96 Grand Caravan Shuts Off at warmup

[SurfingDad]

I have a 96 Dodge GC 3.3L 4spd that shuts off when it reaches normal operating temperature. It won't restart for about 3-4 minutes afterward. It just cranks over with no sign of starting. If I sit for about 3-4 min. it will start like normal. It starts right up and drives fine. This problem happens from a cold start only and has happend every time since the first occurance. First 3 times were while driving. I tried it from a cold start in the parking lot to see if it would shut off just idling to a normal opperating temp and sure enough it shut off when normal temp was reached. The car doesn't make any unusuall sounds or anything abnormal, it just shuts off as if the key was turned off. No sputtering, loss of power, nothing, just off. Once the car is restarted 3-4 minutes later, it drives fine. I can shut it off and restart and drive no problem, as long as it doesn't cool off completly. It only happens from a cold engine. No check engine light comes on either. I tried cleaning the throttle body and replaced the idle air control valve but it didn't fix it. The symptoms are exactly the same each and every time. Help! Thank you all in advance for any ideas, it's just about driving me crazy!.

[grum]

Hi,
My 1997 Grand Voyager had a very similar problem. When starting from cold it would run fine for the first 10 minutes then could die completely 2 or 3 times over the following 20 mins. Sometimes it would restart immedeatly, sometimes would take 4 or 5 minutes. Once the first 30 minutes was over the car would run and run (did almost 1000 miles on one trip without further problems). Once cold again the cycle starts afresh.
Eventually I got the local dealer to put the diagnostic computer on it and they suggested changing the Camshaft Position Sensor. I did this (not an easy option for a non-mechanic) and it seems to have fixed it, after 6 months of problems!
Hope this helps
Graham (in United Kingdom)

[Cobra_Sam]

Originally Posted by SurfingDad

I have a 96 Dodge GC 3.3L 4spd that shuts off when it reaches normal operating temperature. It won't restart for about 3-4 minutes afterward. It just cranks over with no sign of starting. If I sit for about 3-4 min. it will start like normal. It starts right up and drives fine. This problem happens from a cold start only and has happend every time since the first occurance. First 3 times were while driving. I tried it from a cold start in the parking lot to see if it would shut off just idling to a normal opperating temp and sure enough it shut off when normal temp was reached. The car doesn't make any unusuall sounds or anything abnormal, it just shuts off as if the key was turned off. No sputtering, loss of power, nothing, just off. Once the car is restarted 3-4 minutes later, it drives fine. I can shut it off and restart and drive no problem, as long as it doesn't cool off completly. It only happens from a cold engine. No check engine light comes on either. I tried cleaning the throttle body and replaced the idle air control valve but it didn't fix it. The symptoms are exactly the same each and every time. Help! Thank you all in advance for any ideas, it's just about driving me crazy!.

Those 3.3L models have many sensors and seeing that temp has something to do with it shutting off I would check those first. The one that comes to mind is the one right next to the housing holding your thermostat. ( where the top radiator hose goes onto the engine ) there is a small sensor right there. Remember if you yank it out antifreeze will pour out there, you will have to lower the level in the radiator first.
You may even want to test or replace the thermostat while you have the antifreeze level down.
Hope this helps
Sam