Chrysler Repair: Dodge 2000 Conversion Van (1500), powertrain control module, piece of dirt

Question
My van stalls intermittently - like the engine is suddenly being starved out. Most times when this happens, the Cruise Control light comes on, and often cannot be turned off.

Fuel pump repleaced
full tune-up done

Any ideas?


Answer
Hi Jeremy,
The only connection that I can see might be a short between two adjacent wires on the multi-wire plug at the powertrain control module that carries wires numbered 41-80. The wire that indicates that the cruise control is operational is 41, the wire for the downstream oxygen sensor is directly next to it, 51. If those wires touched each other or there was piece of dirt/water in the interface of the plug/socket at that location, I can imagine that the cruise light might go 'on' and also that a false reading of the mixture situation as seen by the oxygen sensor might in turn cause the control module to modify the mixture inappropriately. I can't invision anyother explanation for that coincidence. So take a look at the two plugs for the controller, find the one that shows wire numbers 41-80, look at the condition of the wires 41 and 51 and detach the plug and examine the situation inside at the same location.
Roland