2000 Chrysler Gr Voyager - Flex Fuel Problem

[rogersauto]

The computer is showing that it is in E85 mode, but it has gas in it. The van is running very rich.

Can someone help us out on this one?

Thanks!

[steven kiser]

if this has ever had ethanol in it this will most defiantly help you. tsb # 881. pump module needs to be replaced. the other is safety notification NHTSA00V26800. the "o" rings on the fuel rail dry out and leak. if the module is the culprit i would definitely clear all lines. what ever you do don't cheap out and use a low quality replacement pump. i use oem or one supplied by world pac. i've also had great results from airtex pumps. those are the only ones i'd ever use. your looking to see if any of the seals or o rings appear dried out. make sure the replacement pump specifies it's for flex.

[brianp87]

One of the O2 sensors may be stuck lean causing the alcohol parameter to increase to the programmed limit of the PCM. Check the operation of all the O2 's The downstream O2 sensor should switch as well as the upstream O2 sensor but at a much slower rate. The engine may not run any better until the alcohol content parameter updates. The only time that the PCM will update the alcohol content parameter is the first 5 minutes of driving after adding at least 4 gallons of fuel to the tank. good luck

[rogersauto]

We put fuel in it and then drove it around for about 6 min.
Still is showing that it is on the wrong fuel.

Does anyone know any other way to get it to change back over?

[brianp87]

Did you check the o2's

[rogersauto]

We replaced #1 o2 sensor already.
It did not make any change.

[brianp87]

Which sensor did you replace and why?

[rogersauto]

Can you tell me were this sensor is ?

[rogersauto]

We changed the #1 o2 sensor , someone cut the wires and it not have them hooked right on it.

[brianp87]

How are the o's switching is the upstream faster then the downstream? It is possible the pcm could be bad due to the wiring of the o2. It could be possible the new sensor is bad. Or maybe after switching the sensor you need to clear the adaptive memory?

[ricmorin]

I think the O2's do the work necessary to compensate for fuels on this model. Make sure the sensor is for flex fuel; they may be different. Also, make sure the other primary sensor is functioning correctly.

[rogersauto]

The up stream is faster then the lower. Do know what the normal voltz the o2 sensors should be? You can not tell anything on the computer with the fuel until it warms up and that is when it starts running better. When you first start the van it does not want to run. It blows black smoke out the back. Do you know also what reads to fuel o2 or something in the fuel pump ?

[brianp87]

.9 volts under heavy acceleration. Maybe the heater for the o2 is bad? It has a 5 volt reference.

[rogersauto]

Can anyone tell us what tells the computer that the van is running on ethanol ???

[brianp87]

the o2's. If the one was wired bad it coulda caused the pcm to fail.

[rogersauto]

If the pcm is failing , why does the van run ok after it warms up? We just tried a fuel pump , because someone told us that there is a sensor on the fuel pump or on the fuel line that tells it how much fuel to put threw the system.

This Van is a pain!!!

[ricmorin]

Yes they are. Here is some information for you......

Chrysler FFV 3.3 engines do not use a fuel sensor. The PCM calculates methanol content at startup based on the oxygen sensors. With a good scan tool or a DRB3, there will be a methanol pid. The leaner the car is at startup the higher the value. The pid mostly updates after a refueling. You cannot reset this without a DRB3. Exhaust leaks upstream or near the primary O2's can skew the value. Also, anything that'll make the engine lean at startup is suspect.

[brianp87]

Yes they are. Here is some information for you......

Chrysler FFV 3.3 engines do not use a fuel sensor. The PCM calculates methanol content at startup based on the oxygen sensors. With a good scan tool or a DRB3, there will be a methanol pid. The leaner the car is at startup the higher the value. The pid mostly updates after a refueling. You cannot reset this without a DRB3. Exhaust leaks upstream or near the primary O2's can skew the value. Also, anything that'll make the engine lean at startup is suspect.

I would be careful before just throwing a bunch of parts at something.

[rogersauto]

I would just like to thank both of you for helping us out with this Van.

We just put a used pcm in it and I think we have got it. It started right up and it is reading 3% and before it was reading 85% . We are going to let it sit for alittle and then try to start it again.
So, thanks Ric !

I will be glad to see it go !

[ricmorin]

Yes they are. Here is some information for you......

Chrysler FFV 3.3 engines do not use a fuel sensor. The PCM calculates methanol content at startup based on the oxygen sensors. With a good scan tool or a DRB3, there will be a methanol pid. The leaner the car is at startup the higher the value. The pid mostly updates after a refueling. You cannot reset this without a DRB3. Exhaust leaks upstream or near the primary O2's can skew the value. Also, anything that'll make the engine lean at startup is suspect.

I would be careful before just throwing a bunch of parts at something.

I wasn't in any way suggesting that they throw parts at it. I was merely stating some information about the vehicle so they could diagnose the problem correctly. You misinterpreted my message if you thought otherwise and I apologize in advance if I was misleading. If I was, please point it out for me.