97 Stratus, Overall problems

Hey everyone, this will be my first post here on the forums. I don’t know very much about cars yet, but I am young and am trying to learn and hopefully some of you more knowledgeable fellows will be able to help me, so maybe some day I will be able to help someone that comes and seeks help on these forums. Like I said I don’t know much so if you reply please try to be as descriptive and detailed as possible in your replies.

The car's motor was rebuilt by my brother in-law and it has 78k miles on it. I don’t know much about the motor specification but I hope the pictures will make up for it.

Anyways (This isn't the main problem but I figured I would mention it) I have just recently obtained this 97 stratus, it will not start at first but with a quick jump it will turn on, so I assume the battery has a dead cell or cannot hold a charge. If you could tell me how to replace it that would be great supposedly I have to take the wheel off.

Now for the real problem, after I get the car started it starts to smoke. It starts off really light at first but then becomes thicker almost as if it would catch on fire if I left it long enough. The smoke starts where you could pull out the plugs and replace the spark plugs just under the disturber cap in the picture. Like I said I am totally oblivious at the moment but I am trying to understand. If you need more pictures or info let me know and I will try to get what I can. The 2nd picture shows where the problem is the most

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4545/dsc00252xn2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/1342/dsc00251cg0.th.jpg (http://img71.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00251cg0.jpg)


http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/2365/dsc00248re4.th.jpg (http://img475.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00248re4.jpg)

I had a 2000 stratus with a recall that caused it to smoke down behind the engine. I believe it was a power steering hose - it really stunk! Dodge fixed it for free, and it is a fire hazard (if it's the same thing). Good luck!

actually it seems as though you have encountered one of the more infamous stratus problems. there would be two things i will ask you to look at. one being the valve cover gasket (this being where the top part of your motor that has the raised numbers 2.4 on it connects with the head which is the part right below it) they are common for this to leak if it were replaced wrong in the overhaul that you mentioned. you really have to watch the torque specs on these things where the gasket is rubber going in between aluminum also note that there are four circle caskets that go under the spark plugs bores in the valve cover. the second thing you should look at would be the cam position sensor, this being, if looking at the motor while standing at the front bumper, on the right side of the motor in the head. there is an electrical hook up on a plastic block that bolts onto the head. the common foul here is over tightening this plastic sensor body and cracking it or using the old one over again with a bad o-ring on it. best thing to do is get a can or two of brake-kleen and spray and clean the back and side of the engine then start it up , take it for a 2 to 3 minute long ride and look it over to see where the oil leak is originating from then replace or repair as needed. no offense intended with the way i over described certain things here but i took into consideration that you had said that an engine is still not a strong point for you.:2cents:

Back to your battery issue, you have to remove the driver side front wheel. It's behind the plastic cover that would be in front of that same wheel. Stupid design if you ask me. Just be careful of the clips that hold them on because you want to re-use them. I looked at my battery a few months ago and once the wheel and cover where removed, it wasn't that difficult. Also be careful lifting it out of the car. it's location makes it harder on your back. You can get a skateboard or mechanics seat w/ wheels to help you wheel in into the area under the wheelwell.