franfan123
New member
I am pretty mechanically inclined-- but I am stumped. I am the One-owner of a 1997 Dodge Stratus with an auto trans, and the 2.4DOHC engine. Through the years the car has been maintained regularly, including oil changes, tires, struts, fuel pump and filter, and the head gasket 2 times. I do have the newer MLS head gasket on it. The car has never been ran hard, never abused, etc. I have confirmed the head gasket has not failed again. The car does have 175000 one-owner "babied" miles on her. The following is the problem: a few days ago I was driving the car on one of our "cooler" days [low 80 degrees], the check engine light started flashing intermitantly and the car started to spit and sputter like it was "missing". I figured there may be some water in the gas since the outside temp went from the high nineties down to the low sixties at night so I went to the gas station and put gas in it along with a bottle of Heet. The car was on half a tank, after I put gas in it it was on 3. I drove it about another 3miles and the check engine light flashed again, car started to sputter - my wife was in the car and turned on the rear defrost by accident and the car straightened right up!!? Strange. The next day, same thing happened. I turned the rear defrost on - car straightened up, SES light stayed on, but steady. I went to the parts store and got a new coil, new spark plugs, went ahead and changed the oil and filter, and a spark plug wireset, and a pcv valve. While I was at it, I got a bottle of carb cleaner spray and cleaned out the throttle body very good, I also replaced some vacuum lines that were cracking. When I did all of this, The car started righ up, but had a slight rough idle. I thought maybe from the carb cleaner. I drove it around and she did great. Ran like new. The Service Engine Light did stay on. I did remove the cables and cleaned them, so I thought that was why the SES light was on. I got the car home and the rough idle had stopped. A couple of hours later I got into the car and it was harder to start than normal. I had to turn the rear defrost on again, and it straightened up. I had the car scanned and all it threw was a code 12 for the battery disconnect, a code 55, and a code 11 for the crank sensor. I dropped $90 for the sensor, installed it and the plugs fouled. Luckily I had another set and put them in. The car started [barely] after several tries, but idles terribly rough and dies. I visually inspected the timing belt, although it was replaced last year, and it looked to be in good shape and lined correctly. The last time I tried to start it, my son took the airbox off and i cranked it and he tapped on the idle air control valve and it idled alot better-- but died when he stopped tapping it. Also, when It does idle and I give it the slightest bit of gas, it immidiately dies. I am at a loss!! It is throwing no more trouble codes, and everything but the O2, and MAP sensors and the IAC valve have been replaced. PLEASE, does anyone have any idea or have had the same problems? Thank yo MUCH for any info or help!!