Hi All
Back in early spring I posted because I needed info on the timing belt replacement on my 98 2.4 Stratus. I got the car back together and it seems to run good but takes quite a bit of cranking to get it to start. I crank then turn key off then on several times and crank some more. After several minutes of this it'll finally start. I replaced the spark plugs when I did the timing belt. The car has 111000 miles on it, has been sitting since last November except for me starting it a couple times this summer. Last November it just quit and would not start. I thought it was the belt but the belt was still good. My father had an issue simialar to this with this car at 55,000 miles. He had it towed and mechanic put fuel pump in it. I'm wondering if the pump is going bad again? Any ideas?

 

Put a timing light on it to see if you get a spark when cranking, and when temporarly starts. If Spark is good put a pressure gauge on the fuel rail to see if you have fuel pressure under the same conditions. If that doesn't work, make sure you have impulses going to the injectors.

 

Does the timing light get get hooked up the same way on these newer cars as older ones? So I'm only checking spark and not timing? The car does fire when I first turn it over but does not stay running. So I usually turn the key on and off till it finally stays running. I'm really leaning towards a fuel issue but I 'm not positive. Thanks

 

Fuel filter?

 

Erattic starting especially after multiple trys with the starting (key)switch is suggestive of a bad switch or a loose wire. Does it continue to run once it has started?

 

Yes once it starts it continues to run and in my opinion runs well. When I get a chance to get it in the garage I'm going to replace the filter and see where that takes me. I was wondering if maybe the gas is bad since it had sat for almost a year but i've put almost ten gallons of fresh fuel in it. How much fuel pressure should it have during the cranking process and when it starts? Where do i hook the pressure gauge up? Thanks

 

Fuel pump is electric and is in the gas tank. Fuel pressure should be 49 pounds, plus or minus two pounds. There is a fuel pressure regulator that is attached to the fuel pump.
There is a fuel rail (feed pipe) that feeds the injectors. There is usually a fitting on the rail that can be used to check fuel pressure.