While driving my daughters '96 Stratus (2.4l SOHC), I notice a slight surging at low RPM's when under a load. I'm wondering if this is common and what the cause / fix is.

-Thanks, Ken

 

I had the same issue. I pulled the plugs and checked the gap. All the plugs looked good but the gap was around .055". I double checked my manual and it said .038-.040". I re-gapped them and the engine idles and drives a whole lot smoother.

Also, don't believe the autopart guys when you get plugs. None of the autopart stores I have ever visited have the correct plug listed (the ones they list are to short and will cause the car to hesitate and run like crap). Get the regular champion plugs that the cars come with from the factory (ie..no iridium, no platinum, etc..just the cheap copper champions).

If you need the number on the plug, let me know, I will pull one on my car (takes 30 seconds). I should write the plug number down.

EDIT: Are you sure you have the SOHC and not the DOHC? You're the first person I have heard of with a SOHC.

 

I'm around %95 sure it's the SOHC engine. I was going to say that I'm %99 sure it's a SOHC engine, but then I thought about it and I quit working for Dodge in 1994, which was the same year the Neon came out with the new 2L SOHC engine. So, perhaps I'm remembering this engine wrong... But remember that this car is a 1996, so I don't think the V6 was an option then. I'm thinking the SOHC was stock and maybe the DOHC was optional?

This car does not have ABS brakes. I was rather surprised to see that. It does have metallic paint (Purple, which is why we call it the 'Eggplant'). It also has a moonroof (which the original owner told me he didn't order, but the dealer did by mistake. So, he told them that he didn't want it, and he wasn't paying for it. They gave him the car for the quoted price and he got the sunroof for free. It came with steel rims + hubcaps, but the original owner bought aluminum aftermarket rims (unfortunately, he got 14" rims so he could re-use the original tires).

Tomorrow, I'll check to be sure it is a SOHC engine, and I'll pull a plug to see what kind / number is installed and what the gap is.

Thanks for your suggestion, it's cheap and easy enough to check, so it's a great place to start!

-Ken

 

Pop the hood and it will have "SOHC" or "DOHC" on the valve cover.

Since yours is a 96, I believe most of the engines were the 2.4 DOHC engines with the optional 2.7V6. There is a SOHC 2.0 engine, but only about 10% of the cars were sold with this if my info is correct. I want to say that the 2.0 was mostly used outside of the USA, but I could be wrong. Best bet is just check under the hood.

Yes, try the plugs first. Not sure how long the wires last but my dealer replacement set has lasted much longer than the original wires on the car.

Don't worry about the ABS or hub caps. We have the steelies with a set of hub caps on it and I wonder how good the ABS really is in these cars.

No matter what, start with the cheapest thing first and then work your way up.