'95 T&C Mystery Engine Death

I have a '95 Town and Country and it has developed a mysterious problem.

When I run the AC and drive at the same time the engine will occassionally
die.

If I dont have the AC on the car runs just fine.
If I have the AC on and leave the car stationary it runs just fine (and the
car gets nice and cool inside).

I have seen it die when coasting at 30mph, when driving on the highway at
70mph (2200rpm) and when coming to a stop. Sometimes it dies after only 10
or 15 minutes, sometimes I can drive for an hour before it cuts out.

When it dies there is no sputtering or warning, the engine just stops as if
it were turned off. I have to put the van in park and turn the ignition all
the way off and then it starts just fine.

After one of these, if I pull the codes (with the ignition on/off/on/off/on
and counting check engine light flashes - I get 1-12-32-32-55). I think this
means:

1 = start of codes (?)
12 = Power cut to the computer
32 = EGR Valve problem
32 = EGR Valve Problem
55 = end of codes.

I dont know why I get the 32 twice, maybe if I had code scanner I could get
some more info. My mechanic tells me that replacing the EGR valve is
expensive and doesnt really buy you much, except a slight improvement in gas
mileage and the convenience of not have the check engine light on. I'm not
bothered about this fault, unless it is the cause of the Mystery Death.

Another thing I have noticed - and I dont know if this is a design feature
or a symptom of my problem is that sometimes, if the engine doesnt start the
first time, I have to turn the ignition all the way off again. Just turning
it back to the first position and then retrying doesnt allow it to restart,
but it does turn the engine over. I sat and tried to get the car to start
for maybe 20 minutes one time before I figured out that I had to turn the
key all the way off first.

Any clues would be appreciated. I dont want to take the van to a mechanic
and let them start replacing things (at my expense) until the problem goes
away - especially since they might have to drive it for a couple of hours
before being sure that problem really has gone away.

Dominic

 

If you took it to a mechanic that is familair with the vehicle he/she
wouldnt just throw parts at it!!! You do have an EGR fault which is
possibly due to a bad EGR valve but your problem is more then likely a
dirty throttle body. Get yourself some gum cutter/thorttle body cleaner and
an old tooth brush (or your wifes/husbands) , take the air cleaner snokel
off and with the engine off and throttle blade open all the way clean the
inside bore and the front and back side of the throttle blade and
reassemble.

This should take care of it.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

I think that's telling us something. The computer isn't involved in the
decision to run the starter motor. It sounds like it's making a decision to
shut down based on whatever it's programmed to do. The resulting inability
to start is consistent with that.

There is an emergency shutdown relay on my LHS that powers the ignition
coils, and it could be used by the computer to create the symptoms you
describe. I don't know if your van has one, and perhaps more importantly, I
don't know why the computer would want to use it.

 

You are refering to the ASD relay, automatic shut down relay. It supplies
12 volts to activate your coils, fuel pump and 02 sensor heaters on the
newer models

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

Will my 2001 LHS eventually get this way? Less than 11K miles on it
now.

Thanks
Bob AZ

 

Is there a reference available (that I could look at) that would tell me
how the computer operates, for instance, if there is a list of 6 conditions
that will cause activation of the emergency shutdown then I could look at
the sensors or wiring associated with those inputs to help find the problem.

I tried 'half starting' the engine (run the starter for a bit less than it
needs to start) and found that I didnt need to turn the ignition all the way
off before trying again - so it does look like the starting problem is also
a symptom of the problem that causes the engine cutout while driving.

 

No. But if it does build up around the throttle blade it could cause the
throttle blade to stick alittle but not stall.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech