1993 Dodge 2.5L 4 Cyl. SOHC timing?

Question

I have a 1993 Caravan, 2.5L 4 cyl. TBI in the shop that runs horrible - surges, skips, stalls at low speeds & idles rough. Always starts right back up.
Fuel pressure good (14 PSI), timing belt correct, compression 120-125 all cylinders, cap rotor and wires look good, cam looks good, intake vacuum excellent but naturally vibrates when the engine takes a fit, has new plugs and no fault codes or check engine light.
When I put a timing light on the flywheel, the mark jumps all over the place and stays visible in the window only when the light is set for over 30 degrees.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated - parts that have been suggested are the, hall effect distributor pickup, the MAP, the PCM, the speed/distance sensor and so forth. I really don't want to start throwing parts at this thing on a hunch.
Thanks.

fire4511 · Accepted Answer

The distributor pickup is a common problem on that vehicle.  They also had problems with the MAP sensor. Usually a map sensor failure will cause the van not to run at all, and if you unplug the sensor it will start and run poorly. 

Start by pulling the vacuum line off the map sensor and making sure that there is vacuum from that line. if so, unplug the MAP and see if that causes any changes. If there is no change, then the problem is either in the MAP sensor or a loose connection.

If there is a change in the way it runs, I would bet that the problem is the distributor pickup.

? · Answer

I don't know if you will find anything for a 2005 dodge neon, as I have never heard of this model. If you look at the back of the car you should notice that it does not say neon ANYWHERE on it. That would be because they no longer make the Neon and it's last model was in 2004. In 2005 they changed a lot of things with the engine and added a lot of safety features that the neon was missing and changed it's name to the SX 2.0. The reason they did this is because people did not like neons because they had a bad name for performance and safety issues. When they did this they use to say it is essentially a completely different car from an engine stand point, but with the same basic frame as the neon. But it is NOT a neon. Sorry I drive an Dodge SX 2.0 and I hate when it is referred to as a neon because neons have horrible records and I would NEVER drive one. With the SX, however, most of thoese problems where fixed. Sorry but you cant fix up an imaginary car.

buddy_236 · Answer

I have run into a few that had the distributor hall effect ring on the shaft came loose, it threw the best of technicians back in the day.
This will be easy to tell, just get a hold of it and try to turn it back and forth :)

PAUL P · Answer

Hi LeAnn,
  I`m thinking coil/balest resister. As you know when starting the car it gives a full 12volts, then drops down under regular use. It may be the secondary wiring in the coil. Or primary wiring. Just a thought.

jheetman2004 · Answer

the knock sensor can make timing jump all over if it picks up readings, i would try unplugging it to see if it runs better.  i sure hope this vehicle came equipped with a knock sensor, or really sound armature

done wrenching · Answer

Check the egr operation. I had one with a bad egr solenoid, that was opening the egr valve at idle. Not supposed to be doing that. 2 cents

dodge man · Answer

is it running in closed loop mode or going back and forth to it,it sounds like a bad temp sensor causing that too happen,good luck.

ClassicMustang · Answer

14 lbs sounds awful low for a fuel injected car.. sounds like the stator in the distributor is bad..

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1993 Dodge 2.5L 4 Cyl. SOHC timing?

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