92 grand caravan spits, sputters, bang, BANG! help!

[ekoms]

Hello all, new here and this site has a lot of good info ! been reading past three days trying to figure out why my van wont run right. So I call upon the caravan specialists. well here goes, first its an 92 grand caravan SE with an 3.3l, and coil pack no dist. I just got this van a week ago ran great at time of purchase, I was on my way home, I get the van up to 50, and it starts to sputter as if I just ran out of gas. I easy off, the engine steadies out. I bring it back up to 50 again it starts to studder. So I take it easy the rest of the way at 45 on level hwy (I live 12 miles up an mountain) then take the exit to get home (starting uphill battle, sept there is no battle). it takes me up the hill at 50-55, no sputters but almost overheated. got it to H. get back home have it parked on some what level ground and some anti is spewing out. I kill the van. waited till next day. 9am still a little chilly out starts fine, idles fine. give it any gas what so ever and it sputters constantly and backfires badly. if I flutter the pedal it will "sometimes" jump past the sputters and rev excellent, let the engine go back to idle and sputters back with any gas, I believe it is an sensor because I can feel the fuel passing through the filter when I hold it tightly. I pulled plugs 1,3,5, Just to get a visual of how the engine is running. 1 and 3 are perfect grayish, 5 is black carbon as if running to rich. as before I didn't pull plugs 2,4,6. also It shows no codes just 12 and 55. Can any1 help. I'm a news paper carrier and this van would make my life so much easier as far as work is concerned.


Thanks to all............................Ekoms

[RIP]

There are many possibilities. I would start with a compression check and connect a fuel pressure gauge and see what pressure the pump is supplying. Also flush and drain the cooling system and change the thermostat and rad cap while you're at it. They are cheap.

Are you seeing white vapor out the t-pipe and/or oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil? The oil will appear a lighter brown with streaks. These are indications of a blown head gasket. Are the cooling fans coming on?

[ekoms]

already did an flush on cooling system, changed thermo and rad cap. though one of them might of caused the overheating, but the fan had an broken connection an the fan didn't kick on. overheat problem solved. Also no signs of oil/coolant in the coolant/oil. could my coil/wires/plugs cause the problem?



thanks.....................ekoms

[ekoms]

UPDATE -- pulled all plugs and all are black/carbon. maybe an timing issue. I remember the guy I got the van from said the timing may be off a little, but isn't the timing controlled by the ECM or whatever ?

[ekoms]

Changed plugs wires, no change still sputter at low RPM and I have to flutter the gas to get past it.

[Rawtorque]

Some things to do:

1. Change the fuel filter. It may feel like fuel is flowing ok, but this can cause some of those stutter problems.

2. Check the Throttle Position Sensor. They can "glitch" at certain throttle angles as they wear, confusing the ECM.

3. Take the EGR off & make sure it's not jammed slightly open.

4. Add some good fuel injection cleaner.

5. Clean the Idle air control. Spray in cleaner might work.

6. Your oxygen sensor may be bad, but not trigger any codes.

There's no timing adjustment on that I think.

[ekoms]

thanks much for the Info Rawtorque. I will check them out and let yall know what happens.

updated -- Cant find the EGR on my 3.3l, says its supposed to be bolted to the intake on right side(from front of car). its not there.
where does it bolt to on the exhaust manifold.

ekoms