Well, just over a week ago I ripped my Stratus apart for a tune-up. It's at 97k miles, so I thought it needed some loving care. However, the 3.0 Mitsu motor requires intake removal to reach the rear bank, since they go in the center of the valve covers and it covers them.

Lets just say, after removing and installing the intake three times in the past week it's getting easier. The first time I fired it up, I had a P0300 code and you could feel the rough idle. Nothing I do seems to cure it. I took the intake off again to verify everything and even checked for vacuum leaks. I'm greeted with the same P0300.

Well, it's sitting disassembled again until I get another chance to take a look at it. However, I noticed plugs 1, 2, 4, 6 are fouled black. 3 and 5 were just soaked in fuel. Obviously it's an ignition issue and there are more variables since it runs on a distributor. The GP is so easy to maintain and please compared to this thing.

im curious how you have the 3.0 in your strat? if you are doing a tuneup based on a 3.0 that may be part of the problem since cloud cars only came with a 2.5 v6.
try posting the problem over at stratusphere.net the v6 guys there should be able to help you.
i have a 2.0 breeze so i cant be much help with the v6 problems

scratch whati said on the strat not coming with a 3.0, when i hear stratus for some reason i automtically thing 1g, im assuming you have a 2g model which of course did come with 1

Yeah, mine is the super sexy 2g coupe, with a 5spd no less. However, I think the same ignition components work for both the 2.5 and 3.0 as far as wires, plugs, and distributor are concerned. I think the plenum gasket might even be the same.

I've been asking the 2g guys about it, but they seem to suggest the things I've already checked. I think I'm going to get some new wires, cap, and rotor and go from there. Oh, how I wish it was a distributorless ignition system.

I felt for you today. I walked past a beat up stratus with front bumper ripped off. The battery was exposed and it looked like it is tucked up into the bumper, looks like a PITA to get to. I can feel the frustration now you are going through after seeing this stratus today.

That's the 4 doors. Completely different beast. I'll have to get some pics of my disassembled engine compartment.

im kinda curious as to how bad it is to work on it

to bad its not the 2.0 mitsu motor, those things are so easy to work on, me and my brother did a full rebuild on his mitsubishi eclipse gsx in 2 days, that was including trips to the parts store and food and bathroom breaks . mitsu motors are by far the easiest motors ive had to work on other than the GTP.

this is the big reason (one of them) that I chose a 2nd gen Sebring vert over a 1st gen...the 2.5 Mitsu motor is close cousin to your 3.0 and heard member describe sparkplugs as "open heart surgery"...granted my 2.7 has its issues as well but hopefully not just for tune up...good luck gettin her straight.

Well, issue solved. It was either the distributor cap or rotor button. I was beginning to wonder if I had forgotten how to drive a 5 speed; my baby was gone too long.

Anyway, I'll get some pics tomorrow of the engine bay. I'm sure you guys will love the cramped spaces.

my Sebring engine bay isnt exactly bursting with room either

Looking forward to the pics; most of the cars I've worked on didn't leave room for an evil thought, let alone a human hand, so it should bring back some memories...

Here we do (just don't mind the disconnected intake at the moment).



Everything bolted to the intake has to come off, except the TB and the devices bolted to it. Vacuum lines, throttle cable, solenoids and harnesses on the left and right, as well as hidden coolant lines on the bottom of the throttle body must be removed. Sadly, only 7 bolts hold the intake itself on. I forgot... all drive belts have to be changed from under the vehicle.



Here is the EGR tube which must be removed, plus three other bolts hidden back there you can't see.



The distributor cap is hidden down there and can only be removed after taking out the battery and the battery tray.

whew, thats bad...