steveh27
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
Senior Member
Joined: 08/21/2004
View Profile
|
My 1997 Xplorer on a Dodge Ram Van 3500 chassis is having some recent problems. It began when I started to use it after not using it this winter. It started fine, I pulled up 15 feet. It died & just cranked & wouldn't start. Had it towed to a local shop. They found the crankshaft position sensor (CPS) had fused wires & replaced it. When I started it at their shop to leave I heard a strange clicking sound. The mechanic said it was coming from the senor but that it was probably just a plastic spacer & should be OK, but to bring it back in a few days if still happening. Drove it home & 2 days later it would not start again, just cranked. Towed it back to the shop. They said the CPS had shorted out. They had used a generic part. They tried another of the same & it made the same noise. They went to the Dodge dealer & bought the Mopar part. It was 5/1000" different size & seemed to work well.
I used the van 5-6 times, launching my boat & getting some other things checked. Came home with the boat, backed up into my drive, turned it off, opened the garage door & it wouldn't start again, just cranked. The shop had it towed in. They said the spark was intermitent, but the CPS was OK. They got it started but said they 'jiggled some wires' & it died. So they're trying to track down the cause. They are understaffed & the mechanic is working on 5 vehicles at a time so I'm a bit unhappy he can't focus on mine. I'm supposed to leave on a 3500 mile trip to WY & the Black Hills in a week & need reliability.
I've done some internet research & this seems to be a not uncommon problem with older Dodge vans. Seems they should be able to diagnosticly check each part & connection to find the fault.
|
Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2003
View Profile
 Offline
|
It seems like the crankshaft position sensor is getting wiped out by the other side (the rotating part) is now to close to the CPS. This might be due to excess end play on that part. Even the generic CPS should have cleared the camshaft or crankshaft (depending on where it is actually positioned) or perhaps the timing chain is worn to much.
How many miles are on the engine?
Fred.
|
ScottG
Bothell Wa.
Senior Member
Joined: 02/25/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
There's no way a CPS should make any sound unless they install it too close the the tone ring and it hits it. This will destroy it in short order. The other thing will damage a CPS on install is if they use a metal feeler gauge to measure the clearance.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
H0NDA eu2000i
|
steveh27
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
Senior Member
Joined: 08/21/2004
View Profile
|
I just brought the van home. The shop said under the hood where the wires they touched which shut it down yesterday are, they had taken the 3 wire harnesses apart & lubed them & now it starts every time. Since they couldn't get it not to start they could no longer check for a fault. I get in & it starts fine, but the dash brake & ABS light are on. The van doesn't have ABS. The only time the brake light has been on is when I've set the emergency brake. We set & released it several times. The mechanic tried a number of things & said the brake was released. He said this has an electrical problem, he's spent 3 hours on it & can't figure it out & to take it to the dealer. The CPS is working fine. I've set a Monday morning apointment at the dealer.
135,000 miles on the engine.
|
Handbasket
Asheville, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 01/17/2003
View Profile
|
IIRC, some years of Dodge vans will light the ABS light and have other issues when the speed sensor goes out. I think it's located on the top of the differential. I think the '97 does have rear anti-lock.
Many intermittent electrical faults are a b---h to diagnose unless the mechanic gets lucky.
Jim, "Dust: Mud with the juice squeezed out."
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison (aka 'Loafer's Glory') www.tigervehicles.com
|
|
|
ScottG
Bothell Wa.
Senior Member
Joined: 02/25/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I had a 93 Dodge and when a trailer shorted it's tail lights, it blew the fuse for the ABS in the TV and made the light come on. Then during the same trip, I used the turn signal and since it used the same shorted circuit in the trailer, it blew another fuse causing the brake light to come on. So a short at the tail lights will cause the fuses for both of these systems to blow and turn on the lights you see.
I would check all the fuses.
|
landyacht318
Near a large body of water
Senior Member
Joined: 07/11/2007
View Profile
|
Dodge B van specific forums will be your friend through this.
http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=278
http://dodgeforum.com/forum/dodge-ram-van-100/
Good luck
|
steveh27
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
Senior Member
Joined: 08/21/2004
View Profile
|
All fuses are good. I have spent many an hour on those 2 dodge sites. I did just register & posted on the forum. It's going to the dealer Monday, ouch.
|
1995brave
San Antonio, TX
Senior Member
Joined: 01/24/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I had a 97 van. Still have the factory service manual. The symtoms of a bad rear differential speed sensor is: ABS light lit, brake light lit, and speedometer will jump from 0-25 or 30 on excelleration and 30 to 0 on decelleration. Question how do you lube wires? I've been working in electronics for 50+ years and never heard or seen anyone lubbing wires to make them work.
|
1995brave
San Antonio, TX
Senior Member
Joined: 01/24/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Also if the brake and ABS lights are on there should be a code stored in the computer. Take it to your local auto parts store and have them put an ODBII reader on it and pull the code.
|
|
|
