My 2000 Stratus has never let me down in 128,000 miles but now it has a problem. The engine dies suddenly and will not restart. Sometimes it will restart and sometimes it won't. The check engine light does not come on. I had it towed to the dealer and they said there are no codes in history and no indications of anything wrong with diagnostics. They thought it was the crank sensor and replaced it with a used one, but it still died. When it runs, it runs just fine, but then it dies again.

Any ideas? Thanks.

 

quite odd...NO codes? sounds like a fuel problem....maybe. did they give you your old sensor back? 3 things needed for car to run: air, fuel, and spark. should hear the fuel pump running when you turn the key to run, just befor start. have the fuel press checked as pumps work for a bit THEN crap out when you want to go some place. thought about a tune up? let us know, good luck.

 

Thanks for the reply, tomthedog. They thought that was odd too and suspected a fuel problem. Before they could get the problem to occur for them, they were going to recommend replacing the fuel pump for $700. I'd hate to spend that and have it not be the problem. But then they had the failure occur and were going to check the fuel pressure while cranking. I guess the fuel pressure was ok. They said they got no rpm indication while cranking and figured it had to be the crank sensor. There was no time to put the old sensor back since they were closing. Not sure what all you mean by a tune-up, but the plugs and wires were replaced a short time ago.

 

MAYBE.... a fuseable link? this is a fuse in the wire, not in the fuse box. at times they can "crack" giving you a on/off prob at random. my bud had an on/off prob with his alt, took a few months to track down. what type motor/transmission you have? not too up on the strat wires. have you noticed if it TOTALY random, when you hit bumps, after driving so long, the more info the better we can help.

shot in the dark but pull the fuses and check for "rust". good luck.

 

Seemed completely random. It first did it just as I was starting down the road. I got it back to the parking lot I'd just left and it did it several more times there. It did it during revving, at idle, in gear, in neutral, in park. It did it hot and cold. A/C on and A/C off.

It 's a 2.4L 4 cyl.

I was just trying to check some wiring and connector contacts. How the heck do you get these connectors off?

 

each conn is diff, i'd have to see yours. they can have up to 3 clips holding them on, best done in daylight.

with the no rpm signal i don't think you got any spark. go to the parts store and pick up a shop book for your car. should have info for testing the crank and camshaft sensors as well as the speed sensor. as i understand any of the 3 can cause the car to stall. good luck.

 

speed sensor is on the tranny, like prev stated not too up on strat wires. with an auto you have all kinds of possibles nowdays. might have it's own computer! that's the reason i thought it would be a good idea if you got a shop manual for your car.

all my exp is general auto stuff plus what issues i've had with my strat (not too many) and my piece of a 96 neon (quite a lot). if you have Q's just post on the forum, lots of people know less than you do about cars and can use the help. write back and good luck.

 

We have a 96 2.4 same thing we thought it was a relay but it turned out to be the wire that goes from the relay box to the battery. I was lose and kept losing connection.

 

i have a '96 strat w/ the 2.0L engine 5 spd MTX and as of Friday i too have been having this same problem..... my shop pbook has the car falling under 7 different sections in the trouble shooting guide... all of which basically point to the fuel system... then one buddy of mine thinks that my computer could be bad or my ignition module could be bad... another buddy of mine thinks that it could be my bad O2 sensor of which i have a code and check engine light... plus i have the code for the vehicle speed sensor...... i had my car towed to a shop and it will be looked at on monday and i will give u all the scoop on what they say... another guy i know thinks it is just vapor locking on me.... another guyt thinks that my catalytic converter could be clogged...

 

As others have said it could be a number of things. You'd have to check all the wires that you can check. As well as starter and engine connections to see if there are signs of trouble.

I wanna say fuel pump as well....My mom had a 1993 Ford Tempo 3.0V6 and it stalled randomly as well....until the fuel pump was replaced.

Im not a master at mechnics...im still going through tech school for mechnics...But from experince... i think the fuel pump as well