The Caravan stalls as soon as I put the automatic transmission in gear. If I gas it a lot as I put it in gear, I usually get going, but it it chugs and learches until up to speed - where it seems to run normally. Stop and it stalls again - but re-starts perfect everytime, just stalls when I move the shift lever to drive (drive, L, or 3, same result).
I did the trouble code trick, and read a 1-2 (battery disconnected in last 50 starts), which I believe is because I pulled the battery cable overnight to reset the computer.
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated! thanks, john c.
tactransman
08-29-2007, 12:02 PM
It sounds like your torque converter is going bad and staying engaged.(locked) Is the fluid dark and smelly?
OrangeEXS
08-30-2007, 11:56 AM
Fluid looks good. Changed about 7k miles ago. There is no "bump" on putting it in gear, the engine just instantly dies or cuts off (unless I gas it pretty good at the same time, then it does bump and move forward). I'm not an expert, but if the TC was engaged, wouldn't I get a "bump" just before the engine dies even without gassing it?
I borrowed a loaner code reader from Auto Zone and will try that tonight - see if it gives any more detail than the ignition on-off-on-off-on code test.
thanks, john c.
tactransman
08-30-2007, 12:04 PM
No bump,just instant kill of the engine like you dumped a clutch at idle.
vabear
08-30-2007, 01:38 PM
I would be suspicious of the idle control valve, the code scan is an excellent idea, I get mine done at Advance for free.
OrangeEXS
08-31-2007, 12:22 AM
OK, I take that back. There is a "bump" when I put it in gear, and it is fairly substantial, I must have missed that in all the excitement. Perhaps your original diagnosis is correct. The code reader comes up empty - no codes to report. Anything else I can do to test or otherwise firmly diagnose this problem?
