Dodge Caravan stalled

[AmerilawnOfWisconsin]

Ok guys, 1995 Dodge Caravan 188k miles with the 3.0 v-6 engine. Oil light came on and engine stalled right away. Oil is still at proper level. Engine turns over. Will fire up with starting fluid. Can't hear fuel pump run. So..........

1. Would a bad oil pressure switch shut off the fuel pump? I assume yes?

2. If that is the case can I jump the fuel relay to bypass the pressure switch to check if the fuel pump is ok?

3. Would spilling coolant on an oil pressure switch while changing a thermostat be likely to some how short it out? Because I just did that yesterday. :D

4. Will unplugging the switch or jumping across the two switch wires allow me to tell if the switch is the problem?

I appreciate any help you guys can offer. It's sitting in the Mcdonalds parking lot now and even though it's in a parking spot out of the way for some reason the manager didn't seem to thrilled about it so I have til noon to figure out if I can fix it there or if it needs to be towed home.

Thank you.

[Plow Dak]

Crank sensor runs the asd fuel pump relays.

does the check engine light come on when you turn the key on ??

i assume it does cause it wants to fire off with starting fluid.

i saw very few problems with this system.

Fuel pump was usually the issue. sometimes when they sit for a while they come back. When you turn the key on you should hear about 1/2 sec pump prime. use your fist or hammer to hit the bottom of tank about the middle while someone cranks the van over. don't smash it just shock it. Was this fuel pump giving a noticeable humming while running ??

Also with that many miles on it I have seen the green fuzz of death in the power module right next to the battery....

BTW I have a 95 3.0 Cvan sitting in my yard :)

[AmerilawnOfWisconsin]

Mike, Thanks for the quick reply. When the key is turned on now all the idiot lights come on like usual and all shut off EXCEPT the oil light. My wife was driving it when it happened she said she heard the chime, saw the oil light and it shut off all at the same time.

I do not hear the fuel pump run at all. I did try hitting the tank with a rubber mallet trick and still could not get it to come on. Before this happened my wife said she heard a loud "humming" type noise thaty she hadn't noticed before. Maybe the fuel pump on it's last legs before dying?

But where does this oil light issue come into play? If the oil pressure switch is bad will it kill power to the fuel pump? Even if I jump the fuel pump relay?

[Plow Dak]

Mike, Thanks for the quick reply. When the key is turned on now all the idiot lights come on like usual and all shut off EXCEPT the oil light. My wife was driving it when it happened she said she heard the chime, saw the oil light and it shut off all at the same time.

I do not hear the fuel pump run at all. I did try hitting the tank with a rubber mallet trick and still could not get it to come on. Before this happened my wife said she heard a loud "humming" type noise thaty she hadn't noticed before. Maybe the fuel pump on it's last legs before dying?

But where does this oil light issue come into play? If the oil pressure switch is bad will it kill power to the fuel pump? Even if I jump the fuel pump relay?

It runs off the crank sensor. It sees engine rotation as the safety check.i have done many oil pressure tests at the ops port and it runs fine.
A louder than normal humm would send me right to the fuel pump.

As far as the oil light right now i don't have an answer. Kinda hard to diag over the WWW Poss bad oil pressure switch.

some harnesses had a connector on the side of the sub frame by the tank. you can split and check for power to the pump while cranking. but it sounds like a pump issue. Tow it

OH one more thing. For some stupid reason those fuel pumps like to puke just after you fill up the tank :(

[AmerilawnOfWisconsin]

Thanks a bunch Mike. I know all about fuel pumps bowing out with a full tank. The Blazer and my K2500 both had full tanks when the pumps went out. Not only that but my truck had a full 200 gallons of hericide in the sprayer in the bed.

Ok, I will test before buying a new pump. Any idea on what color wire to check? Check with a simple test light or with a meter for 12 volts?

If the pump is bad any recommendation on what brand to use? I can get a Spectra brand for $115, Airtex for $162, or a Carter for $164.

[Plow Dak]

as far as the pump. i only used Factory so aftermarket would be your call.
The color wire i do not know off the top of my head. For some strange reason green pops up i would have to get to all data or my manuals if they go back that far. All data at the shop and manuals are in the garage locked away behind the Harley. test light would be fine as it's not a computer circuit.
They should be the biggest wires in the connector anyway. The clip likes to snap off that connector if it's there. so be very easy and it would be better if it was warm.

If the tank is less than 1/2 you can sneak the pump out without having to pull the tank all the way out. it's tricky. If the pump tests bad those long tank strap bolts are not your friend. lots of rust buster and patience. no access panel so she needs to come down. Good luck and be safe.
Oh replace those rubber fuel lines

[AmerilawnOfWisconsin]

What better person to get help from than a 35 year Chrysler tech! Thank you Mike. I really appreciate you guys when you take the time to help guys like me that don't know squat about diagnosis but still want to tackle the problem themselves. It is such a big help.

I forgot to mention last post believe it or not the tank is not full! :D It has just below half. If the pump is indeed bad my instinct is to go ahead and pull the whole tank down to clean all the dirt and junk off the top so it doesn't fall in when I pull the pump. My luck that lock ring will be a pita to get off too.

I will get it home tomorrow to check for power to the pump and go from there. I will keep you informed with what I find out.

[AmerilawnOfWisconsin]

Update......First of all moderators, you can move this out of the Urgent help section if you like.

Got the van towed home this afternoon. Mike was right on the money. Bad fuel pump. Just like he said there was a harness coming out near the tank with a connector. I pulled it apart there and confirmed there is power to the green wire (good memory Mike) going to the pump.

Just for good measure I did clean the connections at the battery and power distribution center and checked for green fuzz at the power module (was fine). I did find a ground strap broken from the engine mount to the body. Not sure what that effects but will replace it. Not sure if this has anything to do with the oil light that came on either?

In doing some internet reading it seems these oil pressure switches are a common problem on caravans turning on the oil light. Not sure how the oil light coming on and the fuel pump going out are related.

Big thanks to Mike "Plow Dak" for the help. I will update when I get the new pump installed. May be a few days though as Im not in a hurry now.

[wyldman]

The engine was probably sputtering or had stalled already,causing the oil pressure light to come on.

[AmerilawnOfWisconsin]

Thanks Chris, that makes sense.

Heading out now to try and remove the old pump.

[Plow Dak]

As far as the oil light NOT coming on with the key i have seen a few do this as a result of oil pressure switch too. Usually a combo of age and gunk.

I would not be to worried about it at this point. get it running and when the engine oil warms up then you can see if it will come on after you restart.

Like i said i can call you.... I got your PM. will be easier that way..

[AmerilawnOfWisconsin]

Got the tank down today and the old pump off. Talked to the 2nd owner of this van. He had it since it had 40k miles up until we got it this past spring with 180+k miles he said he never had to replace the fuel pump! Looks like this may be the original.

I have a new pump being shipped to me so it may be a while before I can install it and report back but I will when it's in.

Big thanks to Mike "Plow Dak" for all the help. Mike here are the pics for the last thing I need to ask you about..............

[AmerilawnOfWisconsin]

The van runs! Just a follow thru on my help request. It was indeed the fuel pump. I put the new pump, rubber hoses and filter on last night and all is good. Even the oil light is off now. Thank you to Mike "Plow Dak" and Chris "Wyldman" for responding to the thread. With a big thank you to Mike for all the advice and taking the time out of his day to help.

I am no mechanic but with the help of the great people on this forum who have taken the time and had the patience to give advice (especially Fred Pickering and Mike Coombs), I have been able to do the work myself. Most importantly each time I have learned something for the next time I have trouble.

THANK YOU!