# 2004 Dodge Stratus Almost Dies at Idle

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-stratus-almost-dies-at-idle/144238>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 12, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-stratus-almost-dies-at-idle/144238 "2019-07-12T15:06:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JuanGonzalez08](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/82dd89/32.png) [@JuanGonzalez08](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JuanGonzalez08)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-stratus-almost-dies-at-idle/144238/1 "2019-07-12T15:06:10Z")

</div>

Hello.  
I have a 04 Dodge Stratus, 4 cylinders, 2.4L, VIN X that hesitates or stumbles when I have the air conditioning ON, this fortunately only happens when I am STOP at a traffic light, or I am decelerating to STOP. In one occasion, the engine died on me, but I restarted with no problems.  
Any thoughts? Thanks for your input.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-stratus-almost-dies-at-idle/144238/2 "2019-07-12T15:16:33Z")

</div>

Sounds like a dirty throttle body or a failing idle air control valve. The valve is pretty pricey so I’d clean out the inside of the throttle body first. Auto parts stores sell special spray just for this.