Chrysler Repair: 2.4L 02 Stalls/wont restart, code 0340, exhaust gas recirculation valve, exhaust gas recirculation

Question
Hello Kevin

My question is I have a voyager 4 cylinders 2.4 liters and I died while driving; the check engine light came on and the went of then the oil light came on. now the car wont start the starter cranks over but the motor will not start. I tried to scan the code but it did no show any store codes. The gauges also sweep all the way and then come back. do you have any idea what could be? the fuel pump seem to work since it make the noise when I open the ignition. coil pack? timing belt? what would give that erratic electrical behavior?

Thanks
Juan

Answer
Hi Juan,
According to the '02 shop manual you should be able to get fault codes using 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 the mileage reading changes to show any 4-digit fault code numbers, preceded by a P. It should either show such a number or the word "donE". Let me know if that works for you.
Almost all the possible causes of stalling/refusing to start are covered by a fault code. About the only item that can cause this without showing a fault code is the exhaust gas recirculation valve. If that were stuck open slighthly 'ajar' then the mixture is going to be too lean to sustain an idle. Locate the valve in the pipe that branches off the exhaust manifold and runs to the intake manifold/throttle body. It has a round top with a vacuum line, the body of the valve mounted in the pipe, and between the two a flange inside of which you will see the stem of the valve. In the stem there is a slot into which the tip of a screwdriver can be inserted and then used to move the stem back and forth. Internal spring-action should close the valve to a dead stop. If not, then spray the stem with WD-40 where it enters the valve body and move it some more to free the movement.
The needles on the gauges may be pegged on the wrong side of the stop. You can correct this by:
with the ignition 'off' press and hold the trip reset button, keep holding it until the word
'sof' appears in the odometer window, then release the button and you should see the cluster do a series of self diagnostic tests including returning the needles to the proper position.
Let me know if any number appears in the odometer window, and the word "End" would indicate the self-calibration of the cluster is finished.
Those are my best suggestions.
Roland

I got a code reader and pulled a code p0340 camshaft position sensor, I replaced the camshaft with two different ones but still does the same thing I erased the code but it reappear even after putting the new one. do I have to reset the ecu somehow for the car to reconize the new part? Is their a way to see if the timing belt is ok with taking the cover of? The symptoms of the car is that the starter rotates but the car wont start. it seems like their is not spark I am going to check the coil pack. do you have any input in what else can cause the code P0340?

Hi Juan,
No there is no recognition process involved with changing the sensor. The easiest way to check that the timing belt is good is to remove the cam sensor and watch the cam magnet rotate while you crank the engine over.
I believe that the cam signal has to be involved although one of about 10 possibilities for the 0340 is that the crank signal is intermittent, but I would set that one aside unless everything else proves to be OK.
You might want to check the magnet for the sensor to be sure that it isn't cracked, but be very careful when you replace it to not overtighten its retaining screw which has a torque spec of only 30 inch-pounds (2.5 foot-pounds) for it may break/crack otherwise.
The sensor itself is torqued to 115 inch-pounds.
After you get it mounted, you could connect the plug and then very carefully with fine pins probe the wires as follows:
There should be 8V on the brown/pink wire when the ignition is 'on'.
There should be pulsing voltage of 0.3 to 5.0V between the other two wires when you rotate the crankshaft by hand (and with the ignition 'on') using a socket and handle on the crankshaft pulley bolt.
If not, then you should verify that the signal wire (dark blue/gray) is continuous to pin 33 of the pcm and is not shorted to ground or to any other voltage.
Verify that the sensor ground wire dark blue/dark green is continuous to pin 43 of the pcm
Let me know if you can't sort this out.
Roland
PS Thanks for the 'rating'. You are entitled to 'rate' this answer too. Thank you.