Hello all. First off this is my first post. I've been searching for days and can't find any posts with my exact problem. I have a 2000 Dodge Avenger with a 2.5 liter v6 with an automatic transmission. I've only had it for almost a year. I know the engine was replaced at 104,000 miles I have 114 now. When I got it the fuel pump was bad and there was a contaminant in the gas tank a bunch of floating particles I empty the tank and replace the fuel pump but not the filter stupidly. It drove fine for the most part but would sometimes struggle going up big hills. About a week before the breakdown I added a Lucas Oil fuel system and injector cleaner. The car died on me on my way to work it just stopped running. It did fine on the highway I get off on to a back road and my rpms drop down all the way and I get no response, I have the gas pedal to the floor and nothing and I coasted a couple 100 yards to a side street where I turned off and it died immediately. I've only gotten it started just a few times since it happened and it's very random. It will start and rev up for a few seconds when I spray starting fluid into the intake. It has started without starting fluid a couple of times though it doesn't run long and it's rough. I have replaced the fuel filter, I took the fuel line off the rail and I am still getting fuel to the rail, I have spark at the front 3 plugs I haven't taken the plenum off yet,( tomorrow's task)the old spark plugs had a good bit of carbon deposit on them, and the new 3 I put on front a couple days ago have already started turning black. Though that could be just from me cranking it so much without the engine starting correct? Maybe the e.g.r valve? A distributor? I've put in a new coolant temperature sensor, I checked for pulse at the injectors, I can't really check for vacuum leaks because I can't keep the car running, I haven't tested the crankshaft position sensor yet but I have spark I thought that wouldn't be the issue. Could it be possible that my catalytic converter somehow got clogged from me putting in that fuel system cleaner and it burning of a lot at once? the only reason I ask is, and it could be random, I went under the car and tapped the catalytic converter a couple times and it seemed to start up right after, but not every time I hit it.( I'm pulling that off tomorrow hopefully to.) I also don't seem to be getting any pressure out of the tailpipe while it's cranking over although I'm not sure how much there should be. overall I'm really not too sure what's going on. I'm not too familiar with cars with computers just yet, most of my cars have either been old and I've had to fix them or newer and I didn't have trouble like this. I really love this car and would love to see it running back at 100 percent again. thanks in advance for any advice given and thank you for reading through this long post.
Trey

 

I suggest checking fuel pressure. Most fuel injected systems require a certain amount of pressure to run. Just because you have fuel at the rail does not mean the car will start.

 

I'm thinking you might have an electrical trouble check the fuel pump for voltage(under rear seat, hatch behind drivers seat) turn key on and crank should hear pump and see 12 volts it should stay while cranking if the voltage disappears you could have a bad fuel pump relay or an ASD relay