Chrysler Repair: 96 Dodge 3.0L V-6: dies/recovers in hours, dodge caravan, sensor plate

Question
Hi, i have a 96 dodge caravan 3 Liter 2 wheel drive v 6. When I'm driving it, it flutters and hesitates like it doesn't want to go. then it just shuts off. then hours later it will start up.  i changed the distributor cap and rotary, plugs and wires and throttle body sensor and it still does it!! what else could it be?

Answer
Hi Goldie,
It very well could be the photo-optic sensor unit inside the distributor. The best way to diagnose would be to use the ignition key:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapased time. Then watch the check engine light, which remains "on", to begin to flash, pause, flash, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause. Then repeat to be sure of an accurate set of flash counts. Then group the counts in pairs in the order of appearance to form the 2-digit fault codes. The last code is always 55 which means end of readout. If the other code(s) is 11 or 54 that would say you need to replace the sensor plate in the distributor.
Let me know if you get other codes, and if you want the details on replacing the plate.
Roland