QuestionQUESTION: Roland,
You JUST finished helping me repair my ,96 Town and Country (and I did eventually find a short in wire harness that caused the engine fuse to blow). Well, an older problem we thought went away returned to our truck the very next day.
The truck starts fine. It can sit in the drive and idle forever with no stalling. The problem starts when it's cold out (seems to be when overnight temps around 20 or below, but getting worse). After reversing out of the drive the truck shuts off when braking to a stop to put it back in drive. It does it again at the next few stop signs as soon as it is close to a full stop. After two or three miles the problem goes away, even after sitting at work for nine hours. It doesn't return until after sitting overnight again. I use the term "turns off", because there is no chugging, etc, it simply stops running. Other than it always restarting, it shuts off exactly like the van did when the fuse to the ASD was blown. The check engine light has not come on.
Where do I start? With how quick it dies I would assume it is electrical and not fuel?
Also, thanks for all you previous assistance. However, I would PREFER you never hear from me again after this one is figured out :)
ANSWER: Hi Scott,
Items I would consider:
Is it the brake light circuit? Try stopping using the parking brake instead of the foot brake when backing out of the driveway.
How about the coolant temp sensor being off-value too lean. It should read 7-14,000 ohms when cold across its terminals.
Check the throttle position sensor wiper for discontinuity (use an ohmmeter between the center and either end terminal of the socket while moving the throttle lever slowly back and forth).
The automatic idle speed motor tip posssibly dirty/sticking. Similarly the throttle plate (both sides) and the air passageway for the idle air at the side of the throttle throat could well need cleaning.
There could be a fault code stored even though the check engine light is not illuminated so I would try for a readout with the ignition key, and if none that way then a free readout at an Autozone parts store or a lower cost one at an independent shop.
A mixture issue can cause a stall almost as fast as an electrical one so I would not simply focus on the electrical possibilities.
Roland
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Roland, Thanks for some places to start! I tried checking for codes using both the on-off key cycles and holding the odometer in and am not coming up with anything. I'm waiting for a neighbor to come by with a reader to make sure though. In the meantime I'll start trying to work through your list.
However, the reason for the follow up question.. It just hit me that around the same time the stalling problem started, the cruise control also started acting up. The cruise just slowly losses speed. Without resetting it, after manually accelerating back to the desired speed, it maintains the speed again for a short while and then it repeats.
Is it possible a speed sensor could be the cause of BOTH of these problems? The stalling when cold at stops, and the cruise control losing speed? Wondering because the wife is out and can have her stop to pick up parts if likely enough to just risk replacing.
AnswerExcept for the brake switch circuit activation being a possible reason for the cruise control to drop out of action, I don't see a connection. So take a look at whether there is a brake light circuit short that might be affecting both the idle and the cruise. The cruise system is monitored by fault codes so see if anything comes up. The troubleshoot procedure is too lengthy to describe but if necessary I can xerox and postal mail it to you.
Roland
