Intermittent starting

Tiny
JMLEE
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 DODGE VAN
  • 5.0L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
Nine out of ten times engine starts fine then the next time it will crank over but will not run. When running van runs great with no problems.
Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 9:21 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hi Jmlee, my name is Alex and I will be helping you today. This sounds like it could be a problem with your crankshaft position sensor, or the crankshaft position sensor connector, or a loose wire in the crankshaft position sensor circuit. I would start with inspecting the connector and sensor. Here are a couple of links that might help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-crankshaft-sensor https://www.2carpros.com/articles/crankshaft-angle-sensor-replacement
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Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 10:50 AM
Tiny
JMLEE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I don't think it is the crank shaft sensor because once the van starts it continues to run with no issues. The problem may not surface again for several days and will turn over and start instantly. Then for no apparent reason when you go to start it the engine will turn over and will not fire to start running. If you let it sit for half an hour it will start right up.
Can't get anyone to fix it because they can keep it overnight for a few days and it will start right up with no hesitation. They van runs great, doesn't miss or stall and keeps going until you shut it off, then it may start the next morning or it may not. The van is too good to get rid of it, but not reliable in case of an emergency. Do you have any other suggestions. I read that it could maybe be a door relay going bad. It doesn't seem to be the neutral safety switch either because changing gears from park to neutral and back doesn't make a difference either. What do you think. Thanks for any suggestions. Jim
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Sunday, January 20th, 2019 AT 6:25 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Have you checked the crankshaft position sensor connector or the wires going to it? A loose connector or a little unwanted resistance can give a false reading to the PCM/ECU and could rear it's head intermittently also.
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Monday, January 21st, 2019 AT 1:14 AM

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