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Limp Mode Again! Code P0888


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joezapp
User

Sep 19, 2021, 3:33 PM

Post #51 of 63 (731 views)
  post locked   Re: Limp Mode Again! Code P0888  

For the record, I just picked up the alternator and had them do the free check while I was there. They said current alternator has "no output" and the replacement was likely to put the red light out.

Yes, Tom, I'd like to try that cig lighter test. Sounds like a good idea.

Hammer Time, if I knew how to test a voltage regulator or wiring, I would. I just learned today that it's in the PCM, and I just learned exactly where the PCM is today. But I've had more than one "slim" situation work out in the past, so maybe this can be another. We'll see.


gsferraro
Veteran

Sep 19, 2021, 4:26 PM

Post #52 of 63 (725 views)
  post locked   Re: Limp Mode Again! Code P0888  

Hello,
Let me know what happens after the alternator replacement, if you do not have the proper voltage going to the transmission it will not work correctly and produce codes. Gary


joezapp
User

Sep 20, 2021, 8:28 AM

Post #53 of 63 (696 views)
  post locked   Re: Limp Mode Again! Code P0888  

We've come to the end. Alternator resolved nothing. We knew this was a possibility. I'm into my 8th week with this, 52nd day exactly, and I'm at the point where the car will only drive on the battery and often in limp mode. At least I was able to use it another 7 weeks 'til this. Mechanic friend wants to change the PCM. I already know that may not resolve it. So we are moving on from this car.

Thanks guys for all your contributions. We'll never buy a Dodge again. The numerous electrical puzzles I've had with them over the years are beyond frustrating, and I've never had anything like that with any of my GMs or Fords (we only buy American makes).

To close out this thread, my wife is looking for a used small SUV. This would be our first SUV. Can you guys recommend American models that are dependable, with limited electronics relatively speaking, and have a chain instead of a belt? Would love to hear some recommendations. We have no more interest in vehicles that have timing belts. Never had one break because I stayed on top of doing the "timing job", and I've done many. But the timing belt is just plain stupid!

Many thanks for your suggestions, guys, as well as your contributions on this puzzle. I started this by saying that my web research showed no evidence of a Stratus owner with code p0888 resolving it. Whoever sees this thread will just find another one!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Sep 20, 2021, 8:53 AM

Post #54 of 63 (687 views)
  post locked   Re: Limp Mode Again! Code P0888  

I feel your pain and don't blame you. This car and others are valued accordingly in a STRONG used car market. Be well this has been an experience for many already, Tom Greenleaf
(I'll let another lock it upon your request)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 20, 2021, 9:09 AM

Post #55 of 63 (680 views)
  post locked   Re: Limp Mode Again! Code P0888  


Quote
To close out this thread, my wife is looking for a used small SUV. This would be our first SUV. Can you guys recommend American models that are dependable, with limited electronics relatively speaking, and have a chain instead of a belt? Would love to hear some recommendations. We have no more interest in vehicles that have timing belts. Never had one break because I stayed on top of doing the "timing job", and I've done many. But the timing belt is just plain stupid!


If you are only looking for a car with a timing chain, you just eliminated 75% of the vehicles made today. Timing chains go bad too and they are twice as expensive to repair as a belt.

If you want the most reliable car, then anything made by Toyota, with Honda a close second but they will also be the most expensive vehicles to buy. American made SUVs are pretty much crap. A Kia or a Hyundai will be reasonably priced and a decent vehicle but they use a timing belt pretty exclusively.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



joezapp
User

Sep 20, 2021, 2:42 PM

Post #56 of 63 (662 views)
  post locked   Re: Limp Mode Again! Code P0888  

Thanks for the input, Hammer Time. Will consider those suggestions, as you surely would know these vehicles.

As far as chain vs belt, my understanding was always that a belt should be changed before 70,000 miles, and a chain before 300,000 miles. And I have cases in point. I never had to change a chain in a chain vehicle, and I currently have a chain vehicle with 205,000 miles. And I have a belt vehicle that the belt broke on the previous owner at 11 years and 71,000 miles. I am about to do my 8th and 9th timing jobs in our driving history on belt vehicles. It's enough already.

