Expert: Roland Finston - 7/10/2011

Question
i have a '99 chrysler concord, v6, 3.2L.   i started it when coming home from work and it started screaching.  i thought it was loose belt but when i got 'bout 5 miles down the road i could smell burning rubber.   so, i pulled it over and turned it off.   it was dark out but i could see a little smoke blowing over my right front headlight.   the alternators going so i have to jump it every time i start it.   i jumped it and it started and ran for about 20 sec.  while it ran i could hear a distinct ''thumping'' coming from the engine.   it dide after twenty sec and i couldn't start it again.   the starter cranks but the engine doesn't even try to catch.   it has about 130k on it.   thnx

Answer
Hi Curtis,
The smell of rubber sounds like a belt that was driving on a pulley that was jammed. Maybe the alternator gave out and locked up?
I would check out the belt situation and the alternator to see if it is locked up.
On the no start try the ignition key:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the odometer window in the cluster to see mileage reading change to show any 4-digit numbers preceded by a P. Let me know and we'll go from there.
Roland
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