My car is 1,000 miles past it's oil change?

Question

It is a 2000 Dodge Avenger, and 1-5 times a day it will just turn off in the middle of me driving it, it varies if rather or not I am pushing the gas, because only sometimes it turns off while pressing the gas, and most of the time when my car is barely moving or when I am braking. It sometimes can take up to a half an hour to start it back up again, but sometimes it takes only a second. The key will turn, and the car will try to start, but all it does is make the sound when your car is about to turn on. (Sorry if that sounded stupid) but could you please help me? Is there any other possibilities other than my oil?

Answer 1

Being 1.000 miles over on a oil change has nothing to do with the way your car is acting, it needs to go to the garage and be put on the engine machine to find out whats wrong with it.

Answer 2

Has absolutely nothing to do with your oil.  Actually, you're OKAY if you go 6-7,000 miles between oil changes.

What you've got...sounds like vapor lock.  The causes of vapor lock could be anything from a weak fuel pump, cracked fuel line, cracked intake gasket.  Probably happens most with warm engine.  First thing in AM...starts like champ.

Take it to a local mechanic...if you don't have a mechanic...unfortunately your best bet is a dealership.  They're expensive as anything, but your chances are better that the dealership will do a better job finding the root cause.  Many of the franchise garages will give you a new Avenger one s***w at a time and have you pay for it one s***w at at a time.  It's a problem that could have many causes...you don't want to pay for all of them.

Good luck....don't worry about your oil.

Answer 3

Only 1000 miles past your oil change will NOT hurt your car to the degree you've described it.  Something else is Badly WRONG with the car.  Might be the computer, might be the ignition system.

I would strongly suggest you DON'T drive it.  Get it to a mechanic to try and save it.  But it sounds like it might cost some big bucks to fix.  I hope not, for your sake.

My best suggestion, seriously, is to get a different car.  Sounds like it's only going to be bad luck for you.

Answer 4

Have the fuel pressure checked. If it is weak, it will be hard to start, and will result in what you have described.

If the pump is weak replace it.

Answer 5

you should get the oil changed or take your car to a mechanic so they can see what the problem is. if its the oil you can blow your engine so be careful.

Answer 6

A vacuum hose, can easily fall off and cause this symptom.

Or water in the fuel, fuel pump, cap or a clogged fuel filter.

The easiest things to check are the vacuum lines, fuel pump and getting the water out of the lines.

Fuel pump:  With the car off, in a quiet place,  turn the key to accessory as if you are going to turn the key further to start it, but dont start it.  Listen carefully near the fuel tank for the fuel pump to start.  It should  make a sound for  a few seconds, to reach the proper fuel manifold pressure.   It should shut off though when it has reached the proper pressure, ( a few seconds).   If it keeps running for longer than expected, the pump may be weak or the fuel filter clogged.

You may have to wait a bit between attempts, to let the pressure fall.  You should hear the pump for a few seconds.

If you dont, it could be your fuel pump is the problem.  It is located inside the fuel cell, and is expensive to change due to the amount of work required.  This probably isnt the problem though.  

If you have trouble at this step,  loosen the fuel cap, and try again.  The cap should let in a bit of air to replace the expended fuel. If the cap is defective, a vacuum is created in the cell and the pump cant pump fuel efficiently.  

If a loose fuel cap consistently solves the problem, replace the fuel cap.

Water in the fuel:

Get a bottle of "dry gas", which is basically alcohol, from the autoparts store.  It should only cost a dollar for the store brand, and they are all the same.   Get the gas treatment, and add it to your tank.   Shake the car for a few minutes  to mix it up good.

Get the car started and run it for a bit.  If that was the problem, it wont trouble you again for a while.

Water and fuel dont mix very well, and the water is heavier and sinks to the bottom of the tank.  If your car begins to suck in water instead of fuel, it will sputter and run badly or stall out.

Water and fuel dont mix.

The alcohol, can mix with water, and alcohol can mix with fuel, so the water can mix with both.  The engine burns off the water easily because it is mixed with the rest of the fuel.

This is my bet:

Vacuum:

The engine creates vacuum from the motion of the pistons. The vacuum is used to control many functions of the vehicle, that are critical for the engine to run.  Spark advance, vents, vapor recovery, air intake etc.   If the vacuum source is weak, the engine wont run right at best, and significant loss will cause it not to run at all.

You will get your hands dirty, so you might want to get some gloves.   There are many rubber hoses, about 1/4 inch in diameter that originate from the same location near the engine manifold  ( top side of the engine cover).

Check each one carefully to see if it is loose at either end, or cracked.   Also find the air filter.  Under that is a big one, and if that falls off, the engine wont start at all.

These can pop off, when the rubber gets old.   Find the offending one, and push it back on, and get a new one.

The smaller hoses can be bought at any auto parts store such as Autozone etc.  They usually carry all of these rubber parts for your Dodge.

If you get it started,  listen under the hood for a hissing sound, and find the leak.

Of course,  check  your oil ( with the engine off).

If you have engine oil, and it is not overheating, then you are probably good.  But while you are there,

Check your transmission oil ( with the engine on, in park)

Check radiator fluid ( engine off and cool ) in the overflow tank, and in the radiator ( when it is cool enough to open safely).

Find your vacuum leak, and get back on the road...

May the force be with you . . .

Answer 7

Look in your handbook and see how many 1000 of miles you are past replacing your fuel filter, spark plugs, etc, and one of those is probably your problem.

If it has over 100,000 miles it may need a fuel pump.

PS

Better CHECK your oil and see if you have enough!