-2001 Dodge Stratus R/T 3.0L V6 Automatic-

I replaced the bad alternator in my car(diagnostic at Advance Auto showed failure in DC and light circuit) and now the car runs fine, but the car stalls out. While at a stop sign the car hits RPM well below 500 it almost sounds like the engine is off, but it isn't. The engine stalled 3 times on my way home (out of around 8 stops). The first stall was on the first stop sign, the other two stalls were on the last to stops on the way home. The RPM is also a little wacky when stopped, it will jump up and down between 100-600. Is there some kind of electrical short or what?

Edit: Now as soon as I turn on the car and revs up, the car looses RPM and stalls. So I can't take it out of the driveway.

 

Have you tried to clean the throttle first. Mitsubishi cars looses it memory when the battery has been disconnected.

 

I'll clean the throttle body and might as well replace the air filter. How does it get it's "memory" back? Just drive it around on the freeway and let it coast?

 

Well I cleaned out the throttle body, IAC sensor, MAF sensor and replaced the air filter and the problem is fixed! I drove around the highway for awhile and my idle rpm is normal, no more stalling!

However another problem arose. The car has a noticeable jerk when going up through gears. It also jerks when I let go of the gas peddle completely (Mostly 1st and 2nd gears). Easing off the gas peddle doesn't cause the car to jerk. Any idea what might cause this?

 

Does your rt have a automatic or manual transmission?

 

It's an automatic. But I fixed the problem. Stupid me forgot to plug back in the MAF sensor which was hiding under the intake hose. As soon as I plugged that in I drove it around and there was no more problems. Idle is smooth, shifting smooth, and the RPM is normal now, I think I'm even getting better mileage.

 

Thats okay, We all from time to time have done the same thing. Even me!