99 Dodge Strauts won't start when it rains!

ADSIMKO

MEMBER
1999 DODGE STRATUS

I have a 99 Dodge Stratus ES 4 door, V6 2.5 Liter Automatic, with 120K miles-(fuel injected) that will not start when it rains. Unless they make really big umbrellas I need help. :-)
I took it in (on a sunny day, of course) and the dealer could not find a problem. I asked them to spray the car with water, but they thought I was crazy. It's hard to take in when it's raining because it won't start. HEEEELLLLPPPPPP!

5 Replies

MCFERRANCE

MEMBER
100 POSTS

Bad spark plug wires and worn out spark plugs will do this. When was the last time they were changed?

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Tuesday, April 17th, 2007 AT 9:28 PM

BENDARE2

MEMBER
13 POSTS

Next time it won't start. Put a hair dryer on the distributor, on high for a few seconds. It may start.
I had the same problem. Sprayed it with moisture blocker/ helped some.
But. Replaced the distributor. Fixed.
I guess the old one collected condensation?

Just something to try.
I could just turn the hairdryer on high. By the time I got in the car and hit the starter, off she went. Fast even. Go figure, eh?

Good luck. Ol'Ben

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Wednesday, April 18th, 2007 AT 1:11 PM

DAICAR89

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1 POST

I might know the answer to this one. My son-in-law just bought a 1998 dodge stratus and when it rained it wouldn't start. I opened the hood and noticed water on the spark plug wires. I saw that water was coming in at the hole where the windshield wiper mist or squirt module is. We have since replaced the faulty plastic squirter(?) And now it starts when it rains.

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Friday, June 22nd, 2007 AT 8:23 AM

BENDARE2

MEMBER
13 POSTS

================================
I had the same problem with a caravan/ 3.3.

Next time it doesn't start. Place a hair dryer(yep!) On the distributor, if you find one.
Give it about 2 minutes and see. That would fix my problem temporarily.

Looked but couldn't find a crack in the cap/ replacing that may help also.

If that works.
I sprayed my distributor with a waterproofing/ sealler product.I did it 2 0r 3 times to improve my odds.

I never had another rainy day problem again.

Just worth a try, eh?

Good luck. Ol'Ben

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Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 AT 10:31 AM

BLACKOP555

MECHANIC
10,371 POSTS

Let me throw my hat in the ring here, at night, block the vehicles wheels, put on the parking brake, and the brakes and let the vehicle warm up, when it is warm pop the hood, ahve a buddy stand in the front put it in drive and get the rpm's up to about 2,500 slowly raise it and look for a light show going on under your hood, a little bit by the plugs are alright, but not a light show going on. Try raising rpm's slowly or try it fast.

Also you can try misting parts of the engien on a dry day and if the vehicle stalls out you have found the problem.