[Road Ripper]

I know from seeing handicap vans in the junkyards that they usually have custom made fuel tanks made from steel. Those vans are usually side ramp vans though, but maybe the rampway into the rear of the van still necessitated a custom fuel tank? If it is steel it could have rust in it, and it could be plugging a fuel filter intermittently.

I don't know how much I'd trust the onboard computer to keep track of the fuel mileage. It's more of a fun toy than something to use for precise measurement. Then again, if it's in a modified fuel tank...that info wouldn't even be accurate.

 

[JCnDtown]

You are correct that it has a modified fuel tank. After the handicap conversion was completed from what I learned later on from my mother is that the fuel guage stopped working when it was returned to her. She nor I use the gas guage as for the most part it only ever comes down to showing a quarter tank was used. I followed up after my mother and the van has a small paper notebook that has documented every fillup and mileage since 2002. That is how I figure out the MPG. Total miles shown on trip odometer divided by how many gallons it takes to fill the van. Old school but is the most accurate.

 

[dossdboss]

Does anyone know if the PCM regulates the fuel flow any different if it thinks it’s out of gas? On my 5th gen I have a bad float on my fuel pump and it makes the van act up whenever it’s at 22% fuel level or less. However if it reaches that level while it’s in use it acts perfectly fine. The minute I turn the vehicle off it’s a bear to start and causes all types of issues.

Do you own an OBD scanner that allows you to check your O2 sensors and other PIDS in real-time to see if something might be amiss?

 

[JCnDtown]

Does anyone know if the PCM regulates the fuel flow any different if it thinks it’s out of gas? On my 5th gen I have a bad float on my fuel pump and it makes the van act up whenever it’s at 22% fuel level or less. However if it reaches that level while it’s in use it acts perfectly fine. The minute I turn the vehicle off it’s a bear to start and causes all types of issues.

Do you own an OBD scanner that allows you to check your O2 sensors and other PIDS in real-time to see if something might be amiss?

No, I do not own an OBD scanner. Went to a repair shop that I have never been to yesterday who had quite a lot of positive reviews from a local forum that I am on for my area. After discussing it with him his best guess at this time is that there may be a vacuum leak somewhere or the air/fuel mixture is off. It seemed like he mentioned a MAF sensor a few times but until I get my tax refund check back I will not be able to take it to his shop to have them look at it. Still trying to figure out what the previous repair shop may have done to cause the severe drop in milage as it was as stated much higher before it went in. I see that Chrysler does not have a MAF sensor but a MAP one which I am just waiting to be delivered from Rockauto so I can replace it.

 

[Valhallalla]

I would be more than a little concerned if a "mechanic" working on my Chrysler minivan is talking about it having a mass airflow sensor.

 

[JCnDtown]

Well replaced the MAP sensor yesterday and van is still having a bit of a problem starting and when it does it sputters and hesitates if driven right after. If I wait five or so minutes where temp starts to rise to at least the quarter mark it acts quite a bit more normal. So that has not fixed the starting issue and will have to see if it did anything to get the gas milage at least back to 15 from the 6 where it was after I got it back from the repair shop.

 

[Road Ripper]

I guess I ignored the temperature relation to the starting/running problems. I wonder if the computer is seeing the proper engine temperature? If it thinks it's always cold, it will run too rich all the time and use gas. I can't remember if the instrument cluster and ECU both use the same temperature sensor? If separate, you will see the engine warm up but the computer won't and continue to run with too much gas, even in closed loop. Could be something that a scan tool could look for while running.

 

[Valhallalla]

The same sensor is used for both the temperature gauge and engine controller. However, Road Ripper might be on to something. An ECT sensor that reads too cold would be like driving a carbureted vehicle with the choke stuck closed. I have seen it. Since this is just a SWAGfest anyway you might as well try one. Relatively inexpensive and not terribly difficult to replace. Also much better than trying to replace the MAF sensor.

 

[JCnDtown]

Thanks for the suggestions. Just ordered an ECT so will try to swap that out later this week when it arrives. From what I can see it seems like the hardest part may be trying to remove the power steering reservoir first to get to coil pack and then procede to the ECT under it.