I've got a '97 Concorde (3.5) with a strange problem. It's related not to the car's engine temp but actually to the ambient temp. The thing is that she runs best from about 45-75 degrees outside. A nice cool night in the fifty degree range that car is wickedly powerful. Effortless torque, especially if the car is warmed up, shut off, and restarted... like if I stopped in a store for a minute or two and got back in the car. The farther outside the range the less "pickup" the car has, and if it gets bitterly cold outside <5 degrees, there's a 50/50 chance the car will flood and die if I try to start it (stinks of gas, sputters, smokes, the whole 9 yards). A nice rest in the sun will get her going again in a few hours.
I've hooked her up to the computer, there are no codes and the "no start" problem leaves no trace once it leaves. I can't reproduce it on cue, either. Two dealerships and a corner garage are stumped. I've gotten half a dozen possibilities (haven't changed any, I'm not up to spending $$$ on the "shotgun" approach) and re-flashed the computers. The only other thing that is even slightly unusual that may be related is an occasional "surge" or flutter at moderate acceleration, and sometimes when I start it up she sputters and slowly gets up to the right idle instead of starting strong. There's no miss, fuel economy is in the 19-20mpg range (prob. my foot 'o lead and local driving for work), and she passes NY emissions without a hitch.
Anybody up for solving a mystery? I'd appreciate the help.
I've hooked her up to the computer, there are no codes and the "no start" problem leaves no trace once it leaves. I can't reproduce it on cue, either. Two dealerships and a corner garage are stumped. I've gotten half a dozen possibilities (haven't changed any, I'm not up to spending $$$ on the "shotgun" approach) and re-flashed the computers. The only other thing that is even slightly unusual that may be related is an occasional "surge" or flutter at moderate acceleration, and sometimes when I start it up she sputters and slowly gets up to the right idle instead of starting strong. There's no miss, fuel economy is in the 19-20mpg range (prob. my foot 'o lead and local driving for work), and she passes NY emissions without a hitch.
Anybody up for solving a mystery? I'd appreciate the help.