1997 Dodge Stratus
My stratus has been hesitating,sputtering and lurches under normal
driving conditions (highway, cruising, foot steady on gas).

I've been searching the web and it seems to be a common problem but I
can't seem to find a resolution.

Need Help!

 

Need some more details I think. But My neon (which uses a 2.0 liter SOHC that was sold in Stratus for '95 and maybe '96--yours the 2.4 Mitsu 4 Cylinder or 2.5 V6?) would act somewhat like what you're describing when the head gasket started blowing through. But I've seen that behavior on other cars with two other more simple problems too: Ignition--make sure plugs, wires, coil are all good; Fueling--make sure flow is good, try pressure gauge for fuel pump, replace pump, filter, get injectors cleaned??

Don't know what you've tried so hard to say, but my very first guess when a car starts acting like that is ignition. You'll probably get a lot of other ideas from folks here, mostly better ones than mine, but do give a little more history/detail.

 

The head gasket(s) have been replaced a few times by Dodge from the previous owner and the newly designed gasket seems to be holding up OK.

I recently had the injectors cleaned and it seemed to make the problem worse.

I really don't want to take it to Dodge if it's something simple. Your information gives me a place to start

 

That being the case with the injectors I'd get a 30$ fuel pressure gauge and test out your fuel line according to your manual. How often is the fuel filter changed? I've seen people who leave 'em on there for 60,000 miles or more and run the crappiest gas they can find--eventually clogged or partially clogged fuel filters will damage a fuel pump. If your pump is over 100,000 and is only 50$ like the one on my Jimmy you might replace that too, but will be messy with the tank (hence the reason to test with the pressure gauge first.)

This reminds me exactly of an old '91 Toyota that a cousin had me look at because it acted like yours. As soon as it had a new fuel filter (he's the 60,000 mile example) and new plugs it ran like a dream.

 

Is the fuel filter easy to change? Where's it located on the stratus?

 

Many Chrysler product FF are under car on driver side. Jack her up and locate that gas tank. Look for the fuel lines coming from it. trace up until you find what will probably look like a small tin can (though probably smooth) bolted to the frame. In '97 my guess is it'll look a lot like Neon's with 2 or 3 lines going in/out.

(If you see a set of tubes under there that are smaller diameter, no rubber attached and don't go through the filter you're probably tracing the brake lines.)

Easiest if you get the filter and then look for it underneath. I don't know of any Chryslers that are this way but some vehicles have the filter inside the tank and that would pretty much suck on every level--get a manual if you're still unsure)

Changing is pretty easy but sometimes the clips that hold the filter to the lines are a little hard to deal with. Later model ones you should be able to squeeze the clip and then pull on the line. Sometimes--especially if road gunk or corrosion you have to manhandle the clips with a wrench and a screwdriver for leverage. I've broken a few clips that way, but the new filter should have some included.

. . . .this is beginning to sound like the car hasn't been serviced for filters/ignition for a while. Since filters can be fairly cheap to moderately priced I think you're on the right path so far.