1996 Dodge Caravan

FUNTIGER24

MEMBER
1996 DODGE CARAVAN

Shakes or Wobbles problem
1996 Dodge Caravan Wheel Drive Type unknown Automatic 211000 miles

I bought this van two weeks ago and its now giving me problems.
My question is can any one steer me in the right direction of finding the problem?
The van has been jerking, not all the times but the other night it did it several times when I drove it on the interstate and also when I was driving at lower speeds on regular roads. The engine didnt make any different noises the I was able to tell. It also has been dieing and not wanting to crank back up. It does it when I take my foot off the gas to hit the brake and also when I am sitting still and about to pull off like from a light or out of a drive way. My machanic had replaced the fuel filter and the oxygen sensor. When it died the last time, the check engine light came on and stayed on till I dropped it off at the machanic's shop and he couldnt get to it that night so when he went to look at it the next morning the light wasnt on.
Also when it jerked the last couple times it did something different. All this at the exact same time: it jerked, lost RPM(went from like 2 down below 1), and there was no resistance on the gas pedal. I could push the pedal to the flor and it did nothing.

I dont know if any of this makes sinse I tried my best to describe the problems to the best of my ability. If more info is needed to give advice ask me and I will try to provide it.
Thanks.

2 Replies

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

The first thing I would want to look at is the throttle body.

This may be a multiple symptom problem, but we have to start somewhere.

Get the codes checked, regardless of the CEL not bing on. There should be history codes stored in it. find them and post them.

The loss of resistance on the accelerator may be a cable stuck and the throttle plate hanging up. I suspect a carbon build up in the throttle plate, and recommend looking at it and unless it is clean, get it cleaned. Additionally the intake valves should be cleaned if this situation is present.

This is the back side or from the engine side out view of a dirty throttle bore.

This is the view when you first look at the throttle bore from the outside looking into it. See how clean it is? You need to pivot the palte with the accelerater arm that the cable is attached to.

I don't expect this will be the end all to the situation, but you don't want to have an accelerator that sticks.