Check engine light and shuddering

[Hemiman]

I have been working for the past two months straight and haven't been able to enjoy my new 300c. This morning my wife and I took our daughter to her aunts house 150 miles away. We are going to Vegas for a week. When we went to leave my daughter, I started the 300C. The tach went to 4000 rpm's and then down to 0 and the engine died. I started it again and it seemed okay. We traveled about 40 miles and stopped for lunch. When I started the car the same events occured. Once again after restart it seemed okay. I noticed while in cruise the car would shudder as if hunting for a gear. Then it happened. The check engine light came on. I turned off the radio and air conditioning, and stopped at a Chrysler dealer the service department was closed but the manager was there. The dealer looked at it and of course checked the gas cap. He said it seemed okay but to go straight home and call my local dealer Monday when the service department is open. I didn't use the cruise the rest of the way home and noticed the same shudder. Might be the engine management searching for either four or eight cylinder needs. When I got home I opened the hood to check the fluids and get this. The covers for the radiator were on the engine cover and yes there were some nice gouges in it. I called my dealer and explained the issues. He said they would get the car fixed and replace the engine cover. Maybe I should have waited till production settled down to order. I will keep you posted as to what occurs at the dealer. Now my vacation won't be as fun thinking about my baby being sick.

[yenga80]

when you say "covers for the radiator" do you mean the radiator cap? if so was the coolant all over the engine compartment?

[II kings 9:20]

I assume these are the black snap on covers that fill in the gap above the radiator, how in the world would these get on the engine cover? even if they are'nt snapped in fully, with the hood closed they should not move and if they did they should not gouge anything. I know these parts well as I had to remove them for grille and air horn installation. Sounds to me like someone removed these to take a peek and set them on the engine cover and forgot to replace them and slammed the hood shut on them. Did the svc manager look at the engine? if so he is the only suspect. As for the main problem I have no clue, I have a thread describing stalling twice after start and then running fine with no problems, no idea there either.

[kampsvilleboy]

You might want to take a look at where the big black air tube coming from the air filter box joins the plenum at the engine. If it is not properly connected/seated there it can cause an air leak that might result in the symptoms you describe. Might be worth a look see.

[Blue]

Why didnt you or the other dealer you stopped at notice this when you looked at the car?

[Tha187um]

HM, what was the outcome of this?