# Please Help! 2000 Dodge Stratus died while driving wont start back up! **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** dodge, stratus\ **Created:** [January 5, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983 "2018-01-05T20:02:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mason2193](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Mason2193](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mason2193)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983/41 "2018-01-09T03:41:22Z")
were should i start to check? I would go to the basic spark/fuel/compression but that wouldn’t cause it to just die on the highway would it? Someone told me the alternator, but i put a new battery on it wouldn’t it crank with fresh juice? ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 3:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983/42 "2018-01-09T03:53:34Z")
If the battery is cranking the engine ok, but it won’t start, unlikely to be an alternator or battery problem. Cranks but won’t start is usually either a spark or fuel system problem. Check visually for a good healthy spark at the spark plugs during cranking. I use a spare known good spare spark plug for that test myself. I realize the problem started with it dying on the highway. But at this point you have to figure out why it won’t start first. After fixing the “cranks but no start” you’ll have to fix the other problem; i.e. if the fix for the no start doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 4:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983/43 "2018-01-09T04:40:36Z")
Remove the upper timing belt cover and watch the cams while cranking the engine. Tell us which engine is in the car. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983/44 "2018-01-09T16:07:12Z")
> [@Mason2193](#): > > update, i got a new battery the car is trying to start but makes a loud pop noise like a back fire right under the hood, could the fuel pump be sending fuel and when i try to start it makes the back fire? We still need more information…or at least clarification on what you’ve said. Was the engine running or not when you initially had the problem? First you said it died, then you said it was idling when you turned it off. Those statements are mutually exclusive. Which is it? I don’t know why you keep mentioning that you have a multi-meter. So far there is nothing I’ve heard wrong with your vehicle that makes me think it’s electrical. What engine do you have? If you have a broken timing belt then no way in hell will the engine backfire. You need compression for that to happen, and you can’t build compression with a broken timing belt. Does this engine have a timing belt or chain? If a chain it might have slipped a tooth. This could be enough for engine to die. I’m leaning toward fuel starvation…but still need more information. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 5:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983/45 "2018-01-09T17:41:59Z")
Mike, I went back and read the original post. There was not a word about idling. The way I read it, they were doing 75, the engine quit ant they coasted over to the shoulder and turned off the key. The latest info that it will backfire when cranked make me believe it is not the timing belt but either spark or fuel. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983/46 "2018-01-09T18:50:54Z")
> [@oldtimer-11](#): > > Mike, I went back and read the original post. There was not a word about idling He didn’t say it at the opening thread. He said it a few replies later. **_Yesterday i was driving down the interstate and it just shut off on me, i pulled to the side it did seem to idle a little low and i shut it off. It didn’t not over heat what so ever._** ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 6:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983/47 "2018-01-09T18:56:21Z")
> [@oldtimer-11](#): > > The latest info that it will backfire when cranked make me believe it is not the timing belt but either spark or fuel. Yea…me too…but still confused as to what happened. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 7:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983/48 "2018-01-11T07:50:28Z")
Yep, check for spark and fuel pressure but I’m betting either a bum fuel pump or crank sensor or something of that nature. You can get pops while cranking with a fuel delivery problem if there is not enough pressure to start. All in all though I think it is shop time. You’re not going to fix this yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Larry-M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Larry-M](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Larry-M)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983/49 "2018-01-11T21:05:14Z")
> [@bing](#): > > All in all though I think it is shop time. You’re not going to fix this yourself. Maybe not yet. If the OP can read the OBD II codes now that it’s backfired, he might get the necessary clues. ---
**Author:** ![Mason2193](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Mason2193](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mason2193)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983/50 "2018-09-23T22:06:43Z")
Guys i know this post is from the begging of the year but who ever said it was timing belt was right… since this engine is a 2.4 non interference engine we put a new timing belt on it and it started right up with no valve damage what so ever. I’m so happy, i paid someone 50$ to help me get timing belt back on. Everyone was telling me that if timing belt broke it was to the scrap yard they was wrong. Anytime i buy a car from now on my first question will be “Is it a non interference engine?” Dodge a bullet guys! Thank all of you for your help ---
**Author:** ![Mason2193](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Mason2193](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mason2193)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 10:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983/51 "2018-09-23T22:08:36Z")
Larry\_M looks like we didn’t take it to the shop! I bring the shop to my garage 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983/52 "2018-09-23T22:16:37Z")
> [@Mason2193](#): > > i paid someone 50$ to help me get timing belt back on I suspect that is the serpentine belt, not the timing belt. A timing belt replacement would cost a lot more. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983/53 "2018-09-23T22:44:39Z")
> [@BillRussell](#): > > i paid someone 50$ to help me get timing belt back on A belt _jumped off_ and it was put back on? Wow, that’s something you don’t experience every day. I have a feeling there’s more to the story[?] New belt replaced the old one? Why was it off, anyhow? 🌲🙂🌲 _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983/54 "2018-09-24T23:53:24Z")
> [@BillRussell](#): > > > [@Mason2193](#): > > > > i paid someone 50$ to help me get timing belt back on > > I suspect that is the serpentine belt, not the timing belt. A timing belt replacement would cost a lot more. Sounds like he paid someone to help HIM do the timing belt job, not a shop. A thrown serpentine belt wouldn’t prevent the engine from starting. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/please-help-2000-dodge-stratus-died-while-driving-wont-start-back-up/110983.md?page=2)