Engine a little hard to start and runs rough at idle

LPORZIO

MEMBER
2001 DODGE STRATUS
4 CYL
AUTOMATIC
107,000 MILES

I just bought this car there's no check engine light on but I check the engine with a tester anyways and no codes. But car is little bit hard to start every time I go to drive it and it vibrate's at idle when in gear. But overall drives good. The person I bought it from said she just had a new fuel rail put on and spark plugs were changed a few months ago. What could be causing the vibration and the hard starting? She told me that when it's hot outside that its hard to start But It is hard to start every time. Thank you

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2020 AT 9:17 PM

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

That is a little curious that they put a fuel rail on it. That is not a normal maintenance item. The only major time you replace that is when it is clogged/restricted.

Let's start with checking the fuel pressure. Here is a guide that tells how to do that:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

If you don't have a gauge, you can rent one from a parts store that has a rental program. Once we know the fuel pressure, we can better determine next steps but I suspect this is a fuel issue.

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Thursday, June 4th, 2020 AT 12:55 PM