1996 Dodge Caravan Will not accellerate

SQUIDWARD72

MEMBER
1996 DODGE CARAVAN
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
197,000 MILES

I just put a used transmission in this van. The second time I drove it I was going down the interstate 60 mph and it lost all power all of the sudden and would not accellerate. I pulled to the side of the road and the engine would idle fine but would not rev up at all. If you touch the gas pedal it would choke and spit but would sit and idle. I idled 10 mph the rest of the way. I cut the exhaust behind the converter and drilled a hole all the way through it. Nothing changed except the volume. Any ideas?

Sunday, November 8th, 2009 AT 10:00 AM

3 Replies

CH112063

MECHANIC
1,320 POSTS

Well either the crank sensor has failed or something else as that is the only part that may have been moved during the trans. Installation. It could be many other things whether it is a 3.3 or 3.0L engine.
Also a wire may have been squeezed or it may be un-related.

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Sunday, November 8th, 2009 AT 8:54 PM

CORPUSDAN

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I agree, it is most likely the crank sensor. I had the exact same experiance with my 95 caravan and replacing the crank sensor fixed it.

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Friday, November 13th, 2009 AT 3:37 PM

CH112063

MECHANIC
1,320 POSTS

Usually a small green spacer was one of the parts you would require in a rebuild or reman, the sensor is removed, then replaced, the green spacer was used for replacement. Many times you may not need to use one, especially since there was no extra time or pay, but one job that comes back, makes it standard procedure to remove the crank sensor, first thing. No big deal but for customer it is big deal, so it was always removed. It could be something else, dep. On 3.0 or 3.3, 3.8L
The computer will not allow any performance if it thinks the crankshaft is not turning, good for interference fit valves, but doesn't always help.

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Friday, November 13th, 2009 AT 7:54 PM