3.0 Mystery Problem

[john1320]

Hey there, my folks own a 96 caravan with a 3.0 auto, 200k miles on it.
Runs well and quiet for mileage...
Unfortunately around 45ish mph cruise and part throttle it bucks and stumbles.
Had a good TD friend code scan in depth. All it came up with is one code, translated its "random misfire".
I pulled the front spark plugs and dist cap. Front plugs had heavy white speckles. (detonation?) Right before this finding a fuel line to the pump started to let go, which we replaced (low pressure can mean lean), which helped a little but problem is still there.
Has anyone had similar problems? One item i noticed while under the hood engine running, was a solenoid in front of the passenger strut tower, which seems to have fuel return line fed to it, making alot of noise. This is new, hadn't been doing that b4. sounds like its smacking around in there when it pulses.
I really want to remedy this for my folks so they can be confident about driving long distances again, and not sell it.
Were there issues with computer controlled ignition, or is this a vacuum issue..
Thanks guys

[raccoon]

have you changed the cap/rotor/wire/plugs. thats what i would start with.

[89ShelbyGuy]

My brother 96 3.0 would do that with the random mis fires...he changed all the iginition parts... plugs/wires/cap/rotor...and it all went away.

Tom

[turbovanman²]

I concur, do a tune-up first.

[Big_P]

+1, start with a tuneup.

[Vigo]

If the tune-up doesnt do it, i would also get the scanner or a voltmeter back out and look for a bad spot in the TPS.

[turbovanman²]

+1, start with a tuneup.

You would be +4.

[shadow88]

The thing making all the noise is the canister purge solenoid. Sometimes they're just noisey, sometimes they get noisey before they die. Either way, probably not a real concern at this time. Don't put in platinum plugs. Use what's suggested.

[turbovanman²]

Use Iridium's,

[john1320]

The thing making all the noise is the canister purge solenoid. Sometimes they're just noisey, sometimes they get noisey before they die. Either way, probably not a real concern at this time. Don't put in platinum plugs. Use what's suggested.

Thank you! I wanted to put that one to rest.
The ignition wires/ plugs are two yrs old, which i will be replacing. I'm going to test the TPS as well, i'm finding it hard to believe that a bad tune would cause a bad *spot* and not all around poor running/ idling.

Only thing my father recalls is that the Distributer base had been replaced when a shop did the last tune-up. Do these ever go bad? We have no confidence that they even use a new unit, most likely a J-yard one, lol.
Anyhow out i go to figure this out, thx guys!

[john1320]

Well, did the tune up, TPS checks out, no jumps or dips in range.
Check engine stayed off for 3 trips, but back on now, same code >.<
Folks tell me that around 45-55mph still bucks, hiccups, or cuts out like someone is cutting motor off for a split second, as described by my father.

So is there any known ECU or trans computer issues on these vans?

[bakes]

I had to change ignition coils on cuts. vans when the coil wires started to fail , causing the coil to arch internally you can test them all you want and they pass test every time . the only way is to swap out the coil l.

[john1320]

Thats a can-do, thanks!
Nice Lancer btw

Close it up, thx

[turbovanman²]

Thats a can-do, thanks!
Nice Lancer btw

Close it up, thx

Is it fixed?

[OneOfMany]

Maybe not the same thing, but my wife's PT 2.4 had the same problem and found to be ignition crank sensor.

Grant