1999 grand caravan with the 3.3 engine randomly stops running

[VersatileGuy]

Possibly failure of sensors like the cam or crank position sensor.

But grounds being bad can cause all sorts otherwise inexplicable failures and should be the first thing addressed.
I personally had a bad negative cable on Toyota Matrix caused the door locks to auto shut themselves.....fixed with a new marine tinned ground cable....

 

[RAR]

Everything I’ve heard so far points to a bad ground or two.

It’s a Mopar, and they have ground points all over the place. At the age it’s at, many of them might look ok at a glance but they’re likely corroded or even broken internally in the wires.

 

[D60]

Everything I’ve heard so far points to a bad ground or two.

It’s a Mopar, and they have ground points all over the place. At the age it’s at, many of them might look ok at a glance but they’re likely corroded or even broken internally in the wires.

Funny you say that. I fixed a daily transmission limp mode in a '12 Ram by adding a ground and replacing a ground strap.

 

[meep]

Everything I’ve heard so far points to a bad ground or two.

It’s a Mopar, and they have ground points all over the place. At the age it’s at, many of them might look ok at a glance but they’re likely corroded or even broken internally in the wires.

You know … it’s been a while, but my 3.3 had a ground problem too. I ended up making my own harness - I think it was 10 or 12 gauge. It joined:

Alternator frame
Battery negative
Body
Driver side engine point
And one other spot on the chassis I think?

With all the AC fans, lights, accessories on, there was something like 1.5 (1.2, 1.8, I can’t remember, it was big, and this was 22 years ago) volts drop between alternator frame and battery ground, that bad. 1/3 of that was between alternator frame and engine itself, go figure, I didn’t understand it but it was there. There was a pretty decent drop on the short oem cable that went between battery negative and front left brace just in front of it. The cable did some wild things like, improve transmission shifts. My 3.3 did this, the 3.8 didn’t have nearly the drop.

 

[motorguy222]

The starter and fuel pump will work if grounded at the relays in fuse panel under the hood. Every thing else works ad it should except for not cranking and pump not priming like they should.

 

[michaelluscher]

The starter and fuel pump will work if grounded at the relays in fuse panel under the hood. Every thing else works ad it should except for not cranking and pump not priming like they should.

Ignition switch?

 

[GSCJR]

Already replaced it, see post #1. I suggested the same thing.

 

[michaelluscher]

Already replaced it, see post #1. I suggested the same thing.

I missed that
Do you notice tach activity (or lack therof) when it quits?

Cam/crank sensor intermittently failing?

 

[motorguy222]

I missed that
Do you notice tach activity (or lack therof) when it quits?

Cam/crank sensor intermittently failing?

I don't know if it is working. I was checking the relays by myself. I will try and check to see if tach works when grounding the starter relay.

 

[someonesomewhere]

I don't know if it is working. I was checking the relays by myself. I will try and check to see if tach works when grounding the starter relay.

I feel for you. It can be difficult and awkward to try to troubleshoot electrical issues by yourself. Definitely helps to have a helper!

 

[D60]

I actually enjoy my Powerprobe for basic troubleshooting. Nice long cables to reach the battery, stays lit so you know it's still connected, and allows you to apply power or ground to anything as well as reading voltage and indicating existing ground.

It's far from a panacea, but it helps a lot for basics.

 

[motorguy222]

Tach doesnt move when grounding starter relay.

 

[motorguy222]

I feel for you. It can be difficult and awkward to try to troubleshoot electrical issues by yourself. Definitely helps to have a helper!

My neighbor has been helping but he has been busy at home doing plumbing work.

 

[someonesomewhere]

My neighbor has been helping but he has been busy at home doing plumbing work.

My deepest condolences go out to your neighbor. May his sanity rest in peace! Haha

 

[motorguy222]

The van has the one piece integrated fuse relay box under the hood. Could this cause the issues that are happening? It has a circuit board inside. Has anyone ever taken one apart?

 

[97prizm]

I have a 99 grand caravan with the 3.3 engine. For some time it has had spells where it would quit running while driving and or just idling. It was a come and go type thing. The 4th of July the lights and everything quit working that night but it would drive. The next day it was fine. Still would turn off on its own but start back. It took spells where you could hear the relays clicking after it would quit. Wednesday or Thursday of last week it would quit as soon as it started. Didn't want to run. Got it started and in gear and it ran well enough to get it checked buy mechanic for codes. No codes. Ran pretty well until Sunday. Wouldn't do anything. All lights and gauges work. You can feel the relays working but no crank and fuel pump isn't priming. Put in a new ignition switch. Didn't help. Any ideas? Really need this van don't have anything else to drive.

Definitely looking at the battery terminal. My 1997 Geo had Similar issues but never died. Come to find out one of the terminal clamps had wallowed out and was not making good contact. Had a work vehicle with similar symptoms and everyone thought it was possessed. Battery tie down was loose causing the battery to shift but just enough.

 

[D60]

The van has the one piece integrated fuse relay box under the hood. Could this cause the issues that are happening? It has a circuit board inside. Has anyone ever taken one apart?

A brief search of parts leads me to believe the Caravan didn't get a TIPM until '01.

'00 and earlier appear to be a more standard fuse & relay box with plug 'n play relays.

If you can jumper through the relay terminals in the box and cause the fuel pump or starter to engage, I'd say it's unlikely anything is wrong there.

 

[motorguy222]

A brief search of parts leads me to believe the Caravan didn't get a TIPM until '01.

'00 and earlier appear to be a more standard fuse & relay box with plug 'n play relays.

If you can jumper through the relay terminals in the box and cause the fuel pump or starter to engage, I'd say it's unlikely anything is wrong there.

It may not be called that but it has a circuit board inside. It can be seen through the bottom of the box where the plug ins are. I unplugged all of the plugs and removed the whole box and it has a green circuit board in it.

 

[motorguy222]

A brief search of parts leads me to believe the Caravan didn't get a TIPM until '01.

'00 and earlier appear to be a more standard fuse & relay box with plug 'n play relays.

If you can jumper through the relay terminals in the box and cause the fuel pump or starter to engage, I'd say it's unlikely anything is wrong there.

I have jumped the starter and fuel pump both work when grounded.

 

[motorguy222]

Ok. I checked the spade connections on the bottom of the fuse/relay box and one is so loose that it rattles. At least two or three others are loose enough to move by your finger. The loosest I think are on the ground side but not sure. It is has three wires and this is where the really loose connection is at. Another plug has some loose too. Has anyone ever taken this panel apart?