Alright guys my 96 Caravan is possessed by demons, I am convinced of it! 1996 Dodge Caravan 2.4L Inline 4cyl.

It has problems cutting off (stalling) when you are not on the gas and the motor is idling. Sometimes it will run and idle but the idle is very rough and you can tell the RPMs drop very low (no tach but so low the exhaust shakes). The engine runs superbly when you are on the gas and pulls hard through all the gears.

Recently the van has had:
New Idle Air Controller (hoped this would fix it, no dice, I did reset the computer)
New Throttle Positioning Sensor
New PCV Valve
New Water Pump
New Timing Belt
New Spark Plugs, Wires and Coil Pack
New Air Filter

I took the throttle body off and cleaned that entire assembly real well but no dice. I have noticed that the throttle butterfly is completely closed when you do not have your foot on the gas. I thought this was how it was suppose to be and the Idle Air Control lets air bypass the butterfly when the car needs to idle... Is this correct? Wrong? [:-]

I got no codes either. I thought I might have a dirty Mass Air Sensor but I can't figure out how this particular engine meters air... there is no visible MAF Sensor in front of the throttle body! I hate 4 cyl motors.!

HELP! WHAT COULD IT BE!?!?! [:@]

 

when you replaced the plugs and wires did you mix a couple of the wires up? thats one thing i would check. also use a timing light to check the timing if at all possible.

 

I would be willing to bet that this is caused by the coil pack. I had to replace mine with simillar symptoms. the coil pack was getting weak. It still fired. it was just weak.
I hope this helps.

Dave

 

ANY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT????????? IF NOT THE ONLY THINGS A COMPUTOR CAN'T SENSE IS A CRANK TRIGGER, AN IGNITION MODULE, A WEAK OR BAD COIL OR THE COMPUTOR ITSELF. IF NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, START IT AND SPRAY ALL AROUND THE ENGINE BAY WITH BRAKE CLEANER. IF THE MOTOR CHOKES OUT WHEN YOU DO THIS LOOK AROUND THAT AREA FOR A VACUUM LEAK. THIS WILL GIVE YOU THAT SAME PROBLEM. IF YOU HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TURN THE KEY SWITCH ON,OFF,ON,OFF,ON AND WATCH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON THE DASH. IT WILL FLASH A SERIES OF TIMES REPRESENTING TROUBLE CODES STORED IN THE COMPUTOR. POST THESE NUMBERS (IF ANY) AND I WILL LOOK THEM UP IN MY CODE BOOK AND TELL YOU WHAT THEY REPRESENT. IF YOU PULL A PLUG WIRE OFF AND STICK AN EXTRA PLUG IN THE END, THEN SET IT NEAR THE ENGINE BLOCK AND HAVE SOMEONE START THE VEHICLE BRIEFLY, YOU CAN SEE THE COLOR OT THE SPARK. BLUE OR WHITE IS GOOD. ORANGE OR RED IS A WEEK COIL .

 

booster, how are things now?

i'm having the same idle problem with my 98.