'97 Ply. Breeze starting problem

1997 PLYMOUTH BREEZE
200,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
GIZMOGUY
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
'97 Plymouth Breeze, 2.0L 4-cyl. engine with almost 200,000 miles, ingnition often fails to fire, but always on cold start (even in hot weather). Car has new battery, new coil pack, new plugs. Computer error codes are always P0351 and P0352 (concerning ngnition coil primary and secondary circuit). What could be wrong?
May 11, 2011 at 6:10 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
JDL
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 16,098 POSTS
At the coil pack, check voltage and ground, engine cranking. # 2 in the diagram is voltage, engine cranking, anything? Use a voltage tester. #1 and #3 are grounds, grounded by computer.
May 11, 2011 at 7:55 PM
Avatar
GIZMOGUY
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
Thanks for the circuit pictorial. I verified the circuit from the rear connector on the PCM (powertrain control module), pins 2 and 3, to the two outside wires on the connector that goes to the coil pack. Then, with the coil connector disconnected, I connected a voltmeter from ground (battery jumper terminal under hood) to the middle wire that would be going to the coil pack, if connected (which it wasn't) -- the wire with orange on it. I never saw any voltage on that wire terminal, even while cranking. Doesn't that voltage feed come from the ASD (automatic shutdown) relay contacts? The only error code I get now is P0351, identified (by the code reader) as coil B primary/secondary circuit. By the way, P0351 is not even listed in the codes on this website!
May 12, 2011 at 1:58 AM
Avatar
JDL
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 16,098 POSTS
Yes, that voltage comes from the asd relay. I don't know what the site shows? Our database does show a p0351.

Is the asd relay energizing?
May 21, 2011 at 9:18 PM
Avatar
GIZMOGUY
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
Thank you for your help on this issue. The problem turned out to be a thermal intermittent coil connection in the ASD relay. That was the first time I had ever seen that in an ASD relay circuit. Swapping the ASD relay with the low speed fan relay cured the problem with starting! Now all I have to do is find a replacement for the low speed fan relay, that does not cost a fortune.
Jun 5, 2011 at 1:55 PM
Avatar
JDL
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 16,098 POSTS
Good job. A relay shouldn't cost that much. Five or six dollars.
Jun 5, 2011 at 4:37 PM
Repair Safety Notice: This information is for general instructional purposes only. Vehicle repair can be dangerous. Verify all information, follow manufacturer service procedures, use proper tools and safety equipment, and consult a qualified repair shop when needed.