For the last few weeks now my wifes 05 stratus sedan(4 cyl) has been randomly giving some hessitations when going to accelerate. it was never constant. some days it would run like a charm, other times you start it and get near 2k rpm it would start to jerk a bit. any time it would happen the engine light was on.

at first i thought it was an issue of just needed some regular maintainence. i changed out the air filter(old one was rather dirty), spark plugs, oil change(was a lil over due), and droped some fuel system cleaner in there as well.

after a while i even had 2 occasions where the car would just turn over for a while before it would start.

with each of those steps it seemed to work for a day or 2, then the problem came back. after i did all that, i finally went down to auto zone and had the computer code read out on it, came back p0340, camshaft position senson. so i paid the $35 at autozone for a new sensor and put it on today. i have not yet been able to drive it around yet, but when starting the car the engine light is still coming on. the first time starting the car after replaceing the sensor it did seem to hesitate a little then smoothed out. after that i can start it fine, and rev the engine up plenty while in park with no sign of it hesitating. but the light remains on. this is after maybe 10 or so times starting it, letting it idle for a few min, maybe a small rev up here n there, the shutting it off for a few min.

i was told to try and get the computer to reset, but am unsure as to which fuse to pull to reset it. the battery on this car has to be one of the most tucked away and secluded batteries ive seen, so still trying to figure out how to get down to that, so i can pull the negative to reset the computer.

i had found many other posts on various sites about this sensor, and a few mentioned using a MOPAR sensor, and not some store brand. is this really a big issue with this part? having to use a MOPAR part instead of store brand?

later this evening i will have a chance to drive it around a bit see if i can reproduce the hesitations.

 

on top of the motor there is a bolt should say NEGATIVE by it. disconnect it for like 10 min the computer will reset, or go to autozone and tell them to clear the code its free.

 

I've been having a similar issue with my '04 Stratus (4 cyl.) but mine has a couple more symptoms. The car hesitates between shifts under normal acceleration and when I let up on the accelerator, it shifts and then I continue moderate accel. until the next shift. This currently happens about 75% of the time when accelerating from a stop. I also experience the same hesitation when crusing at about 62 or 63 MPH, but when I take my foot of the accel. and slow to 60 or 61 MPH, I can cruise forever, up or downgrade without problems.

I'm also having the problem about 40% of starts where it just turns over. Sometimes on the second try it will fire, other times it takes 4 or 5 tries before the engine fires up but so far it always starts up within 5 attempts.

Another symptom is when I do experience the hesitation at 63MPH or between shifts when accel from a stop, the cruise control can't be activated until I stop, turn off the engine and start it again.....sometimes with a new start the cruise system comes back up but other times it can't be turned on and no cruise light will come on when I push cruise on.

The engine light has come on and Autozone pulled codes P0325 and P0340.
P0340 - 1)Cam sensor defective, 2) Cam sensor wire problem, 3) timing belt out of time.
P0325 - 1) knock sensor defective, 2) knock sensor wiring problem, 3) knock or rattle in engine and 4) low fuel pressure.

I have been getting by and have not taken it to the shop yet for fear I'll have a bunch of troubleshooting and sensor changes before ultimately having to replace the timing belt. Can anyone give guidance on the real source of my problem?

 

Skbladen how many miles on your car? Try taking off the top timing belt cover and inspecting your belt and timing marks. That will tell ya a bunch. Let us know...

 

I am currently having the same issue with my 2005 SXT 4cyl. Did anyone here figure out the problem? I'm still under dealership warranty and I'm honestly debating on just giving back the car rather than bothering to find the issues.

 

My problem turned out to be a faulty cam sensor. I had my timing belt replaced first since the car has just under 100K miles but that didn't fix the problem. After the cam sensor and knock sensor were replaced, the car ran fine and I think it was primarily the cam sensor that caused the problem but my engine diagnostics indicated a problem with the knock sensor as well so that's why I had it replaced. I hope this helps and that you get off easier than I did.