Engine is stalling out while driving

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
It sounds like he left something loose. Have you checked all connections? Also, check for body grounds that may have been left off.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MATOSLUIS45
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 148,527 MILES
The car turns on sometimes. It satays on about 20 minutes to half an hour then dies. Then when I go to turn the key to turn the engine on the car just stalls.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
Have you checked fuel pump pressure? Has the check engine light come on?

Let me know.
Joe
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DISGRUNTLED
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 139,500 MILES
Hi, I have a 97 Caravan that for some time would (for the lack of better words) seem like it was lurching when you would cruise at highway speeds. I went to the local parts store and had them run a code and it implied I needed to change the Throttle positioning sensor. I did this and the problem went away for a while, but now it is back and it even added another symptom. The van stalled on my wife a few times going up the parking garage and at a few stop lights. I took it to a local shop and they are saying it is the transmission going out. Would the transmission going out cause the van to stall? Is there anything I can do to save this vehicle that wont cost me an arm and leg?
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CH112063
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,320 POSTS
I am sorry you are having trouble.
After all, a 14 year old van with 140,000 miles should not have such failures.
The stalling may indeed have something to do with this. It depends. When was the last trans service? I think it is supposed to be done at about 3 years or 36,000 miles. It should not have failed, or if it had a problem, you think you may have seen something then.
Also the throttle body, it is a recommended service at about the same time to remove the dirt from the sensors and give it a clean idle, also a fuel injection service would clean the system and injectors also. But even though I am sure you have serviced it well, or hopefully the owner before you did, these failures have occured anyway, if you like the van, it may be worth repairing but have the mechanic make sure it is worth putting a couple of thousand dollars into a transmission overhaul. The engine or some other expensive part like the fuel pump may also need replacement soon.
Good luck. It is rare for the transmission to cause it to stall. But it can happen.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GNIELSEN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
1997 Dodge Caravan

What causes the van to vapor lock up after 50 or so miles? If we wait awhile it would start up and run alittle while. It only does it in the hot summer. What do you think is wrong with it?
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Low fuel pressure have it checked
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GNIELSEN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
How and where would I Locate for low fuel pressure
on my Dodge Caravan. Is it by the fuel pump? Iam a woman and have no ideal how to test it for fuel pressure. What do you suggest? I do? I'm sorry its a 1994 year model Dodge Caravan.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ONEBLESSEDONE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 165,625 MILES
Van stopped running we were told it was spark plugs and wires. We were able to change all but one plug. Engine starts now but while driving it starts to stall and hitting the gas won't make it pick up speed. While it's idling, the engine sounds like it's running hard and the headlights go dim. Once we get to about 45 mph that's when it will start to slow down by itself and sometimes the engine will just cut off. The one spark plug in the back is impossible to reach, we changed the wire but could that be the problem?
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
If it is the one the back close to the passenger side, then yes. It is your #1 spark plug. The PCM uses #1 spark plug for timing, fuel delivery and a whole lot of other stuff. If that plug is bad, the whole motor won't run smoothly.

Also, you have OBD-II compliant PCM. Take it doen to Autozone or Checker O'Reilly and have them scan the computer. COme back with the fault code(s).
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ONEBLESSEDONE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Yes it is the one back close to the passenger side. For some reason my husband can't get it off. He's tried different tools, took the windshield wiper part off but he still can't get to it. Any suggestions?

And thank you so much for your input :-)
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAN4572
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 171,000 MILES
I have a 97 Grand Caravan ES with a 3.8l V6. The check engine light is on with a P1495 code. The code tripeed when the van stalls. It will stall at random times, AC/ or not, at any speed. When it stalls it will not communicate with the PCM at all. So I turn the key and will get nothing except lights on the dash. No engine, no starter, nothing. Then after a few minutes or hours it will start and drive perfectly.

Parts changed:
Purge Solenoid
Cam Sensor
Crank Sensor
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
Have you checked the wiring harness to the PCM to make sure it is clean and tight?
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAN4572
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I have re seated the PCM wiring harnes and cleared the code. But I did not see tht the harnes was loose. I will monitor. I also noticed that the Smog check guy sold my wife a new gas cap that sits VERY tightly. I am wondering if this could cause the intermittent stalling as this was the only thing different on the car. Can a gas cap fitting too tightly cause this type of stalling? What about Throttle position sensor or the Map Sensor? Oh, by the way I also noticed a crack in the exhaust manifold. Can this cause a stall?

Thank you for all the help. I am trying to do as much as I can without spending a whole lot of money.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
Of the items you listed, the only things that would cause a stall is the map sensor or throttle position sensor. As far as the gas cap, if it leaks fumes, that won't have an affect on the engine.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAN4572
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thank you for your knowledge. Since I cleared the code and have only driven the van locally, we have yet to duplicate the stall with no communication to anything.

Of the two possibilities, Map sensor and Throttle Position Sensor, which would most likely casue the stall, eliminate communication to the PCM for a while and throw the P1495 leak detection pump solenoid circuit trouble code. My thought was to try the TPS first then Map Sensor, but would like to hear your thoughts. As to the more likely culprit.

Thank you.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
I have to be honest. Neither would shut down communication to the PCM. As far as the stall, both can do it. The TPS is more likely to cause a problem when you touch the throttle. At an idle, the vehicle should go into a default mode and continue running. As far as the MAP, it could shut the engine at any throttle position.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAN4572
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
That is interesting. Now I am stumped. I will change the sensor, but I think that maybe I have a separate issue with regards to the communication between the Brain and the car. So the van stalls, fine. What would cause the lack of communication? Bad PCM? Bad ECM? Is it possible that the PCM/ECM is causing the stall and giving a false sensor error?
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MAURICE21
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 206,000 MILES
Engine starts and idols OK but with normal acceleration it "pops" or "chokes" out. It can however be driven with a very delicate increase in acceleration to get over the rough spot.

A code check of the computer puts up an O2 sensor #2. Could this be the problem? This problem materialized out of nowhere. Turned of the car after an average around town trip and it wouldn't start. Seemed to be fireing but wouldn't start. We trhen bypassed the air filter(disconnected the air filter and let full air be ingested) and it seemed to start easier. But still has the acceleration issue. Tried spraying throttle body cleaner in the Plenium, no change.

I am told it could be the map sensor or the part on the plenium? (Throttle body module)
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WINEBURGER
  • MEMBER
  • 82 POSTS
Hook a fuel pressure guage to it; start the van; release the fuel into a container; does the van try to die?
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)

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