Chrysler Repair: Chrysler LHS 1994 stalling:Code43, chrysler lhs 1994, spark plug wires


Question
My 1994 LHS is stalling intermittently i have replaced crank and cam sensors and coil pack. I have substituted a known good pcm and a known good ASD relay. i have also driven with a fuel pressure gauge attached and fuel pressure never drops below specs. this leads me to believe i have a problem with the signal and or voltage going to the coil. when the car stalls it throws a code 43 for "peak primary circuit current not achieved with maximum dwell time. my Haynes manual has no information for this code.

Answer
Hi Zach,
The 43 code means that one of the three separate spark coils in the coil pack is not responding properly to the signal from the engine controller to charge up and discharge the primary winding of the coil. I would begin by examining the wires at the spark coil that comes from the engine controller (the cable plugs into the side of the coil pack) to see that it hasn't been damaged over the part that you can inspect before it enter a larger harness of wires. Also take a look at the spark plug wires from the coil pack to the plugs for any signs of damage. Do you have a digital volt-ohm meter? Let me know and I can give you instructions on how to measure the three sections of the spark coil and also how to check the wires from the engine controller to the spark coil for short to ground or open connections. You might get some idea by checking when you are cranking as to whether or not there is spark at cyls. #2,4,6 spark plugs when you crank the engine over:
Just remove each plug wire, insert an insulated handle scredriver in the plug cap so the tip touches the internal connection wire, then hold the screwdriver and cap with the shaft of the screwdriver 1/4" from the cylinder head and have a helper crank the engine. See if you get a blue spark to jump across the gap or not, for each of the three wires that you test.
You may want to charge up the battery if you have a charger and it seems to be low in its ability to crank the engine.
Roland