1999 stratus 2.4 liter hesitating problem

[Ackms421]

My '99 stratus recently began burning fuel at a fast rate and hesitating when I put pressure on the gas and when I go up a steep rise. It has 104,000 plus miles on it and I have never changed the spark plugs so I assumed that was it and changed them. Changing the plugs fixed the problem for a day or so but now I am having the same problem again. I am not too familiar with mechanics so I have no concept really of what the problem could be. If it was the plug wires the problem wouldn't have gone away to begin with right? My air filter is fine. After searching the net I am seeing that it could be the fuel filter but I'm not sure. Also, I just had my head gasket replaced and my head resurfaced. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with my current problem but the car ran fine when I initially got it back from the shop and it's been a couple weeks since I've had it home. Any help would be much-appreciated. Thanks

--stevo

[corzolek]

Replace the wires. When you changed the plugs you "pushed" the carbon back together temporarily in the wire that is broke. I had a similar problem this fall with my Breeze, changed the plugs seemed okay for a day or two and the miss / chug was back. Changed the wires and it runs good again. Probably when they put the head back on, it weakened the wire. AutoZone has a set for like 20 and Parts America has a set for 30.

[JamesJ2525]

Also, have you changed the O2 sensors in it? That can cause a triggered rich condition as well if they cannot take accurate readings.

[corzolek]

Actually the computer has override settings for the O2 sensors if they register a short the computer will go into a default override mode per the haynes manual. I ran Sunoco fuel in my car for about a year and killed my o2 sensors, after using their fuel for a year I noticed on a pump a sticker that said etenol and that is what I attribute to killing the sensors. But the car ran fine for a year and half before I replaced them.

[Brian64]

Hey Stevo,
I'm having the same problem with my '98 2.4L, 67,000 miles. I suspected fuel right away because adding some injector cleaner helps for a day or so. I changed the fuel filter (what a hassle that was - I got a late start and finished at midnight and had to work the next morning). That helped for a day or so too. Now a week later it's back as bad as ever.

I'm suspecting the fuel injectors now and need to know how to test them. On the Chevy Cavalier I used to have, you tested them with an ohmmeter but not sure on the Dodge. I'll post a question about testing the injectors.

Brian

[Brian64]

I tested the fuel injectors today and they were all around 13.8 ohms (supposed to be 10-16) sp they're o.k.

Then I changed the plugs - installed new Autolites and the problem went away instantly. I hope it stays that way.

Brian

[corzolek]

Watch the Autolite plugs. I put a set in my Breeze last sprint and the car started acting up on me in the fall. I pulled the plugs to check them and two plugs had the tops unscrewed. If it starts acting up on you again check for that first.

[Brian64]

When I sold auto parts back in the early 80's customers always complained about Champions and it looks like their still bad amlost 25 years later. I'll keep an eye on the Autolites.

Brian

[DangyLimited]

ive only used shell in my stratus, and have never had a problem, ive had my 99 strat since 2000

[tsherrill]

hi. I've got a '96 2.5l v6 stratus that intermittently hesitates on accel. I've run 5 tanks of gas with injector cleaner, and r/r the fuel filter. the plugs were changed about 40k miles ago with platinums, along with cap&rotor. i didn't change the wires. my q is: why would bad wires cause the car only to stumble on accel, and not thru the entire driving range?
My stratus doesn't miss/falter at all once it is up to speed. BTW, the car has 103k miles on it now.

Tia

Tom S

[pirahnah3]

the platniums, they dont really like them that much, our cars were made to run on cheap parts lol

[tsherrill]

Yeah, I know the platinums are expensive, but I'm a fan of 'em because they last forever. I usually change them out after 100k, even though they look perfect, just because I went throught the trouble of removing them.

T