Anybody know of a late model Dodge forum? Mines busted.

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Andre68

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My daily is an 02 Dodge Stratus.

It's currently having some issues that make it non driveable.

I was on my way to work and 15 min later at a light the car began to bog down (kinda like an old car with a carb). So I put the car in neutral and gave it gas to keep going. The car stayed on, as soon as the light turned green it was somewhat hesitant and with my foot flooring the gas it wouldn't go past 30 mph. Then it would bog down at lights, and I would have to continue putting the car in neutral and giving it gas to keep it on. I decided to turn back home and park the car, on the way back home it died a couple times from letting the idle get to low (I was making a u turn on a small street). Then once I hit more of an open road I finally got it to go past 30mph but only about 40mph, I would lay on the throttle, rpms would go up but the car would be so slow and not go past 30mph, then eventually from doing the same, it would suddenly begin to go faster but no more than around 40mph. Then I made it to the last light before home and while doing the whole neutral and giving it gas to stay on thing, I saw the mph gauge go from 0-120-0 and then some smoke came out from under the dash. The car was getting really hot I could feel heat coming out from my vents. Too be honest at this point, I had no idea what was going on.

Anyways I finally limped the car home and then I parked it. The inside was a little bit smokey, so immediately I popped the hood to see what potential mess was there for me but nothing. Underhood looked absolutely fine. No smoke, no fire, no nothing.

It was all just smoke from under the dash.

So the next day I turned the car back on and filmed a video of it. Seems to somewhat act like a blown headgasket. Only problem with that is... 1) The car never overheated, kept my eye on the temp and it never went past normal. 2) No smoke coming from the tailpipe or anywhere. 3) my coolant is still full 4)no milky oil on the dipstick. 5)A blown headgasket would explain crappy running, a poor idle, but it does not explain not being able to go past 30, and then sudden surges of power, and the speedometer going 0-120-0 and smoke from under the dash.

-Can't be a rod knock either. It sounds like it's knocking on the video, but I've actually had a rod knock in the car before and got the engine rebuilt a few years back, that knocking sound is the engine rocking in the engine bay. But you can see that it will randomly rock and idle bad, then the idle goes up and gets better and then when it drops back down it runs bad. I've also driven the car when I got the rod knock and it did not prevent me from going past 30, it was just knocking.

To be honest I don't know what it is... no clue....

So I made a video of it, and posted it to YouTube -here's the link-



So if anyone has any ideas? Or know of a good late model Dodge forum that would be great!
 
Cam and crank sensor. Seen it happen more times than I can count.
They're out of sync. Replace both with Mopar sensors, or you'll do it again before to long.
The cam sensor is easy. The crank is a PIA without a lift.
Can't say I've ever seen smoke come from under the dash though.
 
Wow man that's crazy, your a genius! I'll have to give it a try and hope that does the trick. Which would explain why it was working just fine and then it happened out of the blue. I'm sure when they rebuild this stuff they probably didn't replace the sensors with new ones.
 
Also try to pull the codes if there are any. You should be able to toggle the ignition switch, on,off,on three times ending in the switch In the on posistion. Odometer display should scroll any codes
 
Well unfortunately still busted. I replaced the crank and cam sensors and nothing, still running the same.

Ran a compression test and all cylinders are just around 180psi.

It's weird but I smell blow by, don't know why. It seems to kinda have a loss of power as well.
 
You may have to have the PCM re-flashed after the replacement of the sensors.
But before you do that, did you use Mopar parts? I've seen aftermarket sensors that just did not communicate with the PCM.
Is the MIL (check engine) light on?
Everything you describe sounds like the timing is out of wack. The sensors will cause that. The PCM may still have the timing out of wack, the reason for the flash.
 
2 Self-Test Methods on 2002 Stratus w/DIGITAL Odometer/Trip display on Dash cluster:(Engine off)
*Method 1*DTC=Data Trouble Codes OBD=(OnBoard Diagnostic). a)Push Trip Reset button to zero out, release. b)Key in ignition: Turn key quickly to ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON (stop). IF PROBLEM detected: Displays OBD Code 'P0xxxx'. Displays 'donE' when completed.(Online: Look up OBDII Codes 'P' Codes for Dodge/Chrysler).
**Method 2- (Per Owners' Manual)** Zero out Trip PUSH and HOLD button + Turn key to ON, RELEASE Trip button. Displays series of codes & lights up each item being checked on dash cluster. Displays 'donE' when completed.


Surprised you're not getting any codes.
Start it up at night and watch for any spark scatter.
Remove the oil fill cap when running watch for blow-by.
What are your plugs/wires looking like?
When is the last time the throttle body was cleaned?
Throttle position sensor ever replaced?
 
Does the speedometer acting up suggest a problem with the transmission?

What about contaminated fuel?
 
"Surprised you're not getting any codes.
Start it up at night and watch for any spark scatter.
Remove the oil fill cap when running watch for blow-by.
What are your plugs/wires looking like?
When is the last time the throttle body was cleaned?
Throttle position sensor ever replaced?"

Excellent points also. Get your self some brake parts cleaner and a old toothbrush. Scrub the throttle body out really good. I personally buy a new base gasket and remove the throttle body to scrub it really well. Take the AIS / IAC motor off also and clean the carbon out of the valve seat. There is likely carbon on the valve to.
 
Fuel pressure, fuel quality(if it's even fuel:eek:!!), clogged catalytic converter, all slow to or never set codes. Sometimes because the vehicle doesn't run long enough to set them.
Sounded for a bit like a "spark snap" a few times, coil could be failing for sure as well, pending misfire codes would be lurking for sure tho',............
The inability to go over 30-40 MPH is not going to be fixed by cleaning the throttle body, and sounds like the computer's limp-in mode as well, also possible,...............
How old's the T-belt & tensioner?
 
thread high jack! 2000 sebring sent my son to crank it i usely wait till fuel pump catches up before hitting starter,..he didnt! motor spun over few seconds and then sound of it changed,now have no spark????? ive never messed with any new car with computers and sensers and plum lost, help!
 
thread high jack! 2000 sebring sent my son to crank it i usely wait till fuel pump catches up before hitting starter,..he didnt! motor spun over few seconds and then sound of it changed,now have no spark????? ive never messed with any new car with computers and sensers and plum lost, help!
How many miles are on it and has the timing belt ever been changed? Before you try and crank it again pull the top cover off the timing belt and make sure it didn't snap. It is an interference engine so if it did there is a very good possibility it bent valves.
 
How many miles are on it and has the timing belt ever been changed? Before you try and crank it again pull the top cover off the timing belt and make sure it didn't snap. It is an interference engine so if it did there is a very good possibility it bent valves.
can see valves move threw oil cap timing belt/chain ant broke might be slipped but valves are moving!
 
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