Cirrus on Friday the 13th jinks

[flagmanruss 84]

I was tight for an appointment. I always start whatever vehicle & let it idle while I set up GPS & fasten seatbelts... The Cirus just shut off. Refused to restart although it turned over fine. I grabbed my stuff, GPS, fired the CTD up & away I go. I was ON IT to make up time, so I'm sure I screwed up mpg. I hit WOT a few times & the low restriction exhaust definately is louder. I made it on time. I "old lady" drove the CTD on the way back to earn back some mpgs... I tried restarting the Cirus. It seemed like it wanted to start but really wasn't firing at all. About the third try, I got one cylinder to kick in & ran the rest of them into operating. I don't get it...Russ

Edited November 16, 2009 by flagmanruss

[Mopar1973Man 6,132 5 Vehicles]

Sound like its time to grab the ol' code reader and see what happen to the ol' Cirrus...

[flagmanruss 84]

Will the on/off kep work on 97. I don't have a code reader.

[Mopar1973Man 6,132 5 Vehicles]

Will the on/off kep work on 97. I don't have a code reader.

It might but you going to get flash codes... The flash codes system will flash the check engine light. Basically count the fllash then pause count the flashes again... Then long pause. This would be 1 number... Always a double digit... The problem with this system is that its very general in diagnostics... I'll fing the codes and get a copy of them posted for you...

[flagmanruss 84]

What kind? Besides the 01 Dodge, 97 Cirus, Subaru Outback in the stable.Russ

Edited November 15, 2009 by flagmanruss

[Mopar1973Man 6,132 5 Vehicles]

Well any code reader will do but the more money you put out the more abilities it will have. Like live data and few other things...

[flagmanruss 84]

Waiting to see how you make out with ScanGuageII.Russ

[Mopar1973Man 6,132 5 Vehicles]

Waiting to see how you make out with ScanGuageII. Russ

I'll give them a call on Monday and find out...

[flagmanruss 84]

I'm going to start the Cirrus up... assuming it will... & let it run a bit. Start & stop it a few times... see if it recurrs before taking it out of the driveway.It has a full fuel tank as I filled it on my way home. I don't see how it could be water with all the alcohol they add these days. My fear is that it might be the intank fuel pump.Russ

[Mopar1973Man 6,132 5 Vehicles]

Very good chance it is a fuel issue... How about fuel filter? Remember you need Fuel, Air, and Ignition to make a engine run... So if you can check and see if the plugs are firing good and solid then it would have to fuel issue. I doubt highly there is a air or compression problem.

[flagmanruss 84]

Cirus would not start. I do suspect some type of a fuel issue. Still turns over fine. At some point I'm going to have it towed. I can't risk getting stranded. I got my CTD or wife's Subaru as she's out of town. (I have a very hard time getting into Subaru with my legs.)

[Mopar1973Man 6,132 5 Vehicles]

Well keep me posted I love to hear the end of this tale...

[flagmanruss 84]

I agree most likely a fuel issue. I'm going to decide where I want it to go before I call AAA. I just filled the fuel tank & drove home, maybe bad fuel or filter needs changing. In the last month I replaced a rusted out transmission line, so maybe a fuel line failed too. Possibly a failed lift pump. "Alright gentlemen, place your bets!" I can just see the mag wheel sitting in the middle of a roulet table.Russ

[Mopar1973Man 6,132 5 Vehicles]

If it was a bad fuel line you would be smelling gasoline everywhere... (But you never said anything about smell) Bad fuel is possible... (Did you try to put diesel in it? :eek:) Bad fuel filter... Typically a bad fuel filter has some signs of failure happening like with heavy load or WOT operation it will fall on its face and get worse with time. Bad pump... Well that just like the Cummins... Iusually just drops dead and that's that... So if I'm a betting man I would have to say pump... Second choice would be filter...

[flagmanruss 84]

Well, pump is exactly what I'm afraid of. I got it running this morning.... eventually it caught. Dumb thing is it seems to run ok, once it catches... but then it's not under any load. I'm not about to drive it anywhere with out a chase vehicle. I'm not a believer in co-incidences... when I moved it into a less bothersome parking, the brakes just kind of mooshed to the floor before stopping it. It was not like that when I drove it into the yard. The brake fluid is indeed down quite a bit... more than half!? WTF??Russ

Edited November 17, 2009 by flagmanruss

[Mopar1973Man 6,132 5 Vehicles]

Ummmm... Did you get a vacuum leak in the vacuum booster and loose your master cylinder too??? I've heard of tales of the vacuum booster failing and pull a vacuum on the master cylinder causing it to leak brake fluid into the manifold... Now if there is any truth in this I don't know... :confused:

[flagmanruss 84]

Happened on Friday the 13th, What do yas think?