So I will be making every effort to get a chain vehicle rather than a belt vehicle if I can find one.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 20, 2021, 2:57 PM

Post #57 of 63 (655 views)
  post locked   Re: Limp Mode Again! Code P0888  

You've got some bad information.

Cars have all different schedules for changing checking/belts. The average is 90K and some as high as 120K. That's the scheduled interval. I have seen them last 175-200K when not checked.

Some makes will do damage if they break while running but many are non-interference engines and the worst that will happen is a tow truck. Some belts on 4 cylinder engines can be replaced in an hour or two.

Timing chain vehicles are not worry free. MANY of them have common failures with tensioners and nowadays variable valve timing can cause you to take it apart far sooner. I've never seen one last for 300K, more like 175-200K. Repairing a timing chain is far more work than most belts and they can be very noisy especially on cold start. Some newer chain cars have multiple chains and call for over 10 hours labor to change. That's dealer flat rate labor, not driveway labor.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Sep 20, 2021, 2:58 PM)


joezapp
User

Sep 21, 2021, 5:20 AM

Post #58 of 63 (629 views)
  post locked   Re: Limp Mode Again! Code P0888  

All my timing belt cars were non-interference. But who wants the car to stop working unexpectedly while in drive? Any you make it sound so simple. You don't mention all the parts that you change "while you're in there".

Now it IS true all 7 of my timing jobs to date were the more difficult variety. Since the most modern vehicle we ever owned is this 2003 Stratus, I can't speak for anything more modern than that. Possibly you are telling me that things have changed with maintenance schedules and labor intensivity since 2003, and if so that's good to know. The timing belt change interval for every timing belt vehicle I've ever owned is 70,000 miles.

Thanks for the info on newer chain vehicles, especially multiple chains. Your quote on timing chains, "I've never seen one last for 300K, more like 175-200K" SHOULD refer to modern vehicles, which would be good info. Because this is not accurate with older vehicles where the owner regularly checked the oil level.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 21, 2021, 5:31 AM

Post #59 of 63 (626 views)
  post locked   Re: Limp Mode Again! Code P0888  

Yeah, how would I know. I've only done this for 50 years.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Sep 21, 2021, 5:33 AM

Post #60 of 63 (624 views)
  post locked   Re: Limp Mode Again! Code P0888  

If your thinking "chain" like just a crank and cam sprocket and chain (3 pieces) to do vs today - not like that.

Even those many OE used Nylon cam sprockets that did or didn't wear out no matter how you took care of oil changing. Some did come all metal and did go insane miles. Some on interference engines too usually gave warnings before damage.

Not sure they may only be one out there within a few model years of anything I wouldn't see those they are under warranty that long,

T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 21, 2021, 6:24 AM

Post #61 of 63 (620 views)
  post locked   Re: Limp Mode Again! Code P0888  

Yeah, try this one out.

Note, those gears you see are not actually gears. They are oil operated timing actuators. Also note that they are not driven by a single chain. Those cam sprockets are not connected together. There are multiple chains involved that attach to actuators, not gears. Timing is not just a matter of lining up marks.





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



joezapp
User

Sep 22, 2021, 4:36 AM

Post #62 of 63 (596 views)
  post locked   Re: Limp Mode Again! Code P0888  

"Yeah, how would I know. I've only done this for 50 years."

I can only speak to all the vehicles that I've owned and driven to high mileage over 38 years. And your comments are far from accurate with the vehicles that I've owned regarding timing belt change intervals and timing chain duration. You can argue I was lucky as far as the timing chains, and that's fine, though that differs from the thinking of my now-retired mechanics, who would agree with this post on the web posted March 2020: "In a well-maintained engine, a timing chain can last up to 300,000 miles or even longer." Maybe I've been lucky, or maybe you've seen too many not well-maintained engines. You can't argue with the timing belt change intervals which appears on the vehicle's maintenance schedule...again for the vehicles that I've owned. But you provided good info for what to look for on more modern vehicles, like the possibility of longer timing belt change intervals and/or less durable chains.

As for the photo of the engine with the chains, that's ugly! You don't mention what vehicle has that engine. Curious, for sure!


(This post was edited by joezapp on Sep 22, 2021, 5:17 AM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 22, 2021, 5:15 AM

Post #63 of 63 (587 views)
  post locked   Re: Limp Mode Again! Code P0888  

Looks like this thread has run it's course so I will close it now.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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