When you put the van in drive the van feels rough and it want to turn off?

CHICO23

MEMBER
1996 DODGE RAM
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
203,806 MILES

I have a 96 dodge RamVan. I brought the car about 4 months ago. At first it ran great and good but on the wensday when we were on your way to work the van turned off. So when you start it, it start good but when you put the van in drive the van feels rough and it want to turn off, like if it was choking on gas or something. Like the van when put in drive it runs slow and it also puns. On thrusday I changed the spark plugs the cap, rotor and wire for the plugs also the air filter. What is wrong

1 Reply

SQM

MECHANIC
6,383 POSTS

Hello,

It sounds you could have an issue with the idle air control valve (IAC). It can also be triggered by a faulty crank position sensor.

Is your check engine light illuminated?
Typically when an engine sensor fails it triggers the engine light.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

A faulty crank sensor can stall the engine while you are driving. It may or may not start back up afterwards. Heat and vibration can damage the sensor and it can fail intermittently at the beginning before stop working at all. The crank sensor is located on the lower part of the engine.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-crank-shaft-angle-sensor-works
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-crankshaft-sensor

A dirty or clogged IAC can impact the idle of the engine. As it will not allow enough air to pass thru the valve at idle, which will make the engine act like its about to stall. Sometimes it will stall unless you give it a little bit of throttle input. The IAC is located on the throttle body (see diagram).

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

I have attached diagrams for your reference.

Please let me know of any questions.

Thank you.

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