Questions and Answers
Caravan Won't Stay Running
Q. Hope you can help me.... I have a 1989 Dodge Caravan, 2.5 - 4cyl automatic with NO options. The van will start right up and run anywhere from 30 seconds to 15 minutes (I actually got to drive it 37 miles last week before it died) anyways I have replaced the following:
...and there is no effect to any of these. I also checked all the wiring and vacuum tubing and everything is hooked up and in good shape. ANY IDEAS??????? Like I said earlier, I can turn the key and she fires right up right now, it won't stay running.
- Fuel Injector
- Fuel Regulator
- Fuel Pump
- Distributor cap, rotor and Hall effect
- Computer (mounted on the drivers side fender well)
- Fuel Filter
- EGR Valve
- MAP Sensor
Bob
A. There are two possibilities that come to mind here. One is a bad ignition coil and the other is a bad Auto Shut Down (ASD) relay. The ASD Relay controls power to the ignition coil, fuel injectors, and electric fuel pump. Controlled by the Single Module Engine Controller (SMEC) the ASD supplies power to the ignition coil, fuel injectors, and electric fuel pump at all times when the ignition switch is in the START position. When the ignition switch is in the RUN position and the SMEC is receiving reference signals from the distributor, power will also be supplied. But if there is no reference signal after two seconds the SMEC will de-energize the ASD and no power will be supplied to the ignition coil, fuel injectors, or electric fuel pump.
Since you replaced the SMEC and Hall Effect Pick-Up, we can assume for the moment that the problem is not there which narrows it down to these two items.
Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA
