1996 Dodge Avenger fuel problem

Tiny
JUANLANAS13
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 DODGE AVENGER
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 136,000 MILES
When driveing my car it takes a long time to shift out of first gear unless I really press on the gas then it takes off second gear is ok but sometimes I still have to press it a litttle more to go. I have replace the fuel pump and fuel filter, the fuel presure is around 49 psi but it jumps alot unless I press on the gas then it smoths out. Also when removeing the pressure gauge fuel shoots out stops then shoots out a little more.
Sunday, January 31st, 2010 AT 8:57 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,076 POSTS
If the fuel pressure is jumping all over the place, chances are you need a new fuel pressure regulator. Here is a "How To" for checking pressure and it explaines how to check the regulator. Check it and pay attention to the regulator procedure:

https://www.2carpros.com/how_to/how_to_check_fuel_pressure.htm

As far as the trans, do you feel it is related to how the engine is running? It almost sounds like a shift solenoid. Will the trans shift if you let off the gas?

Let me know.

Joe
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Monday, February 1st, 2010 AT 3:42 PM
Tiny
JUANLANAS13
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I have replaced the tps, iac, map sensors. I have also removed the tranny resealed because it was leaking from the front pump houseing replaced output sensor, solinod pack, mopar atf+4 and filter and replace fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator. Psi is at a steady 55 psi for about a min then it starts jumpin not to much thow and sounds like a miss. I took it to the shop and had them retrain the tcm and they told me the tranny was ok the problem was with the eng and that it had a miss and I needed to fix that. Also when I come to a stop rpms go low and almost stalles out, low pressure oil light comes on but the oil is ok.
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Monday, February 1st, 2010 AT 8:21 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,076 POSTS
You replaced the most common items to cause the problem, the IAC and TPS. Have you checked for vacuum leaks? Has the check engine light come back on? Also, you mentioned that the fuel pressure jumps around when the miss occurrs. How much variation in pressure is there? Considering this could be caused by a bad injector, I hope the check engine light has come back on to identify where the miss is coming from.

Let me know.

Joe
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Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 AT 7:55 AM
Tiny
JUANLANAS13
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
I have not checked for vaccum leaks yet. Its between 1 pound back and forth when I give it some gas it smothes out but dose not increase
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Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 AT 2:46 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,076 POSTS
The pressure variation you mentioned is acceptable, so I don't have a concern about that. I would recommend checking for vacuum leaks.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 AT 10:26 PM
Tiny
JUANLANAS13
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
No vaccum leaks its weired because sometimes the car run good.
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 AT 8:21 PM
Tiny
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  • MECHANIC
  • 110,076 POSTS
The only things that I question at this point is the variation in fuel pressure. You said it was only a 1 PSI variation, but you also mentioned that is when the car misses. Now I'm questioning the crank sensor and the injectors. Has the check engine ever come on when it misses? If so, has it ever given a random missfire on a specific cylender that we can check? The fuel pressure variation could be from an injector problem too.

Let me know. This is a tough one, but we'll figure it out.
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Friday, February 5th, 2010 AT 6:31 PM
Tiny
JUANLANAS13
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
I have replaced the crankshaft sensor and distrubutor when I first got the car because it didnt run back in july. My aunt gave it to me. Now I know why. How do I check the fuel injectors. It kinda sucks because 3 are under the intake manifold. Also when I disconect the fuel pressure guage alot of fuel sprays out then about 3 sec. Later more comes out.
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Friday, February 5th, 2010 AT 10:28 PM
Tiny
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  • MECHANIC
  • 110,076 POSTS
You need what is called a noid light. Most parts stores will lend or rent on to you. Basically, you disconnect the injector and using the noid light, you check to see if it is getting power when the engine is cranked. You should get a pulsing light not a solid light.
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Saturday, February 6th, 2010 AT 11:49 PM
Tiny
JUANLANAS13
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
All injectors good and had them cleaned, I cant figure it out.
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Thursday, February 11th, 2010 AT 10:45 PM
Tiny
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  • MECHANIC
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If the fuel injectors are good and getting fuel and power, you have good spark, the only thing left is engine compression or timing.
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Saturday, February 13th, 2010 AT 12:39 PM
Tiny
JUANLANAS13
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Heres an update. I got tire of messing with this care so I took the eng apart. On the rear head there was a weird milky residue around the head gasket were it touches the block, also the the cat that is in the rear exhust manifold is melted.
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Monday, March 8th, 2010 AT 11:29 PM

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