Engine keeps hesitating

Tiny
JACKSONL4
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 DODGE STRATUS
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 299,000 MILES
My car started hesitating jerking while driving on interstate. I replaced the fuel pump, I replaced the water pump, I replaced the thermostat and now I am told that it is cutting off because of broken motor mounts. I can drive close to home with no problem, but if I drive to long it will loose power and I have to step off the gas and let it catch back. It will not go pass sixty mph and no mechanic can diagnose the problem.
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Sunday, October 22nd, 2017 AT 5:20 PM

63 Replies

Tiny
HARRY P
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,293 POSTS
Just spit-balling here but have you tried replacing the fuel filter? A clogged fuel filter could cause hesitation and sluggishness like that. This guide should help fix it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-hesitates

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Sunday, October 22nd, 2017 AT 7:11 PM
Tiny
JACKSONL4
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I had the fuel pump replaced about six months ago and my filter is built inside. My problem just started about a month ago and I was told it was the water pump. Also, could broken motor mounts cause this?
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Monday, October 23rd, 2017 AT 5:35 AM
Tiny
HARRY P
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Broken motor mounts will cause a jerk when you shift the transmission from one gear to the next (like reverse to drive, etc) and sometimes when you accelerate. I do not think you would feel anything from them at highway speeds though.

As for the water pump, with it being an external pump, I seriously doubt it would cause any running issues.

Honestly, it could be a bad fuel pump. If the pump is an aftermarket one, there are some quality problems with them. You would have to get a fuel pressure tester (can be borrowed from AutoZone) and run a pressure check on it.

It might also just be that you need new plugs and wires/coil. That would be what I would check. Here is our guide on checking/changing plugs: https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-spark-plugs

I will keep thinking and see if anything else comes to mind.
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Monday, October 23rd, 2017 AT 2:41 PM
Tiny
PFK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 DODGE STRATUS
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 145,090 MILES
My 2004 dodge stratus 2.4 LT. When in drive and apply brakes at stop light will hesitate or stumble like it wants to stale. Also hesitates on acceleration. I had a code finder on it and it came up with vacuum leak at engine or evap canister crackeg or hose not connected or purge or vent solenoid defective and I have replaced the fuel cap 5 times I have checked for leak and cracked canister but cant find anything please help.
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BADCAR21
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
  • 6 CYL
After checking I see some wires cut
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
And your question?
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BADCAR21
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Where do these go and do they affect the car in the way that I described?Dodge Stratus Car hesitates
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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Evaporative emission Purge solenoid has been removed does check engine light come on? Have you had it checked for codes?Just but car?
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BELINDA MEEKS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 97,000 MILES
Hey, My 02 STratus RT 3.0 problem started about a month ago, if car was stopped, in gear, foot on the break, it would kind of jump every few seconds. Missing (for lack of a better word). Now it has progressed to the point of missing while driving down the road, it stumbles on accelaration, and the problem doesn't stop completely. It gets some better but as soon as I stop and take off again, the same problem. I have not done any major repairs to it in the past couple years. (Female with no engine repair experience.) I appreciate any info you have to offer. Oh yeah, I did get it tuned-up last year and oil and filter changed every 3 months. Thanks Belinda
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ROB2008
  • MECHANIC
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When it starts missing does the check engine light come on or is it on now?

If it is miss firing there is a couple of things it could be.

1.0xygen sensor
2. Coil
3. Spark plugs and wires.
4. Clogged are filter / fuel filter
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BADCAR21
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Yes have had it checked and it shows a code for random misfire
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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P0300 only code? That is MOST difficult code to diagnose. With that Evap solenoid removed may effect EGR operation and cause code. Need to have diagnostic scan done to help find fault
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BADCAR21
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Would this have anything to do the hesitation?
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MAXIMUS419
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
  • 2001 DODGE STRATUS
  • 83,000 MILES
I have a 2001 dodge stratus that hesitates when the car is cold. The car starts up first thing in the morning with no problem but starts to hesitate at the next stop sign. Sometimes it stalls but sometimes it takes off. If the car is completely shitched off after driving only for s short distance (engine still cold), the car has some problem starting up. But it does start up and then with some hesitation takes off. After the engine is warmed up I have not seen the problem. This happens every day when the car is not warm yet. Also, the car refused to start one day and it had a bad SKIM module and that was recently replaced and the problem still continues. Also, no CEL is thrown and hence no codes to read. Please HELP! Running out of options.
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TWO LANE
  • MECHANIC
  • 34 POSTS
One of the first things I would try is to clean the tbody and the iac motor they could bee gummed up. There are other things to check check your batt a weak batt can cause allot of problems.

Thank you
Two Lane
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MAXIMUS419
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  • 8 POSTS
Thanks for your response. I will try your suggestions. The car is at the repair shop. But I did have battery problems from the car lying without use for several months. Also, the car has 80K miles on it. So time to replace the battery.
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MAXIMUS419
  • MEMBER
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Two Lane,

I took it back to the dealer and after several days of analysis, he is telling me that the real cause is that the engine coolant is leaking and hence the engine is over heating and shutting off. This explanation just doesn’t make sense in my non-expert mind.

The dealer wants to fix the leak and charge me $600 for this and is willing to guarantee me that if this does not fix the problem, he will fix the problem free of cost after that.

Does anyone think the dealer is talking sense?

Also, the heating in my car has not been working properly for a while. For atleast over a year or two. The blower runs but hot air takes a very long time to circulate. The dealer seems to think the coolant leak problem is related to this as the coolant circulates and acts as a heating element and since the leak, hot air does not blow? I have been taking my car of regular oil changes and so on and no one ever pointed out the coolant leak before

Someone please help... Really running out of ideas?
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TWO LANE
  • MECHANIC
  • 34 POSTS
Did they say where the coolant was leaking from and what they wanted to do.
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MAXIMUS419
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Did not mention exactly where it was leaking from but I assume before it gets to the heating coils? He was going to show it to me tomorrow. Is there a specific point that will confirm if the reasoning by the dealer is correct.
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TRICKY12
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 DODGE STRATUS
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 99,678 MILES
2001 Dodge stratus 2.4 L DOHC. I've put new spark plugs, wires and power pack and I still have a hesitation went I come off idle, high speeds is smooth, it idles and if I get on it it performs, could it be a EGR valve and I have no check engine light on? Waiting to hear from you Rick
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM (Merged)

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