I have a 2001 Dodge Caravan, 3.8 Engine, 112,000 miles..... Every time I put it in gear the engine dies. Any suggestions?

 

Until someone pipes in - it could be something as simple as your fuel filter being clogged. I searched the net and they said it was located under the vehicle above the fuel tank. Take a look at Replace 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan fuel filter and How to Replace a Fuel Filter in a Dodge Caravan...

 

Welcome to DF
Is the check engine light on? I'm guessing the torque converter is causing the stalling problem you put the transmission into gear.

 

Put it in neural, start it, left foot on brake.
What if you hold the RPM to around 1200-1500 and then slam it in gear, does it still dies?
Trying to see if the engine is just under powered or Trans is lock up as Master Tech mentioned.

 

Be careful with what steak said. The van could lunge forward when you put it in gear with the engine rev'ed if the torque converter is locked.

If the van is facing a wall and if nothing is behind, I would put it in reverse. But also another caution, if you do put it in reverse, know that if it lunges backward it could cause you to increase the throttle without meaning to.

 

Yes be careful and apply the park brake too.

 

I was just reading some of the responses people were giving .To add to the rev it up high and pop it into gear answer, I just wanted to note that ,fo safety it might be better to jack the van up and securely place blocking under it if you try that . You will have less chance of it lungeing away and you will be able to see if the wheels are turning in gear .

 

What does it mean if it does or doesnt? My van just started dying when it goes into gear it had been recently low on tranny fluid

 

Well on that vintage of vehicle you have a "locking torque converter" which means that at when the speed van gets up to a certain speed and gear the transmission uses a magnet to pull the halves of the converter together since the engine and transmission sides of the converter are turning at the exact same speed and this adds a bit to efficiency. That said you could have a chunk of debris that is binding the transmission too and the engine stalls unable to turn the transmission.

I had a 1990 Olds Cutlass Ciera that I had to leave the torque lockup module unplugged (no electricity means no magnet) or else it would die when I got back below 35mph. The car got **** mileage but still cheaper than fixing it. If you put it up on jacks then you are relieving the backpressure of moving the weight of the vehicle and the transmission has such a small load any RPM should allow it to turn. That's the cheapest way to know if you need tranny work or an idle up solution.

Your engine computer (or something) tells the engine to rev up a bit to deal with the added demand for power. So if the wheels turn when you are off the ground then you know the issue is not enough fuel, spark, or air; or a sensor/computer/etc telling the engine to get more fuel & air.