2005 Dodge Magnum Multiple misfire?

Question

I have an '05 Magnum with the 3.5L V6. I have had it at the dealer 4 times over the last year for this issue. It misfires so badly that it loses all power. It usually only last 10-15 seconds and then it fires and runs normally. On the 3rd occasion it happened severely and wouldn't move for basically a whole minute. The dealer has had no "luck" troubleshooting the problem and only once were they able to replicate the problem. It always happens either when it's raining or the roads are very wet. My warranty runs out in 3 weeks so I want to try to get it solved while it's on their dime not mine. The car has only 21,000 miles on it. I don't drive it very often and keep it garaged when I'm not driving it. Would TSB 09-005-05 apply to this issue? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I don't know what the codes are that they recorded last time but I suppose I can make them give them to me. I'm thinking that I'm going to get rid of the car at this point anyway but I wan't it done so the next guy doesn't have to deal with it. It only does it once and a while though is the problem. I'm driving it now trying to get it to do it(which sucks because I'd rather be on my cycle) but I'm running out of time before the warranty expires. It was 6 months between the last occurance and this one and 3 months between before that. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Sell it, sell it, sell it! I have the same car. All sorts of things have gone wrong with it...electrical, air conditioning, etc. I also replaced the battery 3 times in 6 months. If you Google the Magnum, you can see thousands of unhappy customers, and their dealers who can't "replicate the problems." This car should never have been put on the road. I'd sell it before something else goes wrong. I loved this car at first, but I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I'd keep on getting it fixed while under warranty until it runs out. Good luck.

Answer 2

I'm sorry to hear that. What you described sounds an awful lot like vapor lock or some other fuel starvation issue. That or an electrical problem. Since it only happens when the roads are wet, I would tend to go with the latter. Unfortunately electrical problems are the hardest to track down...make sure your ignition modules aren't getting wet, possibly replace the plug wires.

Does anything else happen when it stalls and misfires...like all the lights on the dash blinking on or the gauges pegging?

Answer 3

I own a shop, and have been dealing with problems of this nature for years. With all the trouble shooting equipment the dealer has, they definitely have the capability to find the problem. You are not being told the truth. If the dealer would hook up the scan equipment (laptop) and use a program called snap shot diagnostics, they would find the issue. Have them hook it up, and go sit in a car wash until it does it. If they (replicated) found it doing it once, then they should know what did it! A snap shot program takes a picture (so to speak) of what is going on before during, and after the issue takes place. Armed with that information, they should know what did it, or at least where to look for the problem. The problem is; They just don't want to spend any money to resolve the issue, and since your warranty is about up (they know this) they don't want to incur the cost of the fix. You have a right to demand they fix it at no cost to you. Contact the manufacture, and complain to them. As far as the TSB applying to your situation, who knows? Tell them to either fix it, or your attorney won't be as nice as you are about it. You are obviously being jerked around. You are just going to have to get tough with them, and don't take no for an answer. I know for a fact, they have the means to determine what is causing the problem. Do they want to fix it? NO!!!
Part 2:
Unless that information was cleared out of your computer, it should still be there. There is a way to get to consumer codes without a scan tool. It's called key on, key off method. This is how to do it. Get a piece of paper & pen. There is a check/service engine light on your dash that comes on when you turn the ignition switch to the on position. It will flash you the codes that are stored in the consumer part of the computer. The light will flash a short flash for the first digit, and a long flash for the second digit. Example will be; two quick flashes, followed by two long flashes equal 22, one quick flash, followed by 5 long flashes equals 15. It should flash at least two codes. One showing you have entered the codes, then the codes, and then a code showing you are exiting the codes. Start by following this method; turn the key to on (don't start the engine) for two seconds (count one thousand & one, one thousand & two). Then turn key to the off position for two seconds (count one thousand & one, one thousand & two) and so on. Do this for at least 5 times, and stop with the key in the on position. Watch the check engine light, it will begin to flash you the codes. Write them down as it flashes them to you. Don't worry if you mess up, you can always start over. It will flash codes in a loop, as in it will keep flashing the codes until you turn the switch off for about 10 seconds to stop it. This method may, or may not work on your vehicle, but I have used it on many Chrysler products in the past, as this was the preferred way to retreive codes from them. "Do Not" remove the battery cable to clear the codes, unless you have a way to reset your alarm system and radio settings, along with other programmed information. They should be cleared with a scan tool only. Yours being a OBD-2 might keep you from using this method, if so go to Auto Zone, and they will pull your codes for you free, and reset the computer for you, so don't loose them. Either way; once you have the codes, you will be armed with information that may tell what the problem is, or at least where to look. Auto Zone can also tell you what each code means, sell you the parts to fix the problem, and instruct you on the repair. If you get a bunch of codes that make no sense; suspect the computer as being the problem. Any time an engine gives problems during a wet period, the first thing to suspect is the coil pack/packs being bad. I suggested sitting in a car was, as this would simulate rainy weather. This is known as an intermittent problem, and is the hardest type of computer problem to resolve by even the best technicians. Maybe I have pointed you in the right direction.
Glad to help out, Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

i'm a service agent for national/Alamo motor vehicle condominium, and that i've got wiped sparkling some or maybe rented one. good motor vehicle, very roomy, drives great with the two the V6 or the rubber (and gasoline) burning Hemi. i admire the lean/telescopic steerage wheel. good to make sure a rear wheel force motor vehicle at the instant, too. have not seen any mechanical problems with those that we hire out. My in common terms grievance is with the sign stalk and the cruise administration. The cruise administration is weirdly positioned on a protracted stalk, precise the place you will possibly routinely discover the sign stalk in maximum automobiles, and the sign stalk is slightly below it, yet is very almost pointing downward. when I drove it, I saved achieving for the cruise administration stalk to sign.

Answer 5

www.dodgeintrepid.net/forums

theres a section on magnums. alot of guys who own and work on them frequent the site, along with a crap load of us who specialize in intrepids, 300c, magnum,300m

youll see

free to join


i think there might be a way to check engine codes manually. i have an intrepid, and it was an option on mine..

ask your question in the fourms there and someone will help

Answer 6

It could be a wet short in the ignition system ~~