The wife's 1997 GCV, 3.3 lt, 204,000 miles.

At about 180,000 miles I (or the previous owner) have replaced;
-Cam sensor (new)
-Crank sensor (new)
-O2 sensor (new)
-Fuel pump / regulator assy (new)
-intake plenum with all it's parts (TPS, EGR, Temp Sensor, ect) (used, from my parted out van)


It made the trip from Oklahoma to Oregon (2200 miles) fully loaded down without issue.
(Not bad for a $400 van )

Here lately it's had this... sputtering, wanting to die, chug chug thing going on.
It can happen at any speed, on any road surface rough or smooth, in town or on the freeway.
When I drove it, at first I thought speed sensor, because it felt like it was confused about when to shift at highway speed. It seemed like it happens when you're feathering the pedal as in a down hill to up hill road.
Then, while heading to AutoZone for the upper radiator hose (had a dandy hole in it), I was on city streets and it did it to me then. At low speeds it will stall out completely. It starts right back up fine and runs good for a while, maybe the rest of the trip, maybe only 2 miles.
I've not found a pattern yet, other than it does it when the pedal is transitioning from slack to power.

MIL light is not lit, and I haven't scanned it for codes yet.

Anyone ever have such a problem?

Hoping MasterTech, Tizzy and the rest of our marvelous MOPAR techs here on DF would have some input before I tear into this and waste a bunch of time.


Thanks Guys,
EZ1

 

You cleaned the throttle body on the used plenum?

 

Yes, gave it a good spray down and dry.
Back then, the van had a random misfire code and would misfire mostly when cold.
At that time, I tuned it up with new plugs and wires and a new O2 sensor just because I had the plenum off. That didn't fix the misfire, so I replaced the whole plenum with my spare. Misfire gone. I could have been any of the sensors attached to the plenum.

The van ran fine all the way to Oregon and for a couple months after she got here.
As with most problems, it just started doing it one day.


EZ1

 

Yep, I hear ya. It could be an injector issue. Or a harness issue. Or...........

Tough when they don't do it consistantly.

How long does it sputter before it comes out of it?

 

2, maybe 3 seconds, then acts like nothing happened.


screwy

EZ1

 

Did this get fixed?

 

I'm thinking maybe the map/baro sensor is out of range. Any store codes?