Caravan has intermittent misfire while driving, never at idle. Sometimes tach stays steady, sometimes nosedives and returns to rpm. almost like engine is cutting out then in. have changed plugs, wires, coil, cam and crank sensor - no change. Mechanic has read with computer, comes up camshaft sensor. key code shows 43 & 11. Usually begins after reaching operating temp. Mechanic suspects bad/degraded wire??? What is common between crank, cam sensor, ignition (code 11)?? Possibly bad wire that is breaking down when reaching temperature? Traveled 100 mi yesterday, no problems but then began within 15 seconds of setting cruise control...coincidence? Vacuum? No rhyme or reason. Please help if you have ideas. running out of hair to pull out.
Oskie Jr
protegechris
03-25-2008, 02:25 PM
Off topic: But how are you able to tell when it misfires? I've had a steady CEL for a random cylinder misfire since I got my van and can't notice any difference in how it drives.. ever. :/ I reset it twice, it came back eventually, but I didn't notice anythign changing. There was once it turned itself off and came back 4 miles later.
oskie jr
03-25-2008, 05:41 PM
Maybe "misfire" wasn't the right term. Bucks, sputters, wants to start to stall then goes again. Theres nooooo doubt about when it does it. Never stalls out, though. It will last 4,5 miles then clear up for a while. What gets me is most of the time the tach will bounce along with the bucking. I run around 1900rpm @ 55mph, if it does it at that speed the rpms might drop down to 1000-1200 for a split second then back up to normal rpm.
500guy
03-26-2008, 09:28 AM
I have a 96 Dodge Dakota with 3.9L doing the same thing, I'm almost positive it's spark related but I can't get it to do it long enough to fix it.
XDGT03
03-26-2008, 05:19 PM
have you read thru this thread? it might help.
http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75306
500guy
03-26-2008, 08:00 PM
thanks for the link
I read all of it and didn't find a single thread where anyone has actually fixed this problem.
I did go back and look at my coolant sensor and the wire had rubbed through on the valve cover bolt I moved it away and drove home,
Truck ran fine , I did notice it bobble a little when it started to get to operating Temp.
