Archived engine died, speedo & odometer failure

[rickhans]

I am supposed to go out of town Monday & tow a trailer, but can't until I get these failures resolved and I don't have a spare truck.



Yesterday while I was driving, the engine died. I coasted to the shoulder but got the engine running again before I was stopped without hitting the starter. Tach showed 0 rpms. The check engine light came on but before I could get to a computer reader, the light went off. It did this a few weeks ago too. I changed the filter about 2k miles ago and have not drained water yet so I will check that. I am just wondering if an electrical problem caused the engine to die and could be related to my next problem which happened within a few miles of the engine quitting.



I have total failure of the speedometer, cruise control, odometer, and abs brake system, although the miles still show on the odometer but are not incrementing. Not too many miles ago I replaced the rear speed sensor after the wire broke off at the connector, (I had replaced it after it failed a year ago as well) but the only thing that quit working was the abs. I don't see the relation ship of the ABS controller to total failure of the Odometer system and cruise control.



The service mgr. at dealership said there is a sensor on transmission that controls the speedometer, odometer, & cruise and will act up if the rear sensor fails, but not totally fail. I have now learned that only an auto has that sensor but have not been able to find out the source of the speedometer & odometer signal for the 5 speed (also 4wd).



Since total failure of the abs controller on the differential does not appear to cause total failure of the speedometer system, there has to be something else sending the info to the computer. I have not been able to find a '98 electrical schematic to trace down the wiring to the origin of the signal to the computer. Can someone help? I need to tow a trailer out of town Monday but am stuck until I get this problem solved and figure out what is causing the intermittant engine faiulre. (My lift pump has been replaced twice and the injector pump with the 2nd lift pump replacement about 20k miles ago). I also checked the instrument cluster fuses and all were OK.



Any help would be appreciated.



Rick Hansen

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Might be the CPS - Crankshaft Position Sensor - if it fails, the computer thinks the engine isn't turning over, and causes most of the errors you are reporting.

 

[rickhans]

I checked the speed sensor on the differential and found that the connector was not holding and both wires were disconnected. I tightened the connection and tie wrapped it to the mounting bracket and now have the speed and odometer working. I checked the brake switch and it is functioning but cruise control still won't activiate but the light is on at the dash.



It sounds like the engine failure might be a problem at the crankshaft position sensor. I will search the archives for more info on that. I did drain some of the filter but there was not a drop of water nor dirt and pump is working good so it does not appear to be fuel related.



Thanks for the response.

 

[GAmes]

I don't know much about the overvalved, but it sounds like an engine speed sensor to me as well. If you don't get it fixed by Monday and the trailer has to move, send me a message. Perhaps we can work something out.

 

[Missouri Mule]

You need to get the code off the PCM and/or ECM. The code mite be for the loose connection at the speed sensor but there mite be a code for the engine stalling.



On the 12 valves the Engine Speed Sensor/connector when it causes engilnes to stall would not set a code.

On the 24 valves the Crank Speed/Position sensor mite set a code but then again it mite not. Check for dirty connector on bent/loose pins.



Engine Speed sensor= Crank Speed/Positon sensor.

 

[rickhans]

Thanks for the responses. After fixing the wires on the speed sensor I went on an errand and the engine quit in about 5 minutes. What actually happens is the engine drops to idle and the throttle does nothing until I coast to a stop, although I am not sure stopping has anything to do with it coming to life again.



This time I was prepared and drove direct to AutoZone and got a readout. There are two codes set - P0121, throttle position sensor, and P1693. Their system did not have a definition for Dodge but showed turbo charge control circuit malfunction for OBDII and had a different definition on each of 5 other brands of vehicles.



Anyone know what a P1693 is? I will go search for it.



As to the TPS, does this mean that the engine failure was caused by the throttle position sensor so it drops to idle, or is this just the defice that detected the failure?



Autozone quotes $439. 99 for a new throttle position sensor. I am going to go search the forums for this.

 

[rickhans]

I am closing this thread. All but the cruise control are solved, maybe even cruise control. The codes are for the throttle position sensor and I found several threads that explain it along with detail instructions on how to calibrate the tps to fix the problem. The cruise control and tps are hooked together so the tps failure could be causing the cc problem.



Thanks for the responses. I'll fix it Monday and be on my way.