01 Wants to die at lights

[edelwell]

My 01 Stratus V6 2.7 L was wrecked a while back(put through a ditch)and I've had it to the shop several times. They even ran a diagnostic test twice. The only thing they can find wrong with it is a rear ball joint on my upper A frame which is making horrible rattling. But the last few days it seems to shudder When I'm driving on the highway. Almost like it wants to die or doesn't want to shift. This usaully happens when I'm accelerating. This morning after driving it 45 miles to work it acted like it wanted to die at a traffic light. I stepped on the accelerator because it's the only thing I think of to do. I only had one more mile to make it work. When I got to work I let it sit in park and it didn't do anything. When I put it back in drive and just sat there it started to do it again. This makes my car shake and it seems like it's going to lose power. Any ideas would be much appreciated. Also, how long can I drive on a ball joint that's bad? It rattles everytime I hit a bump, even small ones. I can't afford to fix it right away, but I'm afraid of the tire falling off or something. Need any special tools for replacing it?

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[edelwell]

Curious if this could be from a spark plug coming loose. Last time I had it at the shop one was loose and they tightened it. Is is possible for them to just come loose?

[lngbrding]

It is possible for them to come loose... Not probable... But possible. 10 years ago I stopped on the side of I-75 to see if I could help a couple with their hood up on a Mercedes. There was a spark plug wrench that actually snapped undo the top of the valve cover. It prompteded me because I saw it there to check the plugs. Low and behold two of them had backed out to a point that I could have removed them with my fingers. I used the tool that was right there, tightened them back up, and they were set.

(edit) I'm no mechanic, but the "symptoms" that you mentioned above don't sound like loose spark plug(s) to me.

[bad venge]

I'd guess a misfire ... bad plugs/wires distributor cap ...

[nate_0022]

As everyone states, my best bet would be to replace plugs and wires. check vacuum hoses?