I have a check engine light with a 12 and 24 code followed by the55 code . The car is often difficult to start.It's 1992 Dodge Spirit with a 4cy. engine.

Check all ground wires for corrosion...clean and re-tighten.You could also use some dieelectric grease on them before re-tightening.

Check timing belt and crank sensor

You can go to Advance Auto parts or Auto Zone and they will check the code for free. They can give you an idea from the code as what might be causing it.If the code comes and goes, It probably will probably not strand you.
Robert

turn the key on,off,on,off,on,the check engine light will flash the codes.For instanse code 34 would be 3 flashes,a pause ,then 4 flashes.Will always have a 55 code because the engine is not running.

5-5 indicates no trouble codes available or recorded. There is no problems recorded in the computor.

Idle speed motor may be bad.

in order to get the trouble codes from your car you will need to either get an obd 1 reader from a local parts store or you can take it to any garage to have read.

might have lost timing belt

Turn key to on, then off, then on, then off, then on & leave it on, (not start, just to on) then count the number of flashes of check engine light. It will flash,then have a small pause, then flash again. It will be a 2 digit number, for example: 2 flashes, pause, 2 more flashes, will be code 22. 3 flashes, pause, then 5 more flashes would be code 35. When you get 5 flashes,pause, then 5 more, That is code 55 which just means end of message. Get back to us with codes & we'll advise of what to look for.

If you are still having problem with this car (I would guess its got a 2.2 or 2.5 litre mitsubishi engine in it) check the MAP sensor (dealer will charge way too much for this...try autozone or advance auto). It usually takes a few small bolts to remove and replace.