1994 dodge caravan 3.3L. what would cause the fuel pump to get intermidiate
power only at start up??. when the van starts it will run fine all day.
this has happen 4 times within the last 4 months. the van has been
starting and running fine for the last month. my wife got stranded a week
ago when the fuel pump would not turn on. i had it towed home and pulled
the fuel pump out of the tank for the 5th time. fuel pump tested ok. put
it all back together and now the van will start and run fine. i hooked up
a test light to the pump wire harness with the wire unplugged. it seems i
am getting intermidiate power to the fuel pump plug. when it died last
time i was getting the intermidiate 3 seconds of power back to pump, but
the pump would still not kick on. thats why i had it towed and pulled the
tank again. all symptoms lead to a bad fuel pump. but when it starts i
could drive acrosss state without any hesitation. the promblom acures only
at start up. in the past i have worked in 3 different service garage's
growing up over a 12 year span , and worked with alot of great mechanics
that showed me the ropes. i could tear down the van and put it back
together with no promblom, but this fuel promblom has me stumped. maybe im
just over thinkin here..
sqdancerLynn - 15 Nov 2006 03:56 GMT
You made no mention, I would start by replacing the fuel pump relay
Mike - 15 Nov 2006 06:22 GMT
> 1994 dodge caravan 3.3L. what would cause the fuel pump to get
> intermidiate
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> together with no promblom, but this fuel promblom has me stumped. maybe im
> just over thinkin here..
If you have power going to the fuel pump and it doesn't work the pump must
be bad. It may be the brushes are worn ou t or there may be a bad spot on
the commutator. Next time it happens try hitting the bottom of the tank with
a rubber mallet while someone cranks it over, if the pump starts working you
have a bad pump.
FeMaster - 15 Nov 2006 10:55 GMT
> If you have power going to the fuel pump and it doesn't work the pump
> must be bad. It may be the brushes are worn ou t or there may be a bad
> spot on the commutator. Next time it happens try hitting the bottom of the
> tank with a rubber mallet while someone cranks it over, if the pump starts
> working you have a bad pump.
Exactly what I was going to suggest... Had a similar problem with the
wife's '93 caravan. She was stuck and I had to come to the rescue... Had
her crack it, and I gave the tank a smack with my fist. Started up
immediately.
A little additional information for the OP.
With a problem like you describe, you will only have the problem during
start-up. Once the pump is running, it will almost always continue to run,
only exhibiting problems again when it must start from a stopped state. It
just indicates that the pump is dying (worn out most likely) but not
completely dead yet.
pperry - 15 Nov 2006 11:55 GMT
update: i have tryed smacking the tank with a rubber malet. it doesent do
anything. i bench test the pump with direst power and it works every time.
when i turn the key to the on position you are supposed to hear 2 clicks
from the relays. but it only makes one click when it wont start. i tryed
changing the relay and it does the same. if i get lucky and keep turning
the key on and of untill i hear the 2 clicks then it will start. but for a
hole day i tryed it and all i got was the one click from the relays. i
would come out the next day turn the key on and i would hear the 2 clicks
and the van would start and drive for another week or up to a month. then
out of the blue it would act up again with a no start and one click from
the relays.
maxpower - 15 Nov 2006 21:33 GMT
> 1994 dodge caravan 3.3L. what would cause the fuel pump to get intermidiate
> power only at start up??. when the van starts it will run fine all day.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> together with no promblom, but this fuel promblom has me stumped. maybe im
> just over thinkin here..
You don't mention the mileage, you don't say if the fuel pump was replaced
in one of the 5 times you removed it!!! And the 3 seconds that you consider
intermittent is normal, the shut relay is designed to shut down if the
vehicle does not start within 3 seconds of crank until you try it again.
Bench testing a fuel pump is not a good idea since one small spark will
ignite the pump and possibly you too. This vehicle is 12 years old, its time
for a pump anyhow. I would highly recommend installing a MOPAR pump if it
has not been done.
Just a thought
Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech
uccoskun@gmail.com - 21 Nov 2006 01:21 GMT
it might be some lose problem. my 89 dodge dynasty did the same thing.
Later i found, the wires in tank corroded. I put in a new pump anyway
to be sure.
> > 1994 dodge caravan 3.3L. what would cause the fuel pump to get
> intermidiate
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
> Glenn Beasley
> Chrysler Tech