2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser: misfire or rough idle

Filed Apr 2, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · CA

Rough idle at stopped intersections, lunges and stalls. Stalls a approximately 15-25 MPH while making left or right turns making it very difficult to turn while placing the vehicle in neutral and starting the engine again. The fog lights turn on by itself after the vehicle is parked and the ignition is turned off draining the battery. Had to disconnect the fuse in order to prevent this from happening again. To this date non-functional fog lights. The vehicle has several electrical problems from instrument cluster not functioning while driving to radio and climate control not working until you stop the vehicle and turn it off. Then start the vehicle again then it works properly for another few days. This is a recurring problem. Wheel bearing has been an issue too and currently needs to be replaced.

Filed Nov 1, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 85,000 miles · PA

Engine light came on, it acted like it was misfiring. Car shut off at around 60mph. Drifted off road and restarted and went a mile or so and it shut off again we kept doing that until we got home. The next day we took it to our mechanic it ran fine on the way there, around 15 miles. He put it on his computer, it read bad injectors so he replaced them. Then he took it for a ride and it acted like it was misfiring again he put it back on his computer and it read bad coil so he replaced the coil pack,plugs and plug wires. It ran fine for about 4 months . Until now 10/30/2012. . Took back to mechanic, he replaced o2 sensors. Ran for 2wks. Same thing again! Once again took back to mechanic . He put it on his computer once again and it read fine. He said we should take it to our chrysler center. Although we couldn't ask for a better running car (when it is running right) ,this car is very dangerous to be on the road shutting off in traffic. I would hate to have to replace it. Please fine answer to problem.

Filed Oct 12, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 124,000 miles · CA

While driving the engine will sputter and die. When pulling up to a stop light the check engine light will come on and the engine will immediately die. While driving on the freeway at 65mph the engine will suddenly die. Sometimes it will start up again right away, but most of the time it takes a few minutes to start back up, while people are honking and having to go around my car. Most of the time the car will run rough after re-start, but will run normally after sitting overnight, until the next time it dies. Many other pt owners are experiencing the same thing. Very dangerous and scary! Four mechanics have tried to figure out the problem. No luck. Have replaced the ECM and just about every sensor and replaceable engine part. No luck. This is occurring in other chrysler vehicles, too. It seems like no one has found an answer to the problem. This is a very dangerous situation and chrysler should figure out the problem and provide a fix.

Filed Aug 3, 2007 · Engine · 19,000 miles · AL

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving 17 MPH the vehicle would stall when coming to a stop. He stated that it would rough idle as if it was going to cut-off. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. The current mileage was 21,400 and the failure mileage was 19,000.

Filed Apr 27, 2007 · Electrical · 12,070 miles · WA

My complaint is regarding the rough idle and surges. This first started when A/C or heat were on. At this time the car does this even when A/C or heat are not on. Car feels as though it is going to stall out when accelerating either from a parked position, accelerating to a freeway speed and when in idle position. On february 18th, 2005, head gasket, cylinder head and spark plugs replaced per my complaint of problem. At that time the car had 12,070 miles on it. June 17th, 2005, spark plugs replaced again and also replaced spark plug cables because problem still existed. I was told that the cables were not replaced on february 18th and that this would fix the problem. This did not fix the problem in which I made further complaints on november 15th 2006. Technician could not find problem. I was told monitor sensors were within range, tbs updates checked and none were available. Spark plugs and cables were all in good condition. July 11th 2006, technician confirmed complaint that engine will stall when running A/C. Flashed programmed controller and checked over engine system. Problem still exists and I am concerned that this problem is a hazard when driving this vehicle.

Filed Apr 25, 2007 · Engine · GA

Customer wants to know if a recall be opened**cc the consumer stated her vehicle stalls while she is driving and has a rough idle.

Filed Feb 13, 2005 · Engine · 8,529 miles · TX

Within a few months of purchasing the new 2004 pt, the engine began to idle very rough. Before, I could sit at a red light in drive and never feel the car vibrate. Now anytime I start the engine or am driving down the road it vibrates and runs very rough. The engine light would also come on and I was able to get the computer code p0303 from the odometer (using the key on/run, off trick). P0303 is a misfire in cylinder number 3. I have taken it to the dealer 6 times now and I still have the same problem!!! It still runs very rough but the engine light does not come on anymore. They keep telling now they cannot do anything if the engine light does not come on. But it still runs very rough! Sometimes the light flashes when I start the engine. The dealer has blamed/replaced everything from bad gas, spark plugs, cables and now they want to replace the motor mounts! I researched the federal safety agency and found there is already a tsb on this exact problem and apparently many other owners have the exact same problem. This is based on multiple internet forums on the pt cruiser. People as do I love the car I but this problem must be fixed.

Filed Jan 27, 2005 · Brakes, Electrical · TX

The consumer pt cruiser trip meter constantly reset itself, when this happens the dash lights flash on and off, gas gauge drops to empty and the bells start beeping. *bf the mechanic sprayed static guard in it that time to resolve the issue, but this did not work. The consumer was told that the problem was with the cloth seats and to get out and grab the metal bar. The gear shifter knob would come off, there was a grinding noise in the rear due to the brakes, it was hard for the consumer to get out of the vehicle at time because the lock and tumblers were sticking, the engine would knock intermittently during acceleration and would only get 12.9 miles to the gallon and would run rough intermittently, and the gauges would quit working at times.

Filed Dec 24, 2004 · Engine · 21,132 miles · GA

I have a 2004 pt cruiser that has 20,000 miles, and already needs a tuneup..car runs rough..I took it in and the dealer said they could not replace but 1 spark plug, and I have to pay for the other 3...what good is the waranty..I buy new cars all the time never had this problem..did I get rip off.

Filed Oct 27, 2004 · Engine · MD

On september 23,2004 I purchased a 2004 pt cruiser. From the first day, I have had nothing but trouble with the dealer and the cruiser itself. Two days after I bought the car I noticed that the car had numerous of dents in it so I had the dents repaired. I get the car back and the men who pulled the dents had punctured a wire and my inside light and my trip odometer wasn't working. In the mean time I noticed that the car was running rough. Idling too high and bouncy on take off. At that time I took it back to get that fixed and they said the reason for the rough idle was a loose vacuum hose. The next day the car was running worse. I took it back and the said that it is the nature of the car and that it is normal for the car to run rough and idle high. I wanted to exchange my car for a different pta cruiser or a different car and I was told that I signed on the line to purchase it so I was stuck with the car. Now I have to take the car back to get the recall fixed on it. I think the 2004 pt cruiser engine needs to be recalled. I am not satisfied with the car at all.