+- MacResource (https://forums.macresource.com)
+-- Forum: My Category (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: Tips and Deals (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Thread: Diagnose this car, Please. [updated] (/showthread.php?tid=278721)
Re: Diagnose this car, Please. - chopper - 07-18-2023
<<<120K miles. Dodge Caravan>>>
Re: Diagnose this car, Please. - Speedy - 07-18-2023
I’m with August West: Fuel pump. Fill your tank with gas and it will run until the gas gets warm enough to cause a failing fuel pump to stop working. Good luck.
Re: Diagnose this car, Please. - mrbigstuff - 07-18-2023
ah, I may be jumping into the fuel pump camp. I read it too quickly. the #3 may be key to that scenario.
Re: Diagnose this car, Please. - Acer - 07-18-2023
You think the starter is a red herring? Just an artifact of a bad fuel pump?
Re: Diagnose this car, Please. - mrbigstuff - 07-18-2023
Acer wrote:
You think the starter is a red herring? Just an artifact of a bad fuel pump?
the starter is done once the car starts, so it has nothing to do after the car is running.
Re: Diagnose this car, Please. - rich in distress - 07-18-2023
Spark plug cables?
Got nothing…
Re: Diagnose this car, Please. - C(-)ris - 07-18-2023
Going to need to do a diagnostic and pull codes to figure out anything. Codes might be related or might not since it has been on for a long time. Almost anything is on the table at this point, but fuel pump would be a good guess and is easily tested with a pressure gauge once the car will start.
Re: Diagnose this car, Please. - Filliam H. Muffman - 07-18-2023
My mom's Ford Escort wagon would do the engine light and no acceleration on the highway about every other year. O2 sensor. Somehow it would totally screw up the ignition computer.
Re: Diagnose this car, Please. - modelamac - 07-18-2023
Acer wrote:
1. Prior to #2-#5 below, occasional oil light at low RPM, goes off at higher RPM, but no hints of what follows. Engine light has been glowing for some time, not flashing, we think it was an O2 sensor.
2. Abrupt loss of ability to accelerate, though the engine continues to run; needed to pull over it was that bad. Engine light glowing (as it has been) but not flashing.
3. Restarting the engine immediately failed (no response, just the engine light flashed), but after waiting a few moments and the engine started as normal.
4. But after a short drive, loss of acceleration again, pulled over again.
5. Kicker: Managed to pull into a nearby shop last night, but today the garage says it won't start, need to replace the starter before they can proceed to sort out the rest.
20 year old car, only 120K miles. Dodge Caravan.
???
1. Engine getting worn out. Switch to 20W-50W oil. I'm betting the oil light comes on mostly when temperatures is above 85ºF or lot's of city driving.
2. Abrupt loss of power is usually plugged Catalytic converter.
If original starter, it may have really failed. Not enough info to tell from here.
It would not hurt to flush cooling system. Running a bit hot will contribute to oil light experience.
Re: Diagnose this car, Please. - Done - 07-18-2023
I had a ford ranger that did the same thing, lose power then you could pull over and restart a few minutes later. It was the catalytic converter, but that was my experience sometime same symptoms can be other things. Do you get a bad smell, usually that is the catalytic converter.