I have a '98 Avenger with the 2.5 litre V6. 'Kaylee' is in the shop for the umpteenth time due to not starting. I've been dropping $400-$500 almost every month just keep her running but the shop is completely bamfoozled.

She will shudder & hesitate, doesn't matter whether she's idling or going down the road, but it is very inconsistent - sometimes she does, sometimes not. The check engine light will rarely come on & the last time it did, I called the shop & they immediately ran a diagnostic which said there was a misfire on the # 5 cylinder. When they actually got into her though, there was nothing wrong so they just cleared the code. I went on vacation for a bit over a week, so she sat all that time. When I got back she wouldn't start - she'd turn over but wouldn't actually start. Dad charged the battery & got her running long enough to get her in the shed, change the oil & pull her back out but now she won't start again & charging the battery doesn't help. We took her to a dealership to see about trade-in value & to drool over the trucks & they let us know that she has a salvage engine.

The shop has changed the EGR valve twice in the last year & a half, they've checked sensors, gaskets, anything & everything they can possibly think of. When I call them all I have to say is "Dodge Avenger" & they go "Oh, that one. Well, bring it in LadyGunn." I've also run Slick50 & Seafoam through with no change.

This car is driving us nuts. It's a pity we live in Kansas - no cliffs handy for pushing her over. We've actually started hoping & praying that someone will smash into me & total my car. And she acts like a naughty little kid sometimes - she'll be shuddering, the check engine light will be flashing so I'll call the shop. As soon as they pick up, she's runs perfectly - like threatening a kid with a spanking. Also when I take her in, shuddering & everything - they take her out & there's not a blip. Once they drove her around town for 20 miles with not a single shudder or flashing light. As soon as I got her back, she went nutso on me again.

Has anyone else run into this or have any ideas? Know someone who can do car exorcisms? This car has become the bane of my existence... *grrr*

 

Misfire is normally Wires , plugs, rotor , or Distributor cap ...
When you say she wouldn't start does she crank ???
Do you hear the fuel pump come on ???

 

Hi,,this is dear-o-dad replying---it cranks fine, and sometimes it will run about 50 to 1oo rpm---yes 50--- w/ my foot clear to the floor, but dies when i let off the throttle. well now it won't evenrun thata much---it just turns over. the fuel pump was checked just a couple of weeks ago and had good pressure and holds it well. I think the best fix for this is a 9mm between the eyes
thanx

 

does it get spark ???
Is there 12 volts on the Crank positioning sensor (CPS) ???there is a how to above in the stickies

 

Check the voltage on the throttle body sensor too. If you have a Haynes/Chiltons manual handy, check to be sure all the vacuum lines are connected and in the correct places. It's always a good idea to double check behind any shop that does work on your car(s). You just never know.
This sounds sensor related. The CPS is definitely a common issue with the Avenger/Sebring, so it's a good idea to check on that.