QuestionQUESTION: hi i have a 1997 town and country that will not start
it has 141k 3.8 eng. just pulling out of the driveway van just shutdown. the engine cranks good, i confirmed spark, i believe fuel is getting to the fuel injector rack but thats only because when i push on the needle valve on the rack fuel comes out. i did the dis arming alarm trick with the remote and driver door key. even checked the fuses - all look good even swap the same amp fuses and relays around - all no help - any ideas? thanks
ANSWER: If you hear the fuel pump run for a second when you turn the key to 'run' that would indicate the pump is good. Try the ignition key which may give you a fault code readout via the check engine light. "on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the check engine light which remains 'on' to see it begin to flash,pause, flash, etc. Count the number of flashes between each pause. The repeat the process to assure an accurate flash count. Tell me the results and we'll go from there.
Roland
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QUESTION: i did the fault code check. on this vehicle i have to hold the trip and reset on the odometer the code i got was 905 and 999 but i could not find what that code means and if it has anything to do with the problem. if it does that would be great to find out. when i turn the key on i don't hear a pump noise but then again i don't believe i heard it when the van ran before.
ANSWER: Hi Greg,
The code you got is strictly for the instrument cluster itself, only. It says there is no ccd bus signal from the tcm to the cluster. That could be indicative of an issue with the bus which connects the pcm/tcm/etc.
Why do you say you 'have to hold...'? What happens if you don't hold the trip and reset buttons, when you do the key on and off routine? It may give you the flash out I am looking for. If not then do it and watch the odometer window for some 4 digit code numbers. If nothing either way, then you will have to get a readout via a plug-in code reader. Socket is under the dash by the steering column.
Without engine fault codes it is difficult. Check fuses 12 amd 16 in the box under the hood as those power the spark and the fuel pump. Listen at the tank while a helper tries the key to the run position; you should be able to hear it for a second.
Roland
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QUESTION: roland
i checked all the fuses under the dash and under the hood all are good - i jacked the van up and moved the wires back and forth bang on the tank where the pump is located - turned the key it started up ran for 5 minutes then shut it down then re-started it started right up again then in about 2 minutes started running rough the stalled - i went to restart it but would not start - i think either the wires are bad at the pump or can a fuel pump become intermittent? which direction do you think i should go? i'm afraid if i just go for the pump change it my be the wires. you been a big help so far - i'm sorry about all the question.
AnswerPS The reason I mention the fuel tank fill question is that the 905 fault code you got for the instrument cluster suggests that if true your fuel gauge would not be accurate.
I would check the voltage as I suggested earlier to see if the pump is getting power or not when you first turn the key to run, which lasts about a second, and then try cranking it and see if the 12v lasts as long as you crank. If you have voltage, and you don't hear the pump humm, and you have no fuel pressure, then the pump is suspect, unless the wire from the box to the pump is bad which you could only check by looking for 12v at the pump plug.
If you don't have voltage on that wire when cranking as described then you need to do a fault code readout for the possibility that either the cam or crank sensor is bad, and the readout would tell you which it is. If you have spark while cranking then the sensors are ok, and so a readout for something else to be at fault is necessary. You haven't by chance run low on fuel?
Roland
