20 Most Recent 1997 Dodge Avenger - Page 8 Questions & Answers

This is a tip that I wrote to help troubleshoot this problem.
http://www.fixya.com/cars/r6011692-car_turns_over_but_will_not_start

Use only fluid type ATF+4

I am gussing you are not getting an engine light it seems you have ruled out all the usual suspects?

Sounds like the switch INSIDE the steering column has broken. The replacement switch is probably between 60 and 100 dollars. Expensive, I know, but worth the price of sanity over the long run. Should take about an hour to replace with the proper tools.

replace the engine with a rebuilt one.

Does your engine turn over, just not fire? if it sounds like it wants too start but its not firing, try your distributor. this happened to my car last week actually, went out and bought a new dist. and it is fine now. its a big expense, so try to find one at a junk yard and they say you can take it back if its not that. thats your best bet. hope it helps.

Clean throttle body, replace plugs and wires and fuel filter. Check for any type vacuum leaks. Test your coil packs to make sure you are getting spark in every cylinder. Test injector pulse and fuel pressure to make sure injectors are getting power and are clean so they can spray efficiently.

head gaskts are gone please repace them

The engine computer is under the hood in the front corner on the drivers side. There is also an automatic transmission computer right next to it. The engine computer is the one closest to the front of the vehicle.

They are just held in place with a couple or 3 bolts.

These cars had problems with cam and crank sensors. If the computer does not see a signal from either one, the coils will not be triggered. If you can, scan the car for codes, if there is any history for either sensor, start there, otherwise try the crank sensor first.

Are you sure about the battery? some times a bad battery will crank the car but dose not have a full charge (14.2volts) to start the car and the only way to check that is with a load test. You need a testing device like a vat40 to do that. You could take it down to a autozone / kragen type parts store and they will test for free.If you have already done this,then you have a drain on the battery so i would look at the starter, then the alternator looking for a short.

replace the turn signal switch it self, mine did the same thing with the left turn signal, put in fuse and it will continue to flash... went to junk yard pulled one out of a 97 avenger just like mine, swapped them out and now it works fine. looked to be like some corrosion... to repace: 3 screws under columb, 2 screws on side of signal switch (black plastic side). unplug and replace

chrysler has some wired transmission. There is a relay in the fuse box called an ATX relay. It may be getting hot and losing contact. if the check engine light is on I would go to AUTO zone and ask them to pull the codes out of the computer system. There are several things that can cause this problem. Bad battery connections, lose wiring going to the transmission. U might try cleaning all the connectors with a electrical spray that helps clean the contacts. See if there are any codes in the computer than go from there. They could be historical codes..

The egr itself is on the backside of the engine closest to the firewall towards the driver side. You have to lean past the intake to get to it. The resonator is about 4-5" to the left (passenger side) of it.

Broken signal switch in the column

It is actually a 2.5L 6cyl. and the upper intake has to come off to do the spark plugs, thanks and good luck

It could be but it could also be a bad timing belt,

ir your car has the 2.5 or 3.0 mitsubishi motor (which it probly will have) the spark plugs are under the upper plentum wich is the large aluiminum part of the top of the engine where the air comes into the engine . youll have to remove the 5 or 7 bolts holding it to the engine and the 2 brackets on the back of the engine that hold the back of the intake up closest to the engine fire wall feel your hand across the back to locate theyre down there can be hard to find you might have to disconnect some wires and the throttle cables dont have one to look right at recollecting from memory hope this helps good luck