1998 Dodge Intrepid 98 Dodge Intrepid stalling and lurching

Tiny
J.STIEG
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 DODGE INTREPID
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
I have a 98 dodge intrepid and it is having some problems while driving. The check engine light came on and I ran the codes and I got two of them, they are P0355 and P1391. It looks like there is trouble with the ignition system. I am pretty familar with intrepids, but would also appreiciate your support. To what degree can OBD codes isolate the problem? I am not shure whitch of the following it could be, cam or crank sensors, PCM, wiring harness, coil packs. With the codes above can you tell me where to go or what to do next. Syptoms are lurching and stalling and very hard starting. Can you help
Sunday, April 12th, 2009 AT 10:43 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
Well the chances of it being a wiring harness problem are "poor to none". You could erase the codes and see which one comes back first, cam or crank sensor. If I had to guess, I'd pick the crank sensor.
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Sunday, April 12th, 2009 AT 11:54 PM
Tiny
J.STIEG
  • MEMBER
  • 361 POSTS
The codes I got P0355(M), it says coil number 5 or E primary circuit is drawing too much current. I also get code P1391(M) it says intermittant loss of cam or crank or crank sensor. Can you tell me if I have one or two problems. Could it be that the cam or crank sensor is malfunctioning causing confusion with other codes. Any way tell me if you think code P1391(M) (intermittant loss of cam or crank or crank sensor) will confirm that the problem is with either the cam or crank sensor itself, or possibly with mechanical slots. In your last reply you said to erase the codes and see which ones come back, well code P1391(M) is both the cam and the crank. Let me know what you find, thanks Symptoms are vehicle lurching intermittantly while driving, and stalling, hard starting.
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Monday, April 13th, 2009 AT 10:58 AM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
Chrysler has never been very specific about their codes. If I had a choice between cam and crank sensor, I'd pick the "crank" sensor as being bad. Cam sensor will usualy cause rough idle and driveability. Crank sensor will shut down the spark, injector puilse, and many times the fuel pump itself.
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Monday, April 13th, 2009 AT 11:53 AM
Tiny
J.STIEG
  • MEMBER
  • 361 POSTS
I got a third code P0340 it says no Cam signal at PCM. It runs and drives but it is jerking and lurching like its the transmission. There is hard starting when engine hot, but runs fine the next day for a while then starts lurching again. I put a new cam shaft sensor and still get code P0340.
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 AT 8:39 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
Did you erase the codes and then it came back? Also, look carefully at the wiring around and up to the cam sensor. We may have to do a wire for wire test from the cam sensor back to the ECU. I hate to, 'cause it's a pain in the butt. Let me know on the code erasure.
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 AT 10:11 PM
Tiny
J.STIEG
  • MEMBER
  • 361 POSTS
I erased the codes multiple times with the OBD2 scaner I have and it kept coming back, at the same time runing rough, I replaced the cam sensor and it ran great for 70 miles, then the cam sensor code came back on. I checked the cam sensor signal wire from cam plug connector to PCM/ECU for ohms of resistance and it looked good getting proper cotinuety. I then after 70 miles began trouble shooting again. To be shure that it was a problem I reset the code three times in a ten minute period and got the same cam sensor code. I was surprised that the cam sensor went bad so quick, so I pulled the cam sensor out of the head and saw a lot of metalic sludge and oil on the cam sensor magnetic portion. The sloted wheel on the end of the cam shaft may not be releasing the micro magnetic pull, so I wiped off the sludge and installed it again with the vehicle still warm prior to it running rough. I took it for a test drive and ran it hard for 30min and it ran fine without missing at all. My oil level was to high from adding to much oil, there is no coolant in oil. After installing the cam sensor the last time, I did a oil change with the recamended full synthetic oil. I will let you know how I am doing after a few days. Jared
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Friday, April 17th, 2009 AT 1:58 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
I have seen in the past where, on chrysler products, people have had to "shim" an aftermarket cam sensor to keep it from rubbing. I'm assuming you didn't see any wear marks on the sensor. Let me know how it goes.
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Friday, April 17th, 2009 AT 5:52 PM
Tiny
J.STIEG
  • MEMBER
  • 361 POSTS
So far every thing is fine. There is no rubbing on the sensor. I have a 2.7l and the cam sensor installation does not require a paper shim like the 3.2l.
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Friday, April 17th, 2009 AT 10:30 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
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As I was reading you response, I was wondering where the shavings came from that were stuck to the sensor.
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Saturday, April 18th, 2009 AT 3:18 AM

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