Good evening everyone! To help with my vehicle, she is a 2008 Avenger R/T AWD 3.5, purchased 2nd hand @ ~144k miles, now with 150,017. I am the second owner of the vehicle and have only changed the oil (2 days after purchase) and replaced the headlights. No mods. The previous owner seemed "decent," but nowhere near someone that LOVES their car. Thus a few dings and sadly bad sun damage to the paint on the hood and roof. The only real issue I've had was the car taking anywhere from 4-7 seconds to start in some cases. Would crank as normal, but wouldn't engage until then. (Check engine light has not been on prior to this, at least not for me.)
Unfortunately, yesterday after visiting my grandmother in physical rehab, while driving about ~40MPH, my Avenger suddenly began to lose power slowly. RPM dropped from about ~3000 to less than 1000, and MPH slowly declined as well. The Electronic Throttle Control light began to flash, and as I decelerated to about ~15MPH to get off the road, the car then stalled. I pulled safely into a residential neighborhood and set her into park. When I try to start the car, all lights are fully lit, nothing dim nor does it dim. When engaged, the serpentine belt will begin to spin but that's it. Nothing else.
I read a bit about it as I waited for a ride to pick me up and take me home, and decided to try the key wiggle trick as the check engine light / ETC lights were the only ones that would stay lit. It pulled code P0340, which tells me something is up with the camshaft position sensor. I also read a possible issue with the security system, so I disconnected the positive battery cable (the only one I could reach in an awkward location with no tools). Left it disconnected for about 5 minutes and reconnected it. No go. Removed the ignition fuse, along with a few others (I can get the ones I removed and post here if necessary), for about 30 seconds and plugged em back in. No luck. Tried to keep the start engaged between all gears, no dice.
Today, I took off work early and decided to head up to the car while I waited for my pops to head up from out of town to help me tow her home. Now, after the key wiggle, I'm pulling P0340 and a new code, P0522 which Google tells me is an issue with the Engine Oil Pressure Sensor / Switch Low Voltage. My oil was in the half-way mark of the safe line so I tossed in the extra quart I always keep with me to top it off, unfortunately, did not help. I had read a bit more and the fuses are what I tried today with no luck. I also read a possible issue with the fuel pump, but I can hear it engage when the key is turned on. I'm no mechanic, but my pops is decently knowledgeable and he does believe the starter is working as the serpentine belt and all connected move as they should. He's thinking we may be looking at the timing belt. However, the engine itself will not attempt to crank. Coolant level is good, and there have been 0 oil/stain spots anywhere I go. (I previously owned a '98 Saturn that ate a QT of oil a day with a bad leak, so I am CONSTANTLY looking for oil stains whenever I park). Suddenly today as well, my FOB will not open my trunk, nor will the interior switch. All other power switches in the car and on both of my FOB units function properly, except the trunk. At this moment, the battery has been removed now that she is back home. I also held the battery connections together for ~10 seconds to try and reset the computer.
This is where I'm at folks. If all fails tonight, I will upload a video tomorrow of the attempted engine start from the interior and exterior. If anyone may have been through this or has any guidance of what to look at next, your help is absolutely appreciated!
Avenge on!
*Edit*
Battery test complete, and did not resolve. However; the P0522 Oil Pressure Sensor code is now gone, the P0340 remains. Should it be the camshaft position sensor, can anyone point me to where it is on the 3.5? I either suck at Google, or I'm coming up with only the 2.4 location =(
Unfortunately, yesterday after visiting my grandmother in physical rehab, while driving about ~40MPH, my Avenger suddenly began to lose power slowly. RPM dropped from about ~3000 to less than 1000, and MPH slowly declined as well. The Electronic Throttle Control light began to flash, and as I decelerated to about ~15MPH to get off the road, the car then stalled. I pulled safely into a residential neighborhood and set her into park. When I try to start the car, all lights are fully lit, nothing dim nor does it dim. When engaged, the serpentine belt will begin to spin but that's it. Nothing else.
I read a bit about it as I waited for a ride to pick me up and take me home, and decided to try the key wiggle trick as the check engine light / ETC lights were the only ones that would stay lit. It pulled code P0340, which tells me something is up with the camshaft position sensor. I also read a possible issue with the security system, so I disconnected the positive battery cable (the only one I could reach in an awkward location with no tools). Left it disconnected for about 5 minutes and reconnected it. No go. Removed the ignition fuse, along with a few others (I can get the ones I removed and post here if necessary), for about 30 seconds and plugged em back in. No luck. Tried to keep the start engaged between all gears, no dice.
Today, I took off work early and decided to head up to the car while I waited for my pops to head up from out of town to help me tow her home. Now, after the key wiggle, I'm pulling P0340 and a new code, P0522 which Google tells me is an issue with the Engine Oil Pressure Sensor / Switch Low Voltage. My oil was in the half-way mark of the safe line so I tossed in the extra quart I always keep with me to top it off, unfortunately, did not help. I had read a bit more and the fuses are what I tried today with no luck. I also read a possible issue with the fuel pump, but I can hear it engage when the key is turned on. I'm no mechanic, but my pops is decently knowledgeable and he does believe the starter is working as the serpentine belt and all connected move as they should. He's thinking we may be looking at the timing belt. However, the engine itself will not attempt to crank. Coolant level is good, and there have been 0 oil/stain spots anywhere I go. (I previously owned a '98 Saturn that ate a QT of oil a day with a bad leak, so I am CONSTANTLY looking for oil stains whenever I park). Suddenly today as well, my FOB will not open my trunk, nor will the interior switch. All other power switches in the car and on both of my FOB units function properly, except the trunk. At this moment, the battery has been removed now that she is back home. I also held the battery connections together for ~10 seconds to try and reset the computer.
This is where I'm at folks. If all fails tonight, I will upload a video tomorrow of the attempted engine start from the interior and exterior. If anyone may have been through this or has any guidance of what to look at next, your help is absolutely appreciated!
Avenge on!
*Edit*
Battery test complete, and did not resolve. However; the P0522 Oil Pressure Sensor code is now gone, the P0340 remains. Should it be the camshaft position sensor, can anyone point me to where it is on the 3.5? I either suck at Google, or I'm coming up with only the 2.4 location =(