QuestionQUESTION: my voyager cuts out now and then when driving and wont start for a minute or two it is as if the immobiliser cuts in and i have taken it to several places nobody knows had a new fuel pump and that made no differance is there any way of disconnecting the immobiliser i have noticed when it cuts out the interior light comes on and it wont start untill it goes of please help its driving me mad thanks
ANSWER: Hi Steve,
I know of no reason for the interior light to be related to the engine cutting out, unless it does so also when you turn off the engine but leave the key in the switch; have you ever noticed the light to come on by itself under any circumstances other than then engine dying on it own accord?
I suspect that is it is not the immobilizer unless the syptom is "start then die in 2-3 seconds" which is how the factory anti-theft system is designed to behave. You did't say if that is what is does, or instead if it just refuses to start at all.
You didn't tell me the year of the minivan so I can't be sure how to advise you to get the fault codes or whether or not you can disconnect the immobilizer. Write back and tell me and I will tell you if you can do that with the key or only via a plug in reader, or defeat the immobilizer.
Once you have a fault code readout you may know what needs to be repaired. One possibility is that either the cam or the crank position sensor is wearing out, which symptom is exactly what you have described (minus the interior light issue). But a code readout would tell you which of these is at fault.
Roland
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QUESTION: thanks for replying the year of manufactor is 1997 and in answer to your queeries it starts always its when you have been driving it will cut out as you are going along and then it will not start for at the longest 5 mins it was a mechanic that noticed the interior light and he said that it will not start again till the light goes of and its not the cam sensor that has been changedand i also have had a new fuel pump fitted . when it does cut out the mechanic told me there was no spark dont know if that helps thanks steve
ANSWER: Hi Steve,
The '97 typically can't get a fault code readout using the ignition key so you need to have a code reader plugged into the socket under the dash by the steering wheel to get the code. An Autozone parts store will often do that for free, or an independent garage for under $40.
If the crank sensor is the issue it will be an 0320, while the cam is 0340. Let me know what codes you get and we can go from there.
I doubt this has anything to do with the immobiliser or anti-theft system. It reminds me of a worn out sensor which fails when warmed and recovers when cools. The no spark would be consistent too, during the failure time. It could be a failing Autoshutdown (ASD) Relay as an alternative. You can try switching around that relay with another one of the same part number in the powerbox under the hood such as the transmission control relay. Then if the symptom shifts to being a problem with the transmission refusing to shift above 2nd gear it would corroborate the relay as the issue.
Roland
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QUESTION: hi roland my mechenic has tried what you have said and the mini van drove ok gears changed fine it has not cut out on them today but the interior light stays on now and will not switch of he has put the code reader on it and it is showing no codes we are both now looking to you as it has us both stumped thanks steve
AnswerHi Steve,
Might one of the doors not be closed tightly enough to push in the door ajar warning switch which also turns on the light as a courtesy? I don't know of any other system that turns on interior lights other than that. So try pushing in on all the doors, including the hatchback, to see if that turns it off. 'Glad to here the other aspect is apparently resolved.
Roland
PS:If you would 'rste' my answer it would be most appreciated
