I have a 2000 Dodge Stratus ES 2.5 with just 28,000 miles. The car runs fine, except at idle. When the car is in gear with the brake on (stopped at a traffic light)it runs a little rough. When in neutral or park it runs very rough. The local Dodge dealer sold me on $400 worth of fuel injector cleaning, throttle body cleaning, induction cleaning, etc. This solved the problem for two weeks, after which the rough idle returned. If I use $10 per bottle fuel system cleaner, the car runs well, as long as the cleaner is in the gas. When I fill up with new gas, we are back to rough idle. Any ideas?
Rough Idle 2000 Dodge Stratus 2.5
Nov 16, 2003
3 Replies
The dealer generally warranty their work for 90 days. Take it back and tell them they didn't fix the problem and since they miss-diagnosed the cause at great expense to you, do a "at cost" deal for what ever needs to be done to really fix it.
Yes.
I had this same problem with the same car and it was a very small vacuum leak, I think in the power brake system and/or master cylinder, I don't remember.
The rough idle comes from running lean, caused by the vacuum leak.
When you put it in gear, there is enough load placed on the engine that the mixture gets a little richer, and this was just enough to smooth the idle. I can't remember if the dealer tech found a service bulletin or just diagnosed it himself.
I probably posted it here when someone else had the same problem, if you want to search the old listings.
Good luck.
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