QuestionHello. I have a 2.5 V6 engine.
My car has been shutting off while driving. Sometimes it will start right back up but sometimes it will leave you sit for hours. It will after a while start right back up but cannot go for long distances without doing it again. There is not a check engine light on. This was a progressive problem that started with it occasionally feeling like it was going to shut off, leading to it shutting off at lights and intersections when not pressing the accelerator, to shutting off while driving. It is doing it more and more often and after shorter and shorter distances. Just today it happened when I was entering a ramp on a highway. I tried the on-off-on-off-on but nothing happens. Also car was checked and shows no codes. Just to add that after night standing car starts without a single problem.
Best regards
Paul
AnswerHi Paul,
The only way to figure this out is to be ready to check to see what is and what is not working when the engine dies.
First listen for the fuel pump to run for about 1 second when you turn the ignition switch to the run position. It is located in the fuel tank and you should be able to hear it hum then stop. That is normal. When you are stalled out see if you hear the pump run or not.
Then carry along a spark plug and ideally a passenger or recruit a passerby to help operate the ignition switch. Carefully remove one of the plug caps from a spark plug of the #2,4,or 6 plugs and insert your spare plug in the cap, then hold the plug threads against the cylinder head while the helper tried to start the car for 5 seconds. Observe if you have no spark, spark for 1 second or so, or for a full 5 seconds. That is of diagnostic significance.
When you say that the car shows no codes, was this done with a good quality code reader, and was it evident that the controller was communicating successfully with the reader?
If there are truly no codes, then there aren't too many reasons for a no start. One is the egr valve which may hang up ajar when it should be closed (when starting, when slowing down). The first thing I would do is check the mechanical function of the egr valve which is located along a pipe that runs from the left exhaust manifold (on the side of the engine facing the front of the car) to the intake manifold area (where the incoming air in the large rubber tube enters the throttle). That valve is metal and has a round fitting with a vacuum hose attached, mounted on the top of the valve, and the round part is attached to the main body of the valve by a sort of saddle. Inside the open saddle you will see a metal rod (with a slot) that connects the round top fitting to to the valve body. That rod is a stem on the valve and it is supposed to go in and out in response to the engine vacuum which varies with RPM and throttle opening (gas pedal position). Take a spray can of WD-40 or other penetrating lubricant and spray the stem where it enters the valve body and then use a regular screwdriver blade tip inserted in the slot to lever the valve in and out to try and free up its motion. Also check all the rubber vacuum hoses associated with the valve and a nearby vacuum solenoid valve. If the valve seems to open (against the action of a spring) and close firmly by the spring action when using the screwdriver blade to facilitate the motion, then you should be able to now start the engine. You can, once it is idling, check that the valve stem moves when you rev the engine from idle to 2500 rpm and back to idle.
The ignition switch might be flakey. It has several different sections that power various circuits. To check that you would need a circuit diagram or at least specific instructions as to which fuses to verify for voltage. If you have the inclination and a neon glow light or voltmeter I can direct you toward how to do that. Tell me if you have the converible or the sedan model Sebring as those are quite different vehicles.
About the only other thing to do is leave it with a good tune-up mechanic who knows this car and let him run it till it quits so he can trace it out at that time.
Roland
