momentarily turned the engine off then put it back to run after 1-3 seconds. Here is an idea: try doing that manoeuver with the key and see if the behavior is exactly the same and if not, in what way is it different. Are you getting the 55 code (end of readout) when you do the code test? The check engine light should come on if the ignition switch were in run and the engine died, so that is why it is something very fundamental.
At least for now, that is the way I would start on it.
Roland
