05 Caravan SE, no start...weak spark. Frustrated, help!
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05 Caravan SE, no start...weak spark. Frustrated, help!
Hi, I am new to the forum... I have read through many posts trying to self diagnose what is going on with this van but I couldn't find anything to help me much.
The specs: 2005 Dodge Caravan SE, 4 cylinder. 90k miles. Bought brand new, and has been taken care of pretty well.
Previous problems: I just replaced the Cam sensor for the 3rd time since I bought it brand new. I replaced it when it was 3 years old, about a year ago and just a few days ago.
Right now my problem starts out like this:
I replaced my plugs and wires... it was running fine for a few days and then, while I was driving down the road, it all of the sudden out of nowhere and with no warning, just died on me. I tried to start it... no dice. I ended up having to tow it home.
After running the OBD tester, it came up as a bad cam sensor and a bad battery. I have replaced both, and no luck. I have checked everything, it is getting fuel, The plugs and wires are new. I replaced the ignition coil tonight, hoping that it was the culprit and it wasn't. I have looked around and traced wires and found nothing damaged.
I am just a novice mechanic, going off of what I learned watching my dad work on cars as a kid, and what I have read in manuals and online, I am not an expert by any means... heck- I'm a female...and not to put us women down, but we don't generally know too much in the way of cars and what makes them go...but I know more than the average girl. I have maintained my own vehicles without ever having to take them to shops for anything (replaced axles, starters, brakes, rotors, general maintenence kind of things). I digress, anyways, I know the basics of what makes a car start and it seems like I have hit a brick wall... it could be so many things I just don't know where to start.
I replaced the coil tonight, I really thought that would be my issue...but I go to start it and it cranks, but won't turn over. When I test the spark from the coil, I get a yellow to orange weak spark. What might cause this?
Any ideas? And thanks in advance for helping me out...I really don't have the money to take it to a pro, who might just take advantage of my lack of knowledge, or think I am just a "dumb girl" and try to railroad me.
I am just a little grease monkey on the inside. Tell me where to go from here, I am up for anything you may suggest.
PS- many people I have talked to keep telling me it is the starter... but it died suddenly while I was driving it... and I have never had an issue starting it before.
-L1th1um
The specs: 2005 Dodge Caravan SE, 4 cylinder. 90k miles. Bought brand new, and has been taken care of pretty well.
Previous problems: I just replaced the Cam sensor for the 3rd time since I bought it brand new. I replaced it when it was 3 years old, about a year ago and just a few days ago.
Right now my problem starts out like this:
I replaced my plugs and wires... it was running fine for a few days and then, while I was driving down the road, it all of the sudden out of nowhere and with no warning, just died on me. I tried to start it... no dice. I ended up having to tow it home.
After running the OBD tester, it came up as a bad cam sensor and a bad battery. I have replaced both, and no luck. I have checked everything, it is getting fuel, The plugs and wires are new. I replaced the ignition coil tonight, hoping that it was the culprit and it wasn't. I have looked around and traced wires and found nothing damaged.
I am just a novice mechanic, going off of what I learned watching my dad work on cars as a kid, and what I have read in manuals and online, I am not an expert by any means... heck- I'm a female...and not to put us women down, but we don't generally know too much in the way of cars and what makes them go...but I know more than the average girl. I have maintained my own vehicles without ever having to take them to shops for anything (replaced axles, starters, brakes, rotors, general maintenence kind of things). I digress, anyways, I know the basics of what makes a car start and it seems like I have hit a brick wall... it could be so many things I just don't know where to start.
I replaced the coil tonight, I really thought that would be my issue...but I go to start it and it cranks, but won't turn over. When I test the spark from the coil, I get a yellow to orange weak spark. What might cause this?
Any ideas? And thanks in advance for helping me out...I really don't have the money to take it to a pro, who might just take advantage of my lack of knowledge, or think I am just a "dumb girl" and try to railroad me.
I am just a little grease monkey on the inside. Tell me where to go from here, I am up for anything you may suggest.
PS- many people I have talked to keep telling me it is the starter... but it died suddenly while I was driving it... and I have never had an issue starting it before.
-L1th1um
Record Breaker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,256
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From: SoCal
Ditto on the crank sensor. Like you I'm no expert but I read a lot. This was a known querk on 3rd generation vans (96-00) meaning a recorded fault code for a cam sensor when in reality the crank sensor was the culprit. I don't recall reading of it specifically applying to 4th gen vans (01-07) but I wouldn't be suprised if it does. Ideally you want to verify the reference voltage at the sensor and check continuity of the wire harness from the sensor connector to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), the engine computer. Since yours is so intermittent I would at least do a visual inspection of the sensor connector and any visible wiriing before changing it.
If you have a bonefide weak spark and since you've already changed the coil, the only thing left are the coil driver circuits and power from the PCM. This is what fires the coil. My books are 2500 miles away right now so I can't give specifics on an 05 but I'm sure someone can.
What code did you see to make you change the battery?
If you have a bonefide weak spark and since you've already changed the coil, the only thing left are the coil driver circuits and power from the PCM. This is what fires the coil. My books are 2500 miles away right now so I can't give specifics on an 05 but I'm sure someone can.
What code did you see to make you change the battery?
Last edited by Cougar41; Mar 8, 2011 at 10:40 AM.
Champion
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,023
Likes: 5
To check the coil, use a test lamp and not a volt meter. There are 3 wires to the coil, power supplied by the ASD relay and 2 wires that go to the PCM to ground the coil windings. The battery feed should give you a bright lamp, if not, bad connection somewhere. To check the wires to the PCM, connect the test lamp to the battery positive terminal and probe the terminal. While someone cranks the engine, the test lamp should flash. Here is a wiring diagram to help.
