Engine is stalling out while driving

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Usually the problem isn't a bad PCM, but rather a bad connection within the wiring harness where it plugs into the PCM. I may have already asked this, but have you check the connection where the wiring harness plugs in to the PCM? I have seen corrosion, bent pins, or loose connections cause problems.

Let me know.

Joe
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MAURICE21
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Winebrener,

Changed the O2 sensor (aft Cat) and air filter. Still has the cut out upon acceleration but its better. Occassionally it will stall or get stuck in the "choke" mode. (Ie: coughing) then it will come back. I am thinking fuel filter or throttle control valve.

What do you think? I will try the fuel pressure gage.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WINEBURGER
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  • 82 POSTS
Also on dodge chrysler product through those years when you disconnect the battery you have to re learn the computer using a scan tool they will have weird drvability problems if you dont
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MAURICE21
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hey Wineburger, (Sorry I goofed your handle), Anyway, this auto parts guy is convinced its the map senosr. Says the Fuel issue is too much instead of not enough. Says from the sound of the starting problem when warm its getting flooded, Excessive cranking when warmed up and popping, at the ned of the cycle when it doesn't start. And that when accelerating it chokes out if applied to quickly. (If I baby it I can get it past the rough spot.) What are your thoughts on this? I am having trouble finging a rental fuel pressure tester but they only cost $40 so I may have to buy one if the MAP sensor doesn't do it. I'd appreciate you ideas on this added info.

Also, as for relearning the codes, I also tonight I took out the IACV and cleaned it it seems to be working fine when diagnosing it with A/C added and idol change. When I returned the IACV to the vehicle it did race then came right back into spec with idol and performed as before, Crappy.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WINEBURGER
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  • 82 POSTS
Those actron scaners that autozone uses wont relearn the computer I use a snapon scanner and it has a place in it to reset all memory, if you disconected the battery recently I would try this first. I had a dodge product come in on more than one occasion that this was the fix. Simmular van came in it died when ward coming to a stop start up run eraticaly. Poor acceleration
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MAURICE21
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  • 4 POSTS
I havn't had the battery out or have it dierecently. The OBD scanner I am using iis software a neighbor has on his computer. It reports fault codes in the computer and gives the ability to clear the codes. It also gives all the pertinent data like Fuel trims, O2 values, RPM, engine Temp, IMAP, etc. All these values are equal to the neighbors vehicle which is the same make/model just a 1996 but identical motor.

I don't know why you think I was using an Actron scanner from Autozone? However, I would like to try Relearn the computer or reset all memory as you say. I guess what I am asking is when I reset the codes is this what you are speaking of?
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WINEBURGER
  • MEMBER
  • 82 POSTS
No its called relearn not just reseting the codes. Or if you dont have enough fuel flow it will cause a simullarit to dye out on acceleration. With the scanner see if your o2 sensors lean way out when accelerating if they do I would suspect a fuel flow problem. Cloged fuel filter;cloged screen on bottom of fuel pump. Faulty fuel pump. Actrons what I use when I dont have anything else.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TARYN125
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 181,000 MILES
I was driving down the highway and my van just shut off completely when I tried to start it it just cranks but wont fire up the guages were doing weird things like rpm and speed guages not working on occation but gas and cooling would. My wipers would sometimes not shut off and then eventually the passenger wiper just quit completly I replaced the coil pack and fuel filter and fuel pump and nothing when my husband checked the computer we found that the engine fuse keeps shorting out also we found that a ground wire was snapped it looked like a shoe lace we replaced that ground but I think that was a whole different ground. Can someone please help this vehicle is my only transportation and I use it to transport 2 small children and one is disabled please help i've tried machanic's but they keep telling me they dont know after I spend $100's then send me back to square 1 I really dont have alot of money to keep guessing
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
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Ok lets see what we can do some things are harder to do long distance then others so you may need to be patient ok. I need to know when it dies is it spark or fuel that is missing? As for the guages we will get to that later ok. THe ground wire that you replaced what did it go to? Do you have a digital multi meter you may need to do some tests. Get back to me with what you know and we will go from there. Thanks and have a great day.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TARYN125
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It only died once and never started again it seems like it's not getting spark it just keeps trying to start but wont fire up the ground that I replaced was gray and looked like a shoe string it's on the top left corner conects from the body under the windshield to the fender i'm not a machanic so I dont know what it's called also no I dont have a digital multi meter all I know is that it keeps blowing engine fuses from the main fuse box under the hood
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
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Ok that was a ground strap for the body to hood thats all nothing more so that should not have had anything to do with it. Now what I need you to do is pull a spark plug wire off and put a screw driver in the end of it just (a philips works best) and put it near metal and turn the engine over and see if there is spark or not ok. Get back to me with what you find. Thanks
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TARYN125
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Ok I tried that and no it's not getting spark.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
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Ok what you need to do it disconnect the connector to the coil and I need you to use a digital multi meter and check for voltage at the B poss term at the connector the wire to that on the connector will be Dk blue and Tan. Here is a pic of the connector ok. Then I need you to check resistance between term 3 and the B poss term the first should be battery voltage the second should be 2 ohms of resistance or more. Let me know what you find ok. Here is a pic of the connector.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/249564_Graphic_17.jpg


