I have bought a 1997 Dodge Intrepid with 171,000 . The car drives great so far. But i had a few concerns about the car. First off the RPM gauge is at the maxed out position. Also, there is a smell of gas outside of the car, near the rear. I dont really notice a loss of gas or anything? At first the check engine light came on when the tank was low on the car. I then filled my tank and drove for 5 days, during thosedays the light wasnt on. Now i have reached 1/4 tank again and the light has came back on. I am not sure if any of this is linked but i will get a test for the engine light. and get that figured out. Maybe i can get some advise. Just trying to prevent future problems, LoL! : ) thanks

 

The RPM gets the signal from the BCM which gets it from the PCM! (2 computers). I believe the signal computation is still done the old way, by freq monitoring of the coil...but I'm not sure of this. With an ODB scan tool (the dealer/shop), they can check the system simply by talking to the computers. You on the other hand would need to trace the wires, ohm them out (to make sure the signal wires are good), and then play eni-meni-mine-mo (take your best guess...I'd start with then indicator...it could just be physically stuck). As for the gas smell and engine light, more than likely it will be the evaporative system. This is a guess because you had mentioned when the gas in the tank was at a certain level. While the light is on, go to Auto Zone ECT and have it read for free. Of course you can buy the tool also.

 

Okay Checkup on the last post. I have went to Autozone to get the check engine light checked. Seven codes came up for the car. First, PO303x 2 means misfire of 3rd cylinder right? Then PO401 EGR Flow Insufficient? Then we got PO700 means Trans control system malfunction? PO740 TCC Circuit malfunction? Also P1776 meaning for another transmission code, right? If ANYONE has advise for what to do about these codes please let me know!! I need to do something about this ASAP, before it does become problems... Thanks

I am not sure if the meanings are right but thats what i was told by auto zone...lol

 

Does any of this sound like major problems or expensive problems?? Please Help!!

 

Ok, you said it drives great so calm down. 303 is a misfire of the # 3 so I would start with checking the # 3 plug for this (all while you are at it). The 401 is when the car tests itself by changing the fuel ratio. It expects to see a change (because of this incorrect mixture it set) and didn't see it. While not the best for the enviroment, I don't think this (or the misfire) will cause you any major problems. You may have an EGR issue (that could account for the smell but I didn't mention it at first because the problem was only apparent with the gas tank low).

As for the 700, 740, and 1776, I can't help. They are internal to the transmission and I have no experiance there...sorry. I would suggest you bring it to a good tranny shop and when done, I think your speedo issue will be solved.

 

Okay, thanks for the advise, thats points me in the right direction, anyhow. I will surely take it to someone to check the transmission. Yes i did say that it drives great, which it does. I love my Intrepid. The car does seem to have a shake to it when its idling which could have to do with the transmission right?Or maybe not, lol..Im not really very knowledgable about cars besides getting fluids changed, brakes, and other small things. I just want to prevent future problems that could go wrong, lol. Maybe im just being too nervous over everything, but its better to be safe than sorry in the end!!

 

The shake, is probaly from the #3 misfire. Normally, if you take a car out of gear (N) and you have a shake, it's the engine. If the shake goes away, then it's trany related.

 

Yup, I figured it was a transmission problem, because it doesn't do it, just when i start the car but when i have drove it for awhile, just like the check engine light does not come on unless ive drove the car alot. I have only owned the car for about a week so im still getting used to it. Ill let you know whats happens? As soon as i can i will be getting the work done on my new baby. Until then ill pet her with LOVE, lol..... : )~

 

I think you misunderstood what I said. I think the "shake" is the ENGINE (# 3 misfire). To verify, when it is malfunctioning, you can try to put it out of gear. If the malfunction goes away (at that point and then comes back if you put it back in gear) then look at the trany. The corealeation of the engine running for a while and the engine light comming on after the engine has run for a while, also suggestes an engine malfunction. With the code you are getting, it could be as simmple a a bad spark plug wire (with an increase of heat, also comes an increase of resistance).

 

Ah okay, I gotcha. After thinking about it awhile and reading back over the forum. I understand what your saying about the shake. Im not too savvy about cars, as you can see, lol...I will surely try putting it out of gear to verify the problem.Thanks again for the clarification. [sm=deal.gif]

Anyway, I was looking up the codes to find out more information about them, and i cant seem to find code P1776 anywhere, do you have any idea where to look to find this?