I have a 94 caravan 3.0l V6 that will run fine, but then randomly act like its running out of gas. At Highway speeds, the engine will kind of Jug and Jerk, the Speedometer drops down too 10, then jumps back upto the speed im going. If this happens at a red light, it general stalls out. Start it back up, some times it starts up like nothing happened, other times it will hesitate and chug and miss while starting up, and i have to keep the revs up too kept the engine from stalling out. Somtimes when i try and give it gas, it makes no difference.

Now, Im not sure if this would cause all these problems or not, but at the start of the month i found out that I have low compression on the #3 Cylinder, only 50psi where as the rest of them are around 130psi. but this has been an issue for a month, and this new problem started 3 days ago.

I also thought it was an electrical issue because when it bogs down and chugs out, my heater fan goes too half speed, and all the lights, Instrument lights and head lights dim too half brightness as well... Took it too the shop too test the alternator and battery, turns out my battery was dead, replaced that, Lights don't dim anymore, but still stalls out.

When I first got the van, it had a smiler issue with the TPS sensor, this is almost acting the same but not quite. when the TPS sensor connector was dirty, id have too wait 10min to start back up... but could it be the TPS acting up again, or the low compression? Or any other ideas ?

Also noticed when it bogs down at idle, a few of the Relays start Clickin away. and when the issue is midly acting up, the car while idle normaly, and now and thin the revs will pick up as if the computers tryin too keep the engine from stalling out.

Also after playing around, it seems too act up AFter i warm the car up, turn it off and start it again... Seems too trigger the issue. runs Normily till the car is warmed up.

 

Sounds like the fuel pump, we had the same proble with our 88 .

 

hmm... didnt think about the fuel pump... When you had fuel pump issues, did the Speedometer Drop too nothing and then back up again ?

 

Also now i think of it, the problem originaly was worse off when i was low on gas, altho today its been acting non stop, and i have over half a tank of gas, and i was told it had a new fuel pump put in when i bought it 2 years ago... id really hope that there would be more than a 2 year life on a new fuel pump... but then again..

 

Had the same issue with my wife's 97. Drove me insane for ~ 6 months since the computer was throwing no codes whatsoever!

Initially it was intermittent, then it got more frequent and then it was happening 10 times a day. Checked vacuum lines, fuel pressure, battery, electrics. Replaced fuel pump & filter. Nothing helped.

Took out the Throttle Body and cleaned it up real good. Helped a little but still, same results.

I was going crazy until I took out the MAP sensor. It's easy as pie to get to and once I took it out it was painfully obvious that the tiny hole was completely blocked. Carburetor cleaner did not help here.

Anyway, it's like $12 for a new one I believe. Put it in and the car has been running like a champ since. Not ONE time has it done the same thing.

So, before you waste your money -like me- on the fuel pump & filter, try the MAP sensor first.