Hello I have a 1999 dodge Stratus ES The engine seemed to run a little (ruff) once when I started it I put some sea foam into it and it ran for a couple of days I think pretty normal then I was pulling out of my driveway and the engine stalled out and would not start. I do not know why I with the help of my wife we pushed the car to the curb. for two days The car started a couple of times and ran really ruff and stalled . On the third day the car started and ran and so I was happy it was running. in the course of it all I thought I noticed maybe some engine misfiring or valve rods tapping or some noise like that . My wife really was wanting me to take car into a shop to get car checked out my wife was worried about the car breaking down while we we driving so I took the Stratus to Dodge Dealership I drove it over there and then after the Service sales person put a number on the car and after me waiting around in the dealership office for a long time maybe an hour AN Expert $144.00 an hour Dodge Mechanic came out and guess what the car would not start. Later that Monnday Service sales personage call and say $950.00 for fuel pump the car has been over at the dodge dealership since Monday and every day we get a call that oh they got the wrong part and oh they this or that SO anyway I am thinking Maybe taking it to the Dealer not that great of an Idea Can any body help? PS I am really stressed out and do not want to assume that the dealership is intentionally not doing a proper job but I thought that Dealership expensive but not like what I am getting from them

 

I rarely go to the dealer when a car is out of warranty. I'd pay the diagnostic fee and tow the car to an independent shop for a pump replacement. If this is your only vehicle, you want it fixed properly.

 

All that worry for nothing I thank you for your reply. With no regular car service place established for me I pretty much freak out every time I have car problem that are beyond my abilities to fix. The Dealership seems to have done a really good job my car seems to be starting and running fine. I found a Haynes Repair Manual for Cirrus, Stratus, Breeze 1995 thru 2000 Book on ebay for $5.00 it is old and with yellow pages but more than I had. And I think I am able to still do the easy little things on car. My wife and I feel blessed to have such a nice car as this.

 

Haynes isn't as good as a factory manual, but for most things they give you an idea. Glad you got your car going again. Look around for a repair shop for the next time you need one. You want a nice (but not TOO nice) building with different cars in front of it all the time. If you see the same cars, those are either employees or they take a long time to fix things.