All, Here's a puzzler to get your mind off the Chrysler/Fiat deal ...
I've got a 2000 Chrysler Cirrus with the 2.5L Mitsubishi engine. Car is at 98K mi; I've had it since 45K, and it ran like a top, until recently.
After warm up, and while idling in P or N (when the transmission is not engaged), it idles at specification, but has what appears to be intermittent misfiring. The misfiring is not rhythmic; it is random. The misfiring is spread apart such that I might have 3 - 5 sec. where the idle is smooth, then it stumbles and regains. This is repeated, and random. Now for the interesting part ...
If I shift into R or D ... after the transmission engages and "pulls tight" ... it idles smooth as silk! As the transmission is engaging, the load just briefly pulls the idle down (as witnessed on the tach), but the engine compensates, and the idle speed is restored ... then it idles smooth. I can shift back and forth from D to N and replicate this behavior all day.
The car is due for plus and wires, but I would have expected the condition to worsen at idle under a load. Any thoughts?
TIA, Chris