I have just recently started up my Grand Caravan again... after a month on the road it now hesitates when I give it gas, sometimes I have to floor it to get it moving. Had my local shop do a full tune up and the mechanic said that I was using ethanol gas, which I've never touched ethanol... The mechanic said that it thinks I'm using ethanol gas. Anyone have any ideas?

 

well are you using e-85? have you ever? is your van e-85 compatible? it's darn near impossible to buy any gas that isn't E-10, especially in the midwest are you sure you're not having a transmission or brake problem? don't want to be chasing after the wrong symptoms

 

I live in SE VA and from here to FL and West to AZ all of the fuel I have used contains 10% Ethanol

 

yep and all car manufacturers are able to run e-10 w/o problem.

 

he hooked it up to the computer and it said it was running off E85 and I don't use that grade. the 2 month old spark plugs are black. He said the van is overfueling.

 

That's the weirdest problem I've heard of yet. sounds like you need to find a top notch chrysler electronics guru.

 

if he could tell you what type of fuel ur using he should have been able to tell you alot more. Timing correct? keep running that rich ull destroy ur cat. whats the O2 saying?

 

how would you adjust timing?

 

Timing is controlled by the PCM. Did the tuneup include a new air filter (clogged filter=rich mixture=fouled plugs) and has the throttle body been looked at as it might need a cleaning (aerosol can of fuel injection throttle body cleaner).

Just my thoughts.

 

Timing is non adjustable, but that doesnt mean its correct.

Quite frankly I don't recall tellling him to adjust the timing, I just asked weither it was correct or not.

the PCM may be getting a request to alter the timing
Or a request for more fuel (this is why I asked what the 02 was saying)