Any Help for a '97 2.4L???
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Any Help for a '97 2.4L???
I have a 1997 dodge stratus 2.4L. Considering ALL of the many things that have been done to the car, I still feel that the car isn't running up to full potential. Granted, it doeshave just over 100k miles on it, but I would think after all of thethings i've hadmaintenanced over the years, Iwouldn'thave to worry.
I've had the following done (with the exception of normal tune-ups and fluid/filter changes)
New head gasket
Replaced exhaust manifold (my old one had a crack in it)
New Front Oxygen sensor
New (full) exhaust including new catalytic convertor
PCV valve
New TPS
new thermostat
new water pump
new timing belt
new cam shaft sensor
new oil sending unit/sensor
(Ok so basically the whole top half of the motor was redone while i had the head gasket replaced)
Here are some specific things I need a diagnosis for:
1) Occasionally when I first start the car in the morning (most times ONLY when it has sat a few days to a week without being run) it starts right up but the idle is real choppy. It doesn't ever get to the point that it stalls, but i usually rev it a few times and then it clears up for the most part and idles normall.
2) Picking up on the highway is do-able, but sometimes it sounds like my engine is screaming and when it FINALLY gets to the point to shift, the shifting feels like its more defined. It's not a hard shift, it just seems like the engine struggles so much to reach that point that the transmission has to push it to keep the cycle moving. Is this just "old age" of would there be something that causing my engine to lack power?
3) Has anyone with experience with this engine noticed that over time, at high speeds on the highway, it seems as if the car does not shift back down into overdrive? My car seems to rev around 3,000 - 3500 rpm at higher speeds. It with use overdrive around 50 or 60mph, but i thought for some reason that it used to shift down into overdrive at higher speeds as welll, as long as it was constant. ???
Overall, when i press the gas, the car FEELS like its ready to move, but it desn't seem to matter how much i push the gas, i seem to get sluggish performance. The most recent of the fixes was the exhaust system. i can notice that it has helped the overall "breathing" of my car, but it still seems to be rather sluggish at times.
I have yet to prove whether I have oil leaking again or not, but all I know is i checked the oil several months ago and it was fine. Several weeks ago I checks it and it was almost empty. Anyone know where the heck all of that oil would have went? Maybe at occasion, but rarely do I smeel "burning" oil or see puddles below my car.I brought the level of oil back up and have driven it for a week or two. So far the level has remainedat normal...
With all of the "fixes", I stilll seem to think there is something fuel-related that is causing a problem. But hey, I'm no mechanic... All I know is, my sister has a 1996 pontiac Grand Prix that has WELL over 100k miles - with a head gasket replace and some of the other preventative things I've had done, her car runs like brand new. Here I am with this crappy struggling 4 cylinder...lol...
Please Help if you can!!
Angel
I've had the following done (with the exception of normal tune-ups and fluid/filter changes)
New head gasket
Replaced exhaust manifold (my old one had a crack in it)
New Front Oxygen sensor
New (full) exhaust including new catalytic convertor
PCV valve
New TPS
new thermostat
new water pump
new timing belt
new cam shaft sensor
new oil sending unit/sensor
(Ok so basically the whole top half of the motor was redone while i had the head gasket replaced)
Here are some specific things I need a diagnosis for:
1) Occasionally when I first start the car in the morning (most times ONLY when it has sat a few days to a week without being run) it starts right up but the idle is real choppy. It doesn't ever get to the point that it stalls, but i usually rev it a few times and then it clears up for the most part and idles normall.
2) Picking up on the highway is do-able, but sometimes it sounds like my engine is screaming and when it FINALLY gets to the point to shift, the shifting feels like its more defined. It's not a hard shift, it just seems like the engine struggles so much to reach that point that the transmission has to push it to keep the cycle moving. Is this just "old age" of would there be something that causing my engine to lack power?
3) Has anyone with experience with this engine noticed that over time, at high speeds on the highway, it seems as if the car does not shift back down into overdrive? My car seems to rev around 3,000 - 3500 rpm at higher speeds. It with use overdrive around 50 or 60mph, but i thought for some reason that it used to shift down into overdrive at higher speeds as welll, as long as it was constant. ???
Overall, when i press the gas, the car FEELS like its ready to move, but it desn't seem to matter how much i push the gas, i seem to get sluggish performance. The most recent of the fixes was the exhaust system. i can notice that it has helped the overall "breathing" of my car, but it still seems to be rather sluggish at times.
I have yet to prove whether I have oil leaking again or not, but all I know is i checked the oil several months ago and it was fine. Several weeks ago I checks it and it was almost empty. Anyone know where the heck all of that oil would have went? Maybe at occasion, but rarely do I smeel "burning" oil or see puddles below my car.I brought the level of oil back up and have driven it for a week or two. So far the level has remainedat normal...
With all of the "fixes", I stilll seem to think there is something fuel-related that is causing a problem. But hey, I'm no mechanic... All I know is, my sister has a 1996 pontiac Grand Prix that has WELL over 100k miles - with a head gasket replace and some of the other preventative things I've had done, her car runs like brand new. Here I am with this crappy struggling 4 cylinder...lol...
Please Help if you can!!
Angel
