2010 Dodge Avenger SXT 2.4 L possibly multiple issues?
So this might be kind of long but I want to start
from the beginning and give as many details as
possible because I am about ready to push this car
over a cliff.
I purchased this car used (cash) a little over a year
ago. It had 218k miles when I got it. It had a bad
connector on the battery so my now ex-husband
put in a self tapping screw to secure the connection
and problem solved. Fast forward about 7 months,
the car dies and starts back up but occasionally
died/lost power while driving. Bought a brand new
battery. Didn’t fix it. Changed the alternator,
problem solved everything is good.
Fast forward another 6 ish months, car starts
having this issue where the engine goes in limp
mode, it won’t accelerate over 20mph and
sometimes it just powers down while driving. Then
it started having an overheating issue (changed one
of the thermostats -it has two- and problem with
the overheating solved).
Went to autozone and used their code reader thing
and it threw a code PO455 Evap Large Leak
detected! Had no idea what this was but car was
still getting me where I needed to go, it was just
annoying me the way it was running. Left it alone
and went about my business!
A few weeks later when the check engine light was
on again, I had someone I know use their code
reader and it threw a code P0420 catalyst 1/1
efficiency. So I knew it was something to do with
my catalytic converters (I have two on my car) but
when I googled this code it said it could be 02
sensors or other things so idk at this point but I
kept driving it as I needed to.
So constantly dealing with limp mode engine, not
being able to accelerate/drive over 20mph/having
to stop multiple times and restart the car!
THE ISSUES SEEM TO REVOLVE AROUND THIS
RED LIGHTENING BOLT ON DASH! Sometimes
solid, sometimes flash but if this lightening bolt is
ON car runs like crap and usually won’t
accelerate/is in limp mode. Getting the car to start
without that red lightening bolt being on seems to
be key!
So now, two days ago, I left to go somewhere, got
to the end of my street and the car dies just like it
always does, except this time it doesn’t start back
up and even acts like the battery is dead although it
wouldn’t start with a jump either.
There’s so much mixed information and everything
I’m seeing online about this car with the red
lightening bolt points to the electric throttle control
system BUT it throws a code for the catalyst
system and several people have told me if there’s
issues with the cats, it would do the same thing it is
doing now, so I am unclear on where to start!
Please help!
