Multiple Codes - Fixed with a Rag

[Armando G]

So last week I got in my DJ, drove off, and within a block it stalled and idled really roughly. The CEL came on as well as the traction control light so I immediately made a u-turn (as it died 3 times while doing it) and headed back home at a high speed of 20 MPH since it would not go any faster. After the typical reaction of SOB!!!!, I grabbed my reader and hooked it up to the car. Reader showed the following codes - P0345, P0390, P0339, P0365, P0365p/d - and all I could see was money signs flying away from me. Like your typical DIY'er I got on the computer and started looking it all up and it pointed to the Camshaft Position Sensor 1 & 2. Look up the part and it is a very affordable part...NICE!!! Unfortunately, to actually replace that cheap little sensor (X2) you have to dismantle the car and remove the intake manifold...DAMN. Well, I figured I am at 91K miles so might as well do the spark plugs, coils, and anything else that is called for in the 100K mile service AND I wanted the dealer to do it since I have not had any issues in the 7+ years I have owned the car. So I make a call to the local Dodge dealer and almost had a heart attack (Esther, I'm coming!!! for you older guys). The quote to get it all done was $2092 that also included a visual inspection of the brakes, hoses, belts, and fluids. Told them to remove that stuff I can do that myself - price dropped to $1982. They also mentioned that it would take some time to get the parts, about a week. 

 

Fast forward to the next day after I calmed down - I got on the internet to see how much parts would be if I did it all myself using instructions from this forum and YouTube, considering I have rebuilt cars in the past. I have no warranty issues to worry about and feel very comfortable doing this type of work. Here is the 'Holy Sh!&' moment. As I was searching the parts, there was an article on another Doge car that stated, "Make sure the connections are clean and tight on the sensor before doing anything else. You are able to reach the connectors without removing anything else". Hmmmm...I have nothing to lose so lets take a look. Headed to the car, started it up just in case it magically fixed itself and still got all of the codes. The car was idling rough and would not make it down the street without dying. So popped the hood, found the sensors, and cleaned them up really good. There was a bunch of dirt and some other crap on the connectors, so I made sure everything was off of them. Plugged them back in, got my code reader ready, and started her up. No CEL and no traction control light. I put her in Drive and she ran as smoth as the first day (or at least two days ago). Drove it a couple of miles jsut waiting for things to go bad, and NOTHING. Came back home, hooked up my reader and no coeds at all. It's now been 5 days of driving the DJ as I would normally and there has not been a single issue.

 

I am writing this because I always tell people to start with the basics before assuming. Sensors can be affected by a dying battery or a bad connection, which one of my mechanic friends reminded me of a couple of days later. I jumped to a very expensive conclusion and almost dropped the car off, if it wasn't for a delay in getting the parts in to the dealer. I am so thankful it worked out this way and I am still really glad I bought my DJ. Now I am starting to buy all of the parts for the 100k service and planning on doing it myslef this summer. 

 

[Dodgems]

This internet thing always brings us to the worst case solution. Cars, health, relationships. Doesn't matter. It is doomed.....Whatever the problem. It's terminal. Throw it away and start over!

 

Then after that terrified phase passes we realize it's usually the simple things. But Doom drives us to post about the impending doom. Then we assume the only logical outcome is the worst possible outcome.

 

Usually when the guy finds some cleaner and 10 minutes fixes it he disappears into the bowels of the interwebs. Never to be seen again in the doom post leaving others to assume it was even worse then first thought.

 

I am happy it worked out. And even happier you took the time to let others know that the dynamite was not really the best option... This time.