Edited November 17, 2009 by flagmanruss

[flagmanruss 84]

I had AAA tow the Cirus... it'll be in the shop til it's fixed. Russ

[flagmanruss 84]

The garage says the No Start & brake issues are not related, just coincidence. They say the rear brake lines have failed. The computer had no codes. They think the wet weather may have caused the no start issue. Replacing cap, rotor, plugs & wires is a PITA. I'm having the shop do it all & let Ma Mastercard worry about it later. I hope they are right, so I don't incurr additional expense... but I do not believe in coincidences. Russ

[Mopar1973Man 6,132 5 Vehicles]

Ughhh... I know that it can get spendy some times...:ahh::eek:

[flagmanruss 84]

This is going to set me back a grand anyhow... OUCH!! I asked for the mechanic to check the fuel pressure while the car was in the shop. That is an alturnative for No Start issues & if I'm going to have confidence in it, I need to know the lift pump is not playing games with me. Supposed to be working on it today... almost 6 so I guess it's not done. Russ

[flagmanruss 84]

8 AM call from the mechanic. Yesterday, he tried to start the car with no brakes... he couldn't get it to start. I know intermittant things are a SOB to find, so was not surprised when the mechanic said he needed to see it in failure mode. The Gods of Friday the 13th heard him & obliged! LOL.Crank & cam sensors check out. Distributor has failed. All coroded inside. So, the "Mystery of No Start" is solved. The body is good. Interior is good. only 91,000 original miles. I know lots of folks would total this car. The issues are accumulated maintance. I'm going to fix it. Estimate $1500 total. The next big item is timing belt, water pump, probably in a year... 100,000. This is an interferance engine.Russ

Edited November 20, 2009 by flagmanruss

[Mopar1973Man 6,132 5 Vehicles]

Ouch Russ... Sounds like the moisture and road salt really gets to everything. :eek: I know for you it might be tough for you to move around but it might be a idea it grab another family member (younger gen) and have them wash your rigs (body, under the hood, and under body). This would help in this problem. Of course you would have to teach them a little bit but it would help you in the long run. During the washing and such they could be looking for unusual leaks, wet spots, rusted or damaged parts, etc. Then if you arm them with a digital camera you can have them shot pics of the damage or leaks and you can see them without having to crawl under too... Just trying to think outside the box and give you the upper hand...

[cummins2k 1]

8 AM call from the mechanic. Yesterday, he tried to start the car with no brakes... he couldn't get it to start. I know intermittant things are a SOB to find, so was not surprised when the mechanic said he needed to see it in failure mode. The Gods of Friday the 13th heard him & obliged! LOL. Crank & cam sensors check out. Distributor has failed. All coroded inside. So, the "Mystery of No Start" is solved. The body is good. Interior is good. only 91,000 original miles. I know lots of folks would total this car. The issues are accumulated maintance. I'm going to fix it. Estimate $1500 total. The next big item is timing belt, water pump, probably in a year... 100,000. This is an interferance engine. Russ

My mother owns a Stratus and the water pump and timing belt were a major pain on that car, we had it all apart when the head gasket decided to go. Its not that there is anything complicated about the procedure but mother mopar really jammed the engine in there. Here car has 130k now, she bought it brand new in 96. She still likes the car and really doesn't want a car payment again so I guess we will continue to fix it every time it gives till we have built a new car lol.

[flagmanruss 84]

This shop is very through & slightly aggressive about finding minor things to fix... which can get costly. I did not allow them to do the serpintine belt which has some cracking (I've never seen one that did not) or the timing belt. When that is done, the water pump will be replaced too. The "front" (right side) did not need to come off to do the work needed to get it back on the road. They stripped the top of the engine to get to the plugs, wires, distributor. The transmission oil looked contaminated after the previous transmission line failure so that was flushed & refilled. The rear brake lines were replaced. I'm not real happy with the feel of the brake pedal but am going to drive it & see if the auto adjusters take up some slack. As is it cost me $1700 on Ma Mastercard. I'm thinking of putting one old Chrysler under the tree.