Why won't my 98 dodge stratus start?

if it were my car i would check the fuel pressure, sounds like maybe the fuel pump. first, when it dies and wont start you need to check and see if you have spark. pull off a plug wire and put a scewdriver or such and hold it about a quarter inch from the valve cover while someone cranks the engine. you should see a spark to the valve cover. if no spark then the ignition has problems, like maybe a cam or crank sensor. if there is spark but it dosnt start, its the fuel

if now it won`t start it could be a spark(ignition)problem, check for spark at the plug. you should check for a code in the pcm this may help, not all codes set the check engine light. could also be a bad fuel pressure problem.

hook up a odb and see if you have any coads

check the engine light blink coads count the blinks and write the coad down then call a auto parts store and ask them what the coad is

When it shuts off you will need to figure out if you are loosing spark to the plugs or fuel to the injectors.
Is the check engine light on when the engine is running ?

Must not have been much of a mechanic. If the engine runs and sounds fine sometimes and other times it doesn't then it does not sound like a mechanical problem with the engine. Sounds more like a issue with either the ignition system or fuel system.

You need to check if its got air, fuel, and spark. spray some throttle body cleaner in the throttle body and quickly try to start it. if it fires up then your not getting fuel so you may need a fuel pump and filter. If it does nothing check for spark, if you have no spark then you need to check the coils and crank position sensor.

If the engine starts, but wont shift out of park, you should check that your brake lights are working. The interlock solenoid is powered by the brake light switch, if the fuse is blown or if the brake light switch is bad, the car wont shift out of park...I hope this helps.

you can have the engine light checked at auto zone or advance auto but check the cam position sensor

Best place to start is with "check engine light". Put vehicle in park, foot on brake, and cycle key on, off, on, off, on, then wait with pen & paper ready to read flashes of check engine lamp. Will be a 2 digit code each time. For example, flash, short pause & flash, will be 11, or flash, flash, short pause, flash, flash would be 22. In between trouble codes you'll get a little longer pause, then it will start to flash again if more than one code, which is quite possible. Also note that I say key to on, not start, just on.(normal run position) Then get back to us and we'll be able to better help you.