[adambradley]

Hey guys, well I have something a little bit strange going on with my 98 Stratus ES w/ 6cyl auto trans. Typically, this is the deal, I will start my car after it has been parked for a bit (a couple hours or more), and it will run fine.

When I drive even just a couple of miles then put it into park, or even just try to start it back up if it has not been parked for more than a couple hours, these are the things I see while in park:

1. The idle won't be constant, it has jumped from its typical idle of about 600 rpm, up to 2000 rpm once, most of the time it will only jump up to about 1000. It typically will only jump for a few seconds, then drop, then jump for a second, then drop, etc.

2. At the same time, the speedometer will be jumping randomly as well, anywhere from 0-70mph, while sitting in park (all other guages are normal).

3. I think I have possibly heard a slight thud thud from the exhaust now and then, kind of like a backfire while it is doing this.

4. If during this time that it is jumping all over the place I go to put it in reverse, it will stay in neutral. If I switch it to drive, it will kind of jump slightly rough into first, and from there, it will allow me to put it into reverse, which it does jump a little rough into reverse from there as well.

5. All the while that it is doing these things, I don't get any lights coming on - no check engine, etc. It is not getting stuck in second either. When in drive, it runs and shifts like a million bucks. Just the issues in park.

Again, I don't know if it is just coincidence or not, but I have yet to see these things come up from a cold start. Any help on this one? I have my fingers crossed, but I am definitely thinking it may not be a good thing. Thanks so much guys!