'93 Concorde stalling

Hi there -

I have a '93 Chrysler Concorde 3.3L - I really don't want to get rid
of it any time soon because I just paid a bundle to have the
transmission fixed... 80,000 miles.

My wife recently had some interesting things happen to her, and I'm
wondering if there is any commonalities that might point to something
to look at.

Last night, her power steering went completely out when the car
completely died and it was hard for her to steer. She restarted the
car and it worked again and told me that the entire car (AC and radio
included) were dead, and the only thing on was a battery light on the
dash. Today, while she was in traffic, it stalled on her twice. Once
again the entire vehicle lost power (she said the radio and the AC
blower went off too.)

The ECM has a few different codes in it... Code 12 (Memory lost),
Code 11 (engine not cranked since last reset), and Code 21 (Oxygen
Sensor). [And of course, the obligatory code 55]. I just had the
oxygen sensor (or one of them) replaced last year, so if part of this
is indeed the O2 sensor, it's the one I didn't change.

Does anyone have any ideas on where to start looking? The battery is
new in this car (less than a year old). She said that the starter
didn't "whine" like it was a dead battery when she tried to start it,
and today, she said she tried a few times before it would finally
start.

This car is nice, but I tell you - it's a maintenance nightmare. I've
had the transmission overhauled, have a leak in the AC where I have to
charge it every year, low speed radiator fan went out one time, leaks
in the valve and oil pan gaskets, you name it!! I can't wait to get
rid of it.

Please e-mail me back at jon==guidry!!!!!org (replace == with @ and
!!!!! with .) or reply in this NG.

Thanks!
Jon

 

Sounds like some sort of intermittent in the charging system. When the
garaged changed the transmission they might have loosened up a ground
wire or some such and forgot to retighten it. Or maybe the alternator is
having problems.

If it were my car, before doing any serious troubleshooting
I would remove the alternator and take it to a auto parts
place and have them put it on an alternator tester, just to make sure that
there's no problems. I'd also make a careful visual inspection of all
wiring looking for loose, or pinched, or chafed wires somewhere.

Ted

 

I'd suggest you start by making sure that the serpentine belt (which drives
the power steering pump and the alternator too) is still intact. Given the
description that the steering wheel got hard to turn, coupled with the
electrical problems, I'd say there is a good chance the belt is either
slipping badly or broke completely. (It's not clear if the power steering
stayed bad after the car re-started from your description)

If this is the case, it is a fairly simple fix, but do it before that new
battery gives out from lack of charging.

Good luck!

Bob

 

Actually, I just had this happen to me yesterday... the car just died
in traffic. My wife was misstaken however - the power was still
running (still had radio and blower). Checked the codes, still had
that nagging 21 and 11 (O2 sensor and Camshaft not detected.) I was
lucky because it died right next to an auto parts store. Someone
nudged me in their parking lot and I got a crankshaft sensor and put
it in - so far it seems to be working.

I disconnected the battery, reconnected it five minutes later, and now
all I have is a 12 and 55 (the normal codes). Let's hope this fixed
it.

Thanks!!!
Jon

 

Cam position sensor going bad. Fairly simple, inexpensive fix.