Rough Idle 2000 Dodge Stratus 2.5

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?

 

did they pull fault codes? did you check for them i would do that first
then check for a vac leak

 

| 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?

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.