1995 Dodge Caravan cranks but no start

Tiny
BOBBY LANCASTER
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 3.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
Has fuel pressure, no spark, coil checks out good, wiring from ign. Coil to pcm checks good. Suspect pcm. Can not find DLC connector.
Friday, March 28th, 2014 AT 1:57 PM

26 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
I haven't looked at your diagnostics yet, but, you may be able to get some codes by cycling your ignition switch. You turn key just till the dash lites come on, no further. Cycle the key on--off, on--off, on, then the mil on the dash starts flashing, you count the flashes to get the codes. Your looking for two digit codes.

Did you check for primary voltage at the ignition coil, engine cranking?

I usually suspect the cam and or crank sensor, but, don't replace anything unless you find something that points in that direction.
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Friday, March 28th, 2014 AT 2:44 PM
Tiny
JDL
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Just to add, I looked at your ignition system, no separate cam or crank sensor, but, there is a sensor in your distributor that sends rpm signal to computer. Without that rpm signal, vehicle won't run.

Like I said, try to be sure before you replace anything.
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Friday, March 28th, 2014 AT 3:26 PM
Tiny
BOBBY LANCASTER
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Check ign. Coil driver, dark green & orange wire at coil w/key on got 12volts and it dropped to 0v
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Friday, March 28th, 2014 AT 3:33 PM
Tiny
JDL
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During cranking, the voltage will drop out if computer loses rpm signal. The asd relay supplies voltage to many systems, the computer should the control the asd relay on the ground side. During cranking, no ground for asd relay if no rpm signal.

Did you check for applicable trouble codes? Anything?
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Friday, March 28th, 2014 AT 3:59 PM
Tiny
BOBBY LANCASTER
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12, 11, 55
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Friday, March 28th, 2014 AT 4:38 PM
Tiny
BOBBY LANCASTER
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Code 11 no crankshaft sensor ref at pcm
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Friday, March 28th, 2014 AT 4:42 PM
Tiny
BOBBY LANCASTER
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  • 87 POSTS
Should say no crank ref at pcm
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Friday, March 28th, 2014 AT 4:44 PM
Tiny
BOBBY LANCASTER
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I need to check ref signal coming from distributor
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Friday, March 28th, 2014 AT 5:36 PM
Tiny
JDL
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Is your dist cap and rotor in good shape? The rotor does turn when you crank the engine? Did you try holding end of coil wire close to engine ground, engine cranking, did a spark jump?

Before replacing that sensor, I'd check the wiring circuit and connector.
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Saturday, March 29th, 2014 AT 7:52 AM
Tiny
BOBBY LANCASTER
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I tap in a spark tester, coil to dist. No spark. I checked yellow and tan wire dist. Ign. Signal w/ test light and nothing. Checked continuity tan and yellow wire from dist. To pcm checks good. I put 12v to drk. Grn. And org. Wwire at asd relay which gave me 12v at injectors. And coil would not fire up.
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Saturday, March 29th, 2014 AT 10:46 AM
Tiny
BOBBY LANCASTER
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Rotor is turning, dist. And rotor is new
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Saturday, March 29th, 2014 AT 10:49 AM
Tiny
BOBBY LANCASTER
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Measured voltage at tan and yellow wire at dist. W/key on got 4.995v does that tell me cranksensor is bad. Or pick up
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Saturday, March 29th, 2014 AT 11:06 AM
Tiny
BOBBY LANCASTER
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Checked voltage at dist. Tan and yellow wire w/key on got 4.995v and check continuity tan and yellow wire btwn dist and pcm checks good
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Saturday, March 29th, 2014 AT 11:14 AM
Tiny
JDL
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Was a jumper wire, dot the eyes on the crank sensor connector, terminal 2 and 3, I gave you the picture, key on. At the same time have a helper hold coil wire close to engine ground. Tap the jumper wire on terminals, make and brake connections. Your trying to induce a spark to jump, If you get a spark, I think the problem is the sensor.
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Saturday, March 29th, 2014 AT 3:09 PM
Tiny
BOBBY LANCASTER
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Your saying put a jumper wire on harness side of the sensor connector btwn terminal 2 and 3 and tap to try and make a spark
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Saturday, March 29th, 2014 AT 4:41 PM
Tiny
JDL
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I didn't realize you had an optical sensor, that connector end picture is wrong. My fault.
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Sunday, March 30th, 2014 AT 10:01 AM
Tiny
JDL
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I'm not sure how to test an optical sensor?
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Sunday, March 30th, 2014 AT 10:20 AM
Tiny
BOBBY LANCASTER
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I think u can meature voltage on the dist. Ign. Signal should not be over 4v I read 4.995. Sensor is bad. Seen it on one of your sites, but it was for a ram same sensor.
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Sunday, March 30th, 2014 AT 10:29 AM
Tiny
JDL
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As long as the ref voltage and ground are good. You can use a digital multimeter on the signal wire, slowly turn the crank by hand, the voltage reading should move from 8 volts to zero back to eight volts.

If your digital multimeter has a tach--duty cycle--dwell setting, any of those settings should react to a digital pulse on the signal wire.

Other than that, I don't know what else to tell you?
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Sunday, March 30th, 2014 AT 10:32 AM
Tiny
BOBBY LANCASTER
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Checked ac voltage getting 2mv to 0
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Sunday, March 30th, 2014 AT 11:57 AM

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