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[3rd Gen : 96-00]: Caravan 2.4 3spd P1391 & P0340 Hesitates to move / intermittent

Old Aug 2, 2017 | 01:26 PM
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Mikeb-rick
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Default Caravan 2.4 3spd P1391 & P0340 Hesitates to move / intermittent

Today I got a new code from my 1996 Dodge Caravan 2.4l base 3spd. Hurray! (im being sarcastic)
(my cluster is a 97 and never had a MIL light show up for some unknown reason, even the key dance doesn't work since I did that 10 years ago)

Here's the story:
It has been sitting up for a month or so as the fuel pump died while I was driving. Replaced that after a few weeks. Drove the van around the yard every few days. Then the A/C compressor started leaking and I just finished rebuilding it, all pressured up and go for a test drive and as I am pulling out to the street to accelerate the van jerks back and forth as I go to 25mph which didn't happen very quickly. I prayed as I made it around the block back to the house. Plugged in my code reader and I got P1391 crank shaft or cam sensor. I just tested these when I replaced the fuel pump and to make sure it wasn't the problem with my volt meter and wire probe and turning engine over by hand, etc. All worked perfectly.

The van starts up fine. I give it some quick revs and it hesitates on the lower RPM but fine on high RPM and I drive it on my yard and while turning and now functioning A/C I can feel the van jump like its missing fuel or spark, but idles fine and low revs miss a bit. Also does it with A/C off, but not as bad. Van does vibrate a little bit while stationary. I think its the engine mounts are old and stiff or it might be something else wrong.

I might have caused the 2nd code P0340 and I unplugged the cam sensor while the engine was running and that van died instantly. Plugged it back in (and locked the tab) and started fine and thats how I knew I had two codes.
I cleared the codes and start, restart van, and scan for codes and no codes. Van drives perfect (although it feels slower than I remember) and I went for a 10 mile drive and a mile from the house it hesitated accelerating and then it "fixed itself". Checked for codes when I got home and there was the same two codes.

Still driving good but Im not going to rely on it until we can solve what is going on!?

When my PCM died 2 years ago I did replace the sensors with new ones and soldered the new pigtail connectors. The camshaft seal never sealed and it leaked oil so I added gasket sealant. Im not sure if that would cause it, because it's been like that for a year and I haven't had any problem til now.


Edit 8-9-17. Fixed it. Before I found out it was the fuel pump, I thought it was the crank sensor that went out and I bought a better one, but it turned out the part numbers say it is not for the 96 caravan. I think its for a 07+ PT Cruiser, so I put the old one back and I have no problems and lots of power for 150HP :P
 

Last edited by Mikeb-rick; Aug 9, 2017 at 06:06 PM.
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