Engine stalls/loses power on acceleration after coasting

Tiny
GATOR12
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
  • 212,500 MILES
Took van on approx. 100 mi. Trip, shut van off for 2 hours, started home. After driving for 4 to 5 mi. At 55 mph on cruise control, van stumbled after coasting down gentle incline when cruise tried to maintain 55 mph. I turned cruise off and drove 10 to 12 miles without trouble. Then coasted down another incline, van again lost power when I tried to maintain 55 mph. Another 6 to7 miles, engine stalled while coasting up to stop sign. This continued rest of way home at 4 to 6 mile intervals, not always stalling, but loss power, sometimes popping in exhaust when trying to accelerate. Service engine light on 30 mi into drive home. PO 171 code on reader. Fuel pressure reads 48psi, no apparent vacumn leaks. 3.3 litre V6 Does have flash rev to 1300 upon starting.
Wednesday, July 10th, 2013 AT 12:28 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,053 POSTS
P0171 Fuel Trim System Lean Bank 1

Check for vacuum leaks around the intake.
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Wednesday, July 10th, 2013 AT 3:22 PM
Tiny
GATOR12
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
After I tested fuel pressure I looked over lines+hoses for vacuum leaks. Didn't find any, but I noticed the fuel pressure had dropped over 10 psi within a couple of minutes after key shut off. I put bottle of injector cleaner in gas tank and have now driven van a couple of short 10 to 15 mile trips. Ran good and now service engine light is no longer on. Problem fixed?
Thank you for your reply
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Wednesday, July 10th, 2013 AT 9:52 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,053 POSTS
Glad you got it fixed.
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Thursday, July 11th, 2013 AT 8:08 PM
Tiny
GATOR12
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Problem has returned! After driving van several times this past week for a total of appox. 100 miles, today the loss of power after coasting upon acceleration returned. Check engine light is lit again, this time I counted flashes of light for codes and recorded 12, 51, and 55 for codes. Any suggestions?
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Wednesday, July 17th, 2013 AT 9:38 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,053 POSTS
Code 12 The battery has been disconnected and the computer (ECU) has been reset.

Code 51 running too lean,

Code 55 End of fault code list

The 51 is what I feel is the problem. Here is a list of things to check:

Poor wiring condition at O2 sensor
Bad O2 sensor
Weak fuel pressure

Start with the checking fuel pressure. Do this when the problem occurs. Check O2 sensor while the engine is running (with a live scanner) to determine if it is working within the parameters. Check the wiring at the O2 sensor to confirm it is in good condition and not corroded.

Let me know what you find.
Joe
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Thursday, July 18th, 2013 AT 3:32 PM
Tiny
GATOR12
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Of course by the time I read your reply it was the next afternoon. The van ran fine and the check engine light was no longer on. Ran engine on scanner, O2 sensor tests OK, wiring good. The PO 171 code was recorded again. Fuel pressure was 48 PSI.
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Friday, July 19th, 2013 AT 2:09 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,053 POSTS
I don't know why, but this just showed up in my mail. Sorry it has been so long. Have you had any luck with the issue?
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Saturday, August 10th, 2013 AT 9:27 PM
Tiny
GATOR12
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
The van runs fine most of the time, but now &then it will have the same loss of power when trying to maintain ground speed after coasting. If I just hold the pedal steady and don't try to accelerate it will pick back up after a short ten to fifteen seconds. So far the check engine light has not came back on. I have looked for bad connections and vacuum leaks with out success as yet.
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2013 AT 7:28 PM

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