So yesterday I'm about an hour from home and heading up the highway on-ramp and out of nowhere...nothing, my engine stalls out. I pull over and attempt to start it and it just spins...dang it. It was about 10 degrees out and the van had only been on for a few minutes so it was quite cold. So I dug through my wallet looking for my Auto Advantage card to call for a tow (btw, they're much less expensive than aaa is). A few minutes later I found it and was about to call when I figured I'd try one more time, bam she fired right up. So off I went heading home being very glad that I wasn't going to be sitting there waiting for a tow.

During the drive home there was a couple of times during acceleration that I noticed a sort of pre-ignition sound coming from the engine, so I thought that perhaps the PCM was going bad or the fuel pump was starting to go. When I got home I swapped the PCM with my spare one (everyone has a spare one, right). Went for a drive and all was well, then bam, she stalled out at a traffic light. So now I know it wasn't the PCM. Then I remembered back to how I was able to buy this van for $1,300 when the book value at the time was $5,000...it kept stalling then starting after a few minutes. Back then I figured out it was a bad crank sensor. Today I installed a new crank sensor and it's been great all day, no stalling. So I think I've got it solved (again) and anyone with the same symptoms should try a new crank sensor first.

 

Thanks for the info.
What kind did you get ?

 

I just went to Advance Auto and picked up a BWD one. At 15-years old how much longer is this thing gonna last anyways.

 

Good information to know.

 

Just got my Rockauto closeout parts email today. Of all things, the crank sensor was listed for only a few dollars. Also, the Autolite APP55224 (double platinums) were a mere $1.68 each. I remember back in the days when Kmart carried these at those low prices for only the copper core plugs. There were a bunch of other things too. Those just stand out from memory.

 

I've owned two 'Chrysler' products that I had to put CPSs in...


97 Grand Cherokee
02 Van


I have been through a total of 5...3 in the GC, 2 in my van...


all of the CPSs are just Chinese junk

 

What's a CPS ??? Have not heard of this term in all of the automotive forums.

 

Crankshaft Position Sensor. Some also refer to it as CKS.