Shut off while driving and would not start, does it have an ASD?

Tiny
FEISTY63
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN
  • 3.3L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 20,000 MILES
Driving at the speed of 50 MPH the van shuts off, I get to the side of the road, it spins over won't start. Getting fuel to rails because I smell it. Fuse box is only on inside of van and relay under hood. Need part number for the relay if it has one. I have been having an issue with transmission and gauges acting weird on shifting and dancing gauges.
Thursday, August 31st, 2023 AT 10:13 AM

20 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
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Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so I can hear the engine crank over? That way I can tell for sure what's going on. You can upload it here with your response.

I have seen the ignition switch cause this problem, but we should run the codes to see what is stored.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/retrieve-trouble-codes-for-chrysler-dodge-plymouth-odb1-1995-and-earlier-car-mini-van-and-light-trucks

This guide may help as well:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-not-running-advanced

Here is how to change the ignition switch out in case you need it. Here is the ASD relay location as well which is in the main fuse panel under the hood. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.

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Thursday, August 31st, 2023 AT 5:22 PM
Tiny
FEISTY63
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My husband has changed the ignition before it did not help. It totally cutoff at high speed. It seems not to be getting fire.. No I cant do a video. It just spins over. Has no crank fuse. Changed a relay that works with coil pack. Still same turns over no crank. Its a 93 so its different from newer ones.
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Thursday, August 31st, 2023 AT 6:36 PM
Tiny
FEISTY63
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Husband has a scanner we will check those tomorrow. Trying simple things first.
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Thursday, August 31st, 2023 AT 7:01 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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I was thinking it could be the crankshaft angle sensor. Can you please check for spark?

This video will help:

https://youtu.be/baq_aEWNQ0Y?si=z1BXlt5B3y9Y9gwB

Here is the location of the sensor in case there is no spark. Check out the images (below). Please let us know how it goes.
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Friday, September 1st, 2023 AT 10:34 AM
Tiny
FEISTY63
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He said it wasn't getting fire coming out of coil to plug, I believe. Yes, I was thinking crankshaft sensor too, but I have to wait for husband to check it since you know how things go. I have to order it from different stores just in case. I'll pick one up tomorrow. But he is frustrated with it, so I have to let him do as he does to check it out. He is a mechanic but gets stumped sometimes. I let you know. But there were right many codes relating to transmission speed sensor and the shifting and so on. But he said those don't matter as far as engine running. But would crankshaft sensor shut down at 50 MPH wondering.
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Friday, September 1st, 2023 AT 4:45 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Oh yes, the crankshaft sensor can fail at any time. I would consider changing the crankshaft sensor. Also, when you get a change follow the guide on how to get the trouble codes.
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Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
FEISTY63
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Well, nothing seems to be helping. We changed the crank sensor. Spins and no cranking /starting. Even changed the cam sensor. Has fuel pressure. So not sure what to do. Starting to be money pit. My husband is a mechanic but stumped. It's not reading the codes, no communications between scanner and van. Seems it's something to do in the wiring. All fuses are good. Need the correct wiring diagram for fuse box and relays beside it behind the steering cover and the engine coil and starting diagram if you know what I mean. The part where it comes through the coil output input. 1993 dodge grand caravan es 3.3.
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Monday, September 4th, 2023 AT 1:00 PM
Tiny
FEISTY63
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Okay.
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Monday, September 4th, 2023 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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In 1993 there is no scanner for the car. Please go over the guide I sent and upload a video of the engine cranking over, also will it run on starting fluid?
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Tuesday, September 5th, 2023 AT 11:04 AM
Tiny
FEISTY63
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Snap-On scanner does have it on there just not communicated with scanner. Under hood has a plug and under the steering wheel has a scanner plug one is Chrysler 1 adapter and one is Chrysler 2 adapter. One is for body scanner and one is for engine scanner.. It spins over fast I haven't tried starting fluid but I'll tell him to see if it will still not sure which relay is the auto shutdown relay. So many of same thing they all look alike. There are replays behind the cover at steering wheel that are not accessible until you remove large cover.
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Tuesday, September 5th, 2023 AT 1:27 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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The engine sounds okay, thanks for the video. I would check it for spark, which is easy to do, please go over this video:

https://youtu.be/baq_aEWNQ0Y?si=gXCSS-hBSmq8X_UT

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Wednesday, September 6th, 2023 AT 10:03 AM
Tiny
FEISTY63
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Thanks for your help and info we had some help from another friend mechanic tonight checking it out and have come to the conclusion that the engine Computer is needing to be replaced. It is. Not putting out enough power from it to make spark and power to all things. It has some voltage but just not enough.

Our friend followed the sensor book we have with the testing instructions with test light and other things.

The computer is the best choice since relays are doing as they should. Together they ran quite a few test and this seems to be best choice. I have ordered one but it takes a while to get it to store they said by Friday a week from now unless it comes in sooner. Not really as much as I was thinking it would be.
So I can't really complain the van has been a wonderful van. It hasn't been down many times.

The main thing I love about the van is the amount of space that is on inside of it. They sure don't make them like they used to. Hopefully it will be fixed soon I'm sure missing it. Thanks all.
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Wednesday, September 6th, 2023 AT 9:44 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yes, a bad computer can cause the problem, please let me know what happens.
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Friday, September 8th, 2023 AT 3:54 PM
Tiny
FEISTY63
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Well, installed it and nope it did not crank of course only few minutes was spent on it. Husband was tired from work all day. I'll let you know. At this point I'm frustrated with it.
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Friday, September 8th, 2023 AT 7:58 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yes, car repairs are difficult at times, can you please upload a video of the problem so I can see? Does the engine run on starting fluid, and if not, let's check for spark.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-for-ignition-spark

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Saturday, September 9th, 2023 AT 10:02 AM
Tiny
FEISTY63
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No running at all. Spins over no crank. Not enough spark. Replaced the ECM computer still same thing no change.
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Sunday, September 10th, 2023 AT 9:33 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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I have seen shorted ignition coil cause this problem, have you tried a new one? Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Monday, September 11th, 2023 AT 11:31 AM
Tiny
FEISTY63
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Reply that was the first thing but didn't help. So, the solution last night was since we had replaced crank and cam sensors and a few other things. ECM computer included and it did not crank only spun over not start. Someone suggested we unplug the transmission control module and see if it would crank up and guess what it did start I was doing the happy dance. But then we decided to change the computer back to the old one to see if it indeed was bad too and yes it did not crank with the old ECM computer, so we put the new one back on. So, we now know for sure the emc was bad and the transmission control module on passenger side firewall was bad too. The transmission control module cut the van off at 50 mph and locked where it couldn't start again the solution was figured out. We are now ordered the part and waiting on it the ship to store to get it to put on. We never thought the transmission control module could shut down the van while driving down the road. But we do now know.
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Tuesday, September 12th, 2023 AT 1:56 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for letting us know.
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Wednesday, September 13th, 2023 AT 10:16 AM
Tiny
FEISTY63
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Sure it has been a roller coaster of things to which we still don't know the cause of it, but at least we will get it fixed soon when part comes in.
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Wednesday, September 13th, 2023 AT 10:19 AM

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