Engine stalls at idle and coming to a stop?

Tiny
NOSCE46
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
Engine Performance problem
1996 Dodge Caravan 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

My engine runs fine when I start it, and its setting at idle. But as soon as I put in drive or reverse, its stalls. Do you have any idea what the problem might be?
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Saturday, October 23rd, 2010 AT 4:49 AM

34 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 107,922 POSTS
Has the check engine light come on? When you place it in gear, does it jump before stalling or just simply stall? These guides can help us fix it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/stall-at-idle

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/idle-air-control-valve-service

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-an-engine-vacuum-gauge

Please run down these guides and report back.
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Tuesday, September 25th, 2018 AT 9:16 AM
Tiny
JSCHREFF
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
My wife was driving our van home from work and she pulled into the gas station and it stalled. Tried to restart and let it idle it would die again. She tried once more and if she keeps on the gas pedal it will stay running. She drove it home that way. I started the motor later and it will idle until the motor gets warm then it dies out again unless u keep giving it gas. There really is no check engine light but when it dies out and u leave the ignition on, the oil light eventually comes on. No other light is on. Is this problem a sensor problem, electrical or more?
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
For a start check the idle air control motor/throttle position and manifold absolute pressure sensors-also the PCV and EGR valves.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ESTHER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
If you allow it to idle for 15 to 20 minutes it works great, until you shut it off. Then you are back to idling 15 to 20 minutes regardless whether it is off for seconds or minutes or hours.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 107,922 POSTS
Check for vacuum leaks and check the idle air control valve.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LITA35
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
1996 Dodge Caravan 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive 150122 miles

I have a 1996 Dodge Caravan with a 3.8 engine and 3.1 cylinder. My Van runs pretty good. Some times it makes a funny noise when I drive until I accelerate. (Someone said it was the water pump). But my van just stops running at times when I pull up to an intersection or at a corner. (Just dies out) I still have power in my van when it does that. Then if we let it sit, it will start up and drive for a day or two and die out again. I had a tune up done also. My strap broke a little on the gas tank because it was rusting but it still held up. I got that fixed also. So what do you think is causing my van to stop at times?
Diagnostic says o2 sensor
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 107,922 POSTS
THe O2 sensor shouldn't prevent it from restarting. Have you ever checked to see if it getting spark and fuel when it doesn't start?
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RACHELFRASCA
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 201,433 MILES
What would cause my caravan ti stall when put into gear. Transmission was re-built about 4,000 miles ago.
Thank YOU
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,395 POSTS
If you raise the idle just a little and put it in gear, does it kill the engine dead, or does it try to move? If it kills it dead, your torque convertor clutch could be locked up. Do you get a check engine light while the engine is running? Please advise.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RACHELFRASCA
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thank You for answering. To answer your questions, while the van is idleing if you give it enough gas it stays running in gear. Once when it is running it is fine to switch between the gears. The check engine light just came on and this has been doing it only one week prior. Thank You

Please advise
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,395 POSTS
What ever tripped your CE light will be stored in ECM memory. If you can have the computer scanned and retrieve whatever codes are stored, this could be a valuable clue(s) as to what's going on. Autozone will do a scan for free as well as many major parts stores. Let me know what you find.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MLAUFFER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
Engine Performance problem
1996 Dodge Caravan 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

Twice my car has died while coming to a stop sign and once while driving. The dash board lights up
and dings. But when you try to turn it back on it will not restart. After sitting for a while it wiil eventually
restart. We had a tune up done no codes came up
on the computer. I have heard that Caravan can have problems with the fuel pump relay switch.
Do you think this could be the problem or could it be
the fuel pump itself?
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
Hello,

Well, it could be a couple things. First need to check a couple things. When is stalls and won't restart you will need to check to see if it is getting fuel. You will need a fuel pressure tester. If fuel pressure is fine the next thing to check is Spark, to do this you can use a philips head screw driver pull a plug wire off place the screw driver in the end then place it somewhere that it will be close within a quarter inch of a good ground and NOT the Battery Ground. Have someone try starting the vehicle. You should see a spark jump between the driver and the ground.

Post results here in the forum.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CN1
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
Engine Mechanical problem
1996 Dodge Caravan 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

The van has a 3, L V6 eng, it will start but unless you are giving it gas, it will die. If you stop for any reason it will die, basicaly as soon as it's at idle. After the van gets warm it will idle and drive properly, i'm not shure what to think of this any help will be apprecieated.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CH112063
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,320 POSTS
Your idle speed is almost completely reliant on a motor. An IAC motor. They fail, or need cleaning. It, the TPS and the blade(throttle) are mounted on the throttle body, your accelerator pedal cable is attached to it. Use a nylon brush(thin and small) with carb. Cleaner to clean out the blade, IAC motor, and their holes, see if it helps. You can do this yourself, or you may check to make sure you have the proper fuel pressure(at least 50lbs.), Ok Careful.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ADC57
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 310,000 MILES
My wife has a 96 caravan, the vehicle has a very uneven idle, while letting the vehicle pull at its own power(not pushing accelerater) like going thru a drive thru, 9 times out of 10 it dies. It starts back up no problem. Recently when she turns on the air, heater, fan, and even the rear defroster the engine makes a high pitched squeeling noise, giving it some gas seems to make it stop. While driving uphill sometimes it starts jerking like the engine is cutting out, pushing harder and letting it drop to a lower gear fixes that to. I know that the smog pump is bad and can hear that rattle, but I dont know if that could cause all the other problems as well. It has 310,000 miles on the odometer, but had the engine rebuilt about 30,000 miles ago. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CH112063
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,320 POSTS
There are many possible causes, the throttle position is constantly looked at by the computer(PCM). If something goes wrong a fault code may be stored and later retrieved with an electronic scanner. Idle speed and fuel control are all done with motors and sensors. Both a faulty idle speed motor or a throttle position sensor could cause this. Bring it back to the place that the engine was overhauled at. Before it causes another problem. OK Joe
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ADC57
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Man I wish I could take it back, but I bought the vehicle used after the rebuild. But Ill definetly try the tps sensor. Where is the Idle Control motor located on the vehicle.I appreciate your help buddy.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CH112063
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,320 POSTS
The engine recieves air through a fresh air system known as the air intake system.
Different cars use either a single air cleaner and plastic hose, bringing fresh air to the throttle body or some have different arrangements either factory or aftermarket made. The air filter sits in this just before the air enters the Throttle body, assuring fresh and filtered air is drawn in. All your cables that controls the idle speed are attached to the throttle body. It looks just like a smaller carburetor. The throttle position sensor is mounted on one side of the throttle body. The idle speed motor(IAC) or air idle control is also mounted on it. Just below the throttle blade. It moves in or out to give the engine a sort of a controlled vacuum leak, and the manifold absolute pressure sensor, senses the drop in vacuum, telling the computer to give the injector more gas. So both the TPS and the AIC are usually right on the throttle body, which houses the thrrottle blade. Just follow the accelerator cable and you will see it mounted right on the throttle body, near the TPS. It has 3 wires at least.
Clean it and clean the hole it came out of with carb. Cleaner and a small nylon brush.
I think that you may be hearing that loud screech coming from the alternator belt as you give it a load turning on accessories. Glad to help.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ADC57
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Ill definetly check that out, and let you know how it went. Thanks again.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:45 AM (Merged)

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