My 01 Stratus V6 2.7 L was wrecked a while back(put through a ditch)and I've had it to the shop several times. They even ran a diagnostic test twice. The only thing they can find wrong with it is a rear ball joint on my upper A frame which is making horrible rattling. But the last few days it seems to shudder When I'm driving on the highway. Almost like it wants to die or doesn't want to shift. This usaully happens when I'm accelerating. This morning after driving it 45 miles to work it acted like it wanted to die at a traffic light. I stepped on the accelerator because it's the only thing I think of to do. I only had one more mile to make it work. When I got to work I let it sit in park and it didn't do anything. When I put it back in drive and just sat there it started to do it again. This makes my car shake and it seems like it's going to lose power. Any ideas would be much appreciated. Also, how long can I drive on a ball joint that's bad? It rattles everytime I hit a bump, even small ones. I can't afford to fix it right away, but I'm afraid of the tire falling off or something. Need any special tools for replacing it?

 

sounds like your egr valve may be hangin open. not sure because i normally dont see many failed egr valves on this particular model. but the sounds of it, thats how a bad egr will act at idle. it makes the intake air temp too hot and makes a lean condition and the pcm tries to fix it by adding fuel which makes it die or get really close to it, does it have a rough idle when this happens? may be a far reach but there is a tsb for something similar,, tsb
18-028-01..

SYMPTOM/CONDITION:

• Rough idle following a cold start. More prevalent in ambient temperatures of 10 C. to

21 C. (50 F. to 70 F.).

• Engine speed flares or rough idle while slowing to a stop. May be attributed to an

accessory load (power steering, A/C, or generator).

but this tsb may be a far reach but hope this help any