'97 LE with 3.8

[caravanlover]

I have a 1997 Dodge Caravan LE with the 3.8 engine. It has 165K miles on it and until now was doing fine. But now it has a very uneven idle and it has stalled a couple of times when stopped. Also when running sometimes it skips a beat, so to speak. My mechanic does not feel comfortable working on it anymore.

It's had a new throttle position switch. When the codes are read with different machines, there are conflicting messages. One has to do with the throttle circuit and one some sort of regulator for the transmission. There is a lot of corrosion evident on all the wires below the battery. So there could be a short in one of them.

So it seems like my days with this van are coming to a close, since I don't want to keep throwing money in it. I'd bring it to a Dodge dealer but who knows how good they would be.

So I wanted 1. someone to commiserate with me, and 2. wanted to ask how much I should ask if I would sell it privately. It runs, but not great. The candy apple red body is very good and the interior has no tears but could use a cleaning. The tires are good. I'd love to see someone like one of you enthusists keep it going. :)

Fran

[2000TC]

Could it be a bad fuel filter?

[caravanlover]

I don't believe so, according to symptoms I saw described on the web.

It's a shame, for the 3.8 is in great shape. I took it some 1300 miles and it didn't use any oil at all.

Fran

[caravanlover]

I just wanted to update for general knowledge. I took it to a Chrysler dealer and they diagnosed the problem. It turned out to be corrosion on wires. It's running fine again.

[GEORGEBOOTH]

which wires??

[caravanlover]

The receipt says "wires for the TPS have heavy corrision". They were cleaned up and the check engine light went out.

Update - I drove it a few hundred miles more and all was well. Then the check engine light came on again, though the van ran fine. I took it in and they checked out all the codes again, even connecting it to Chrysler's computer so that they could look at it. The inconclusive conclusion is that there is a problem with either the PCM or TCM, both some sort of computer. They told me that if I am driving and the light comes on again, that I should bring it right to service for them to look at. I doubt that I will do that since I just want to sell it, but at least I can tell any potential buyer exactly what I know.

[GEORGEBOOTH]

I Wanted To Pull My Inst. Cluster To Check For The "bad Solder Joints"
Like Some Of The Other Guys Have Found. By The Way Thanks To Everyone For All The Help And Pics Of What Your Findings Are.
I Pulled The Inst. Cluster Too About 15 Min. , Pulled The Cardboard Cover
Off The Back And Checked.....no Bad Solder Joints...
I E-mailed These Guys At 2carpros.com And Told Them Of All The Ecm
Changes And They Said The Crank Sensors Go Bad And Won't Send A Signal
To The Ecm. So I Pulled My Airfilter Assy. Pulled The Sensor With The
Wire Attached So I Could Get To The Connector Lock Clip And Removed.
The Sensor Looks Identical To The Camshaft Sensor That Went Bad
On My 96 Town And Country? Anyway I Hope That The New One Will
Fix . Will Update