I got this grand caravan last week after it sat for 6 years (ran once every few mo.)

after it warms up it'll stall at idle and wont start for a few minutes. there was no previous stalls or problems. gets good fuel, throttle body powers up, no overheating, no misfires, and it'll keep running if i give it gas.

i know if it was the cam or crank sensor it would usually start right back up so i'm thinking the ecm (has a heat sink in the intake by the fender) is probably heating up and quitting. if i wait it'll cool off and be fine for a little while.

could it be the ecm is heating up? or is there a better answer?

 

There is a better answer. You need to start with a scanner and read the data.

 

The problem maybe the spec controller. This was a common problem on the 1991 minivans and the new yorkers. But you need to ck for codes first. Then get a price on a controller.

 

i've got snap-on modis at work, i plan on trying that first thing tomorrow. as for today theres no engine light flash codes, just the usual 12 and 55. another strange thing, after letting it sit for a few hrs (and also it being cold and dark now). i started it and drove across the city (SF) and back with no broblems. i'll know the stored codes (if any) tomorrow morning but if any of you get a good idea of what this means let me know. i'll check this thread again tomorrow afternoon.

thanks master tech
thanks 92dak5.24x4

 

Like I said look at Data stream. Since you have one of the best scanners at your disposal, hook it up, do a flight record when the problem occurs then review the data. A while back, I had a 90 3.3 caravan come thru with random stall only when hot. I drove the van on and off for 200+ miles before I got it to finally act up. turns out it was the cam sensor that caused the stall. However in this case, it wouldn't restart until it cooled off for 5-10 minutes.

 

modis turned up with nuthin. think its the coil pack?

 

it may have something to do with a leaking radiator. i noticed today that when i saw steam it was shortly after that it quit. the fan didn't come on like it sould have. (the engine didn't heat up) but usually after highway driving the fan will come on. in this case i dont understand why it will start then hesitate while accell.

 

yep thro in a coil pack fix the fan fix the leaks and shell be just find. yall kno that the fan aint on when driving? anytime shes going over 30mph theres enuf air thru the rad that the fan dont need to come on. if it does yall got a more serious prob like overheating

 

What do you mean 'the Modis turned up nuttin". Did you get the vehicle to act up while having the scanner on it? When I do a drive test with a scanner, and it acts up, I do a recording then come back to the shop to analyze the data looking for a drop out. Again, I had the EXACT same symptoms you described. The scanner never set a code, but after a lot of miles, I finally replicated the problem which turned out to be a cam sensor. Had I just checked for codes, I'd be in the same results you're getting. Trouble shooting and being able to not only use the tools properly but able to interpret the results correctly.

 

modis has no flight record option with the chry-1 adapter. i did all functional tests (during the time of failure). everything tests fine. i can easily recreate the problem by powerbraking at about 1500 for around 3-5 mins. it'll start kickin and slowly degrade until a complete lack of spark. wait 5 mins and its fine again. the coil pack and the cam sensor are right next to the thermostat.

i think the coil pack is getting hot and failing.