Please help I am perplexed. A few months ago my 97 Dodge Stratus, 2.0 liter, 5 speed manual transmission, began missing intermittently while driving on the interstate. My local mechanic suspected the fuel pump so $600 later with a new fuel pump and new fuel filter the car was still hiccupping. This miss was ever so often but began to be more consistent as I continued to drive the car. The car cranks without fail, idles like a purring kitten, and runs fine until I reach the rpm range above 2,000. It feels almost as if the car is shutting off and turning right back in the blink of an eye. You can see the rpm needle drop, the engine light goes off, but the car continues to run. The skip seems to be more consistent once you reach 5th gear and go above the 2,000 rpm range. When I shift through the gears and go as high as 3,000 rpm it does not seem to skip at all or nearly as bad. The skip does not have the classic feel like a bad set of plugs.
To date the following parts have been changed out:
· Fuel Pump
· Fuel Filter
· Crank Position Sensor
· Camshaft Position Sensor
· Ignition Coil*
· Computer*
· Plugs
· Plug Wires
· TCM Relay
· Fuel Pump Relay
· 40 amp ignition switch fuse
· 20 amp ignition/starter fuse
· Ignition Tumbler

*The ignition coil and computer came from another 97 Dodge Stratus that I own and previously parked in the back yard due to high mileage. I pulled these 2 parts from this car because it was running fine when I parked it other than it needed tires, brakes, cv joints and a clutch.

I have an Innova 3140b scan tool which I used to run a code search on and this is what I keep coming up with:

P1391: Intermittent Loss of CMP or CKP
Fuel Sys 1 CL
Fuel Sys 2 NA
Calc Load % 5.9
ECT (F’) 192
STFT B1 (%) -3.1
LTFT B1 (%) 0.0
Map (in Hg) 5.0
Eng RPM 2400
Veh Speed MPH 62

P0351: Ignition Coil A Primary/Secondary Circuit

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

I replaced the used A coil with a new A coil and the P0351 code is now gone. The P1391 code is still hanging in there like a hair in a buiscut. I pulled the negative battery cable and drained the computer. After installing the new A coil and cranking the car the engine would fluxuate above 2,400 rpms just as before. What I did notice this time around that I did not notice before is the rpm gauge fluxuates up as well as down when the intermittent miss is occuring. Somebody please come up with a resolution for this thing. Thanks in advance for your help and cooperation.

 

i have a 97 stratus with a 2.4 and had the same problem. i went to local auto parts store and picked up "heat" a gas additive and put in tank when i only had 1/8 th tank ran 15 miles and added gas and all has been well ever since. apparently i had water in fuel. hope this helps. keep us posted. thanks

 

als 97 stratus:

Thanks for the reply and suggestion. Quick clarification: Did your stratus set the same DTCs as the codes I have listed?