If this checks out ok then we will test the Auto Shutdown Relay ok. Thanks and let me know what you find.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DEANSTACY26
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 156,000 MILES
Just baught a 97 grand caravan the seller told us that it cuts out every now and then but start right back up if you shut the vehicle off. My husband did a full tune up and oil change also replaced tires and ball joints then the van stalled about 12 times do you think its the fuel pump
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
Ignition switch, Idle speed motor, engine computer, crankshaft position sensor, electrical connectors, automatic shutdown relay, MAP sensor, EGR valve, throttle position sensor, air conditioning over-charged, etc.

WAY too many things to guess at without more information, but a fuel pump and tune-up are two of the least likely causes. When does it stall? Driving? Idling? Coasting? When coming to a stop? Does anything else stop working? Was the battery disconnected recently? Does the "Check Engine" light come on while driving? Will it stay running if you hold your foot on the gas pedal?

Fuel pumps USUALLY cause a no-start. Tune-up issues will cause a surge or sputter.

MAP sensor reports engine load. It can be incorrect without being out-of-range. That will result in the wrong amount of fuel being delivered. Crankshaft position sensor can be intermittent, but they usually have to cool down before they will work again. Burned contacts or connector pins in the ignition switch will also cause the radio display to go blank. Idle speed motor can let the engine die when coming to a stop if the computer doesn't know minimum throttle. That information will be lost from memory if the battery was dead or disconnected, but it will not cause stalling while your foot is on the gas pedal. If the heater control lights are flashing, battery power was lost. That computer will need to be recalibrated, and minimum throttle must be relearned. Minimum throttle just involves driving it under a specific set of conditions. This doesn't sound like your problem.

Holler back with more details.

Caradiodoc
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DANIELA1986
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
My 97 dodge caravan is stalling and cutting out really bad. I have changed my distributor but that didnt work. Do u know what it might be. Please help me.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
Has the Check Engine light come on while driving? A good suspect is the crankshaft position sensor but it would be nice to have a diagnostic fault code pointing to that circuit rather than just throwing random parts at it.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
1st check for codes
check fuel pressure '
check for vacuum leaks
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DANIELA1986
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Well my distirbutor was throwing a spark over to my fuel injection system. Thats the main reason I changed it
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SEMPERFI1977
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 19,700 MILES
When trying to start my caravan if once I turn the key and all the light on the dash are on the van will start. If the check engine soon light is not lit, the van will not start. Had this problem before and I changed the Egr. Run good for a few months and now it will lose power and the airbag, check engine, oil and abs light will come on and the check engine light will flicker as the engine sputs and spudders. The only code I can get using the key method is 31 but I;m sure that code as been in there for a long time! HELP
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 12:49 PM (Merged)

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