My 99 avenger was recently taken into the dealer for the problem stated in an earlier post. They said the they could not get a reading past the MAP sensor. So I had that replaced, and no sooner than I could drive out of the garage, the light came back on, and threw the same code." P1297, MAP sensor values not indicated start-up condition." I'm very confused and aggravated. Does anyone know what else could be throwing this code?

 

Did you replace the CPS sensor? A puddle could have shorted that sensor out.

 

Yes, I did replace that. As of now the car is sitting at the dealer until monday. They think its the timing belt..ugh!

 

I don't understand how they can "think" it to be the timing belt. I puddle won't make a T-belt skip teeth or break.
You ran through a puddle of water...how can they think it to be mechanical, I would immediately think electrical and definitely not the T-belt. Did you tell them what happened? They probably got the story mixed up as the valet guy (the guy that schedules the work) always does.
I want to hear the fix on this one.

 

Yes, I told them what happened. The mechanic said that going through such a deep puddle could have cause it to slip. IDK, I just want my car fixed. He seems pretty sure thats what it is, he said its either that or Im having a compression problem somewhere else. Says its compressing air and gas like its at full throttle all the time. All i know, is if im paying them 500 bucks to do my timing belt, they had better be positive thats what it is......!!!

I will surely let you know the fix when I have my car running again.
Thank you everybody for all the ideas

 

Hi again everyone. I have an update. The dealer called today and said that the timing belt was "loose", so they tightened it. Now he saying that its still running the same (crappy) and i need an EGR valve.? Im just wondering, I get the feeling they trying to take advantage of me... is the egr valve somthing they could have broken while they were "tightning" my belt? And when he says the belt was loose, what exactly does that mean? When i try to ask him questions, he brushes me off...! I hope they are not just saying it was loose so they can get my 500 bucks. now they want 145 more for the stupid egr, and of course they dont have it in stock. If i want it today, he will glady go pick one up, and charge me 15% more for the part... UGH!!!

 

The thing about timing belts is that they have "teeth" and they mate up to gears that have teeth on them too. They are made like that so that the timing belt does not slip. I've hit some pretty fierce potholes when it was raining and dry and mine belt has never slipped or loosened itself. Tightening that belt for any reason will not solve any running issues unless it has actually slipped and the teeth moved over to the next tooth or teeth on the cam gears. The tensioner has got to be really loose to do that on a daily driver.
The EGR valve...I don't see that causing running issues overnight...unless you dislodged something when you hit the pothole.
Have him explain to you why he thinks it is the EGR valve and why he thought the tension of the t belt would cause the car to run poorly.
This isn't the dealership is it?<---nvm

 

I am in highshool so hopefully ur mechanic is more qualified than I but Ive had a car come in with broken teeth and had jumped time and yes it did run poorly but it ran if you had a t belt problem you would have known right away and tighting it dosent fix the problem if its off time and the EGR valve probably wont make it run bad my f-250 has had a bad EGR valve for 3 years now yet it still runs great it sounds to me the guy is trying to make you his girlfreind try just taking the car to autozone get them to run a diagnostic if it still pulls the MAP code and says nothing about the EGR valve disconnect the negative battery cable fo five minutes to reset the computer sometimes the mechanics get into a hurry and dont clear the codes and if the diagnostic dosnt pull an egr code then chances are the egr is fine

 

Whee! I got my car back today, and its running now better than ever. I drove it all around town, purposly stopping at every red light..and no stalls.
"YAY!!
And yes it was the dealer giving me all the problems, but im happy to say that since he didnt have to replace my timing belt, he only charged me the 201 for labor to look at it..lol. I guess it was the egr valve, cause now its perfect!

Thank you everyone who tried to help me! i apperciate it greatly!!

 

I'm glad it's fixed, though there are some things that seem out of place. That's probably the old dog talking though.