Hello all,

I have an 88 Caravan 3.0L MFI that is in good shape and just over 100,000 miles. It runs great, however, after driving sometimes as little as 20 miles, the engine will quit running and requires 15-30 minutes of cool down before it restarts. When it restarts, it runs as if nothing is wrong. This is a new problem that has only showed up in the last month.

When it quits, it still has spark, fuel presure, and is moving air. It will start ocassionally, and run at idle (rough at times), and will not throttle up. Putting it in gear kills it as well.

It is not over heating at all.

I have seen reference to a common problem being the crank and cam position sensors, but my schematics do not show any on this model, and auto parts houses do not list any for this model.

I am getting an error code "37" from the check engine light, but this does not corrospond to any error codes in the Chiltons manual I have.

Another note; When the engine dies, and I do get it restarted so that it idles, it will begin to make a loud hissing sound that is best heard when the intake hose is removed from the aircleaner. This sound develops from a normal engine running sound and then gradually gets louder over a period of 5-10 seconds. It then begins missing and then quits over the next 5-10 seconds. It sounds like a major restriction, but it is still moving a large volume of air. It is not a vacuum leak...

Sorry for the long post. I just want to supply all data I have collected at the moment. No need to run in circles.

Any help is appericated.

Thank you,

Justin

Any ideas anyone???

Really would like the wife and kids to have a safe and dependable ride. This is currently the only issue.

:banghead: Justin:banghead:

I checked on my pro website and the answers range from an intermittent open in the coil of a fuel injector, to an intermittent Auto Shutdown Relay--and everything in-between. This is not going to be an easy one to diagnose--especially on a forum. It doesn't appear to be a pattern failure.

I checked on my pro website and the answers range from an intermittent open in the coil of a fuel injector, to an intermittent Auto Shutdown Relay--and everything in-between. This is not going to be an easy one to diagnose--especially on a forum. It doesn't appear to be a pattern failure.
Thanks Rick,

I appericate the effort.

By pattern failure are you refering to the conditions that exist that cause the failure? If so, I can reproduce the conditions almost at will (if I feel like burning the fuel).

Any idea on the error code? On later models it refferences a transmission issue (TC). But it does not seem to be a valid error for the 88 model.

I am open to any additional ideas from anyone.

It really seems to be a feedback problem between a sensor/injector/relay and the ECU, that is temperature related.

Thanks,

Justin

This gives you three possibilities for a code 37 on an 88. All tranny related: http://www.allpar.com/fix/80s-codes.html

Not an caravan issue (I do own a caravan) and I do not know if your car has one, but on my '98 neon I had a similar problem that turned out to be the crankshaft position senor. This sensor would not throw a code when cold and I finally took it to auto zone, let it idle until she died and then they immediately coded her. CPS was the issue and now she runs fine.