1997 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.8 liter. Only 62,000 miles.
Car was jerking and dying. After a couple of minutes of cooldown, it would restart and drive normal. Was getting a code 54, the code for camshaft position sensor. Autozone tested and confirmed this. Bought and installed new camshaft position sensor. On first test drive, within a block or so, got a bucking and jerking with backfiring. I figured it was the paper spacer on the end of the sensor wearing off. Got the car home, let it idle to warm up and another test drive. Everything working great. Drove the car for 50 some miles last night, ran great, in fact seemed to have more pep than usual.
This morning the wife drove the car to kid's school (a little over a mile) and got jerking and hesitating. Service Engine Light came on. On the way back got jerking for about two blocks then smoothed out and ran normal. Now I get a code 11. Most curious.
Code 11: 11 No ignition reference signal detected during cranking (bad Hall effect) OR timing belt skipped one or more teeth; OR loss of either camshaft or crankshaft position sensor. Can cause the engine to stop working entirely with no limp-home mode.
I'm figuring it's not the cam sensor since it's new and ran excellently last night, doubtful it's the timing belt skipped since it ran smooth last night. That leaves no ignition reference signal or crankshaft sensor.
Any ideas? Is there a way to test for these problems before I start buying more parts?
77Utiline
12-16-2006, 04:58 AM
Disable your fuel pump, while someone carnks the motor take a multi-meter set to AC voltage and see what the signal voltage is from both the Hall effect and the crank position sensor and also check your cam position sensor even though you just installed it these vans can be very picky i.e. aftermarket thermostat, heater valve etc.
powrwrap
12-16-2006, 12:22 PM
I went ahead and replaced the crank position sensor. No joy. The still car bucks and jerks and now I have a code 43.
Code
43 Peak primary coil current not achieved with max dwell time
OR
43 Cylinder misfire
OR
43 Problem in power module to logic module interface
I also noticed something strange--the Service Engine Now light and the Cruise Control light were blinking while the car was misfiring.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
77Utiline
12-18-2006, 04:27 AM
I went ahead and replaced the crank position sensor. No joy. The still car bucks and jerks and now I have a code 43.
Code
43 Peak primary coil current not achieved with max dwell time
OR
43 Cylinder misfire
OR
43 Problem in power module to logic module interface
Could be an ECM issue.
I also noticed something strange--the Service Engine Now light and the Cruise Control light were blinking while the car was misfiring.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Now that's a new one on me. Only thing I can think of that might cause that would be some sort electrical surge of interference.
powrwrap
12-18-2006, 09:48 AM
Originally Posted by powrwrap
I also noticed something strange--the Service Engine Now light and the Cruise Control light were blinking while the car was misfiring.
Now that's a new one on me. Only thing I can think of that might cause that would be some sort electrical surge of interference.
Doesn't the crank position sensor provide the signal for the cruise control? If so, it might be a clue.
77Utiline
12-18-2006, 03:47 PM
The crank sensor provides the signal for the ignition to fire (instead of a rotor) on a DIS ignition. So I see how it could be tied into the cruise control, but I'd have to take a look at my service manual's wiring diags to know for sure.
mfahey
12-18-2006, 04:32 PM
The flashing light is an indication that your catalytic converter could be damaged if you continue to drive the van without fixing the problem.
powrwrap
12-18-2006, 04:43 PM
The crank sensor provides the signal for the ignition to fire (instead of a rotor) on a DIS ignition. So I see how it could be tied into the cruise control, but I'd have to take a look at my service manual's wiring diags to know for sure.
OK, here's an update. I put the old camshaft sensor in the car and it fires right up! Arrgghh! BTW, the cardboard backcover of a spiral notebook makes an excellent source for paper spacer material for the end of the sensor.
powrwrap
12-18-2006, 04:44 PM
The flashing light is an indication that your catalytic converter could be damaged if you continue to drive the van without fixing the problem.
OK thanks. I only drove it about two blocks with it stuttering but yeah, it was bucking and backfiring and made an awful exhaust stink.
77Utiline
12-18-2006, 10:11 PM
Your van is creating very high amounts of HC's (hydro carbons that wonderful sulfur smell) and can be caused by a plugged and/ or damaged cat or a pinched exhaust system. In any case you culprit is either going to be a sensor or an issue with the exhaust system.
roace
03-28-2007, 11:34 PM
did anyone ever find a solution for this? I have the EXACT problem with my 92 3.3! Please help...
gforster
03-29-2007, 01:18 AM
check the connector at the cam and crank sensor we just had a guy with bad connections.....
roace
03-29-2007, 09:49 AM
can any one tell me where they are exactly. I know one of them is on the block near the firewall, on the driver's side. I don't know which one it is.
Thanks.
gforster
03-30-2007, 01:04 AM
the one on the block in the transaxle bellhousing is the crank position sensor the cam sensor is on the front (passenger side) of the engine tucked just down beside the steel bracket for the engine mount the connector for it is just below the alternator. look right around the thermostat housing you should find it
Good luck
Geoff
77Utiline
03-30-2007, 03:38 AM
I just had my cam sensor go tits on me going down the freeway pulling a fairly steep grade and had to replace it when I costed into the nearest parts house after having already been on the road for 30 minutes. It was great :nutkick: Oh yeah word of advice if at all possible let the thing kind of sort of cool down :VHOT: Of course we all know thats never the way things go :banghead:
beachmech
07-27-2007, 10:54 PM
Hi im new here so bare with me. It is possible that the flex plate is cracked where it bolts to the crankshaft causing it to flex enough to throw out the crank sensor signal in relation to the cam sensor signal. these two signals have to be in exact relation to run good. it would have the same symptom as a timing belt out one tooth. which may also be a possibility. just a thought. good luck!!!
nampud
07-29-2007, 12:39 PM
I had the same thing happen to mine, its the Crankshaft Sensor, it's located on the back of the bell housing on the transmission, if it's a 3.0Lt enging it don't have a crankshaft sensor, they're built into the Distributor, the wiring for the camshaft and crankshaft sensor or on the same harness and the computor gets confused so it will come up with camshaft sensor, I fixed mine about a year and half ago, never seen the codes or problem since. The parts about $115.00 with taxes.
