Confused

Tiny
MARISSA CURL
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 DODGE STRATUS
  • 3.0L
  • V6
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 224,000 MILES
I recently inherited from my dad that he was in the process of fixing. I have a list of everything he replaced. The car was running great for a few weeks now with the issue of the check engine light being on. The code is for the O2 sensor bank 1 which he replaced. All of them actually. It is also throwing a code for an evaporator system leak. The car has a brand new exhaust on it as well. I tried resetting it and clearing out the codes a few times now. Today when I got in the car and started it the speedometer went the whole way up to 70 even though the car was in park. It would not go into reverse. The ABS and Brake lights were on as well. Like I said he replaced all of the O2 sensors, but I cannot get the light to stay off and he also replaced the Transmission sensors. Among other maintenance that should get done. I have no clue what the problem is. My dad was a mechanic 50+ years since this is the last car he worked on I really want to fix this problem so I can keep the car. Please help.
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Thursday, April 28th, 2016 AT 4:05 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,544 POSTS
Hi MARISSA,

With all of these problems is sounds more like the main computer is going bad, how does the engine run? The O2 codes are going to be from the engine misfiring or a vacuum leak. here are some links that can help.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-misfires-or-runs-rough

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-an-engine-vacuum-gauge

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/evap-system-code-repair

Also check the battery cables and ground cable to the engine block they could be loose.

I would check the transmission fluid level for the problem of not going into reverse.

Please let us know what you find.
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Thursday, April 28th, 2016 AT 4:51 PM
Tiny
MARISSA CURL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
The engine runs great there is no knocking or leaking. No thunking. It has no issues shifting unless that whole gauge and lights on the dash come on. The transmission fluid is fine. The whole thing is weird. I will check out the links but if you or anyone has any other ideas I'm all ears. Thank you.
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Thursday, April 28th, 2016 AT 5:15 PM
Tiny
MARISSA CURL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I should of added earlier that I know it did this to my dad a couple times before. Then he would try to figure out what it was but when he would leave it sit for a bit and the try to start it again to see it do it again it would be fine. There was always months of time in between these issues. It's random.
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Thursday, April 28th, 2016 AT 5:20 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,544 POSTS
I am leaning toward the main computer being bad because it effects these things, and when you let it cool down the computer would start working again. This kind of problem is difficult to diagnose but if you get a used one the cost is not to bad.
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Thursday, April 28th, 2016 AT 7:06 PM
Tiny
MARISSA CURL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thank you.
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Thursday, April 28th, 2016 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,606 POSTS
Check battery for condition including load test as it may be false codes due to a low battery. Sometimes if it's a bad O2 sensor it will still let a code show up so try a delco one to the offending O2 sensor. It still could be a bad computer as well though then check wiring from O2 to ecm to rule out that. Then erase codes with a scanner and see if comes up again
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Friday, April 29th, 2016 AT 7:04 AM
Tiny
MARISSA CURL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Now the car won't even shift out of first. But I know that it isn't the transmission.
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Sunday, May 1st, 2016 AT 2:10 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,606 POSTS
By not shifting out of first do you mean you can put it in gear and it won't come out or it starts out but doesn't shift. If it's the latter rescan it an dcheck for a sticky governor if you can reach it. It may be inside the trans as I don't have a diagram up at the moment.
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Sunday, May 1st, 2016 AT 4:00 PM

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