I'm at wits end here trying to figure this problem out. sometime with no rhyme or reason my 01 3.3 grand caravan will start to miss or skip and sometimes backfire and in the same hour ride to work it will run well. It acts like water in the gas, but I've been thru tanks of gas since it started. it's most noticeable when under power and you just feather the gas for a little more speed. almost like a dead spot in the throttle.
I was looking for answers and came across an article that mentioned "The Chrysler 3.3 engine is noted for breaking the flex plate around the crankshaft hub. This allows the flex plate to shift throwing the crank sensor output out of sync with the cam sensor. The result is a disruption of the spark and injection. " which sounds like my issue but I was also thinking it could be a coil or fuel pump, or any number of things.
The only codes that comes up are a small evap leak and a large evap leak 442 and 445 I think. which I have had on and off for the last three years, so I don't think they are related.
anybody got any ideas to narrow it down?
I'd go to the dealer but work has me away 12 hours a day and I would be getting there anytime soon
Thanks in advance for any advice,
Dan

yor problem is in deed a broken flywheel flex plate.i had the same problem years ago with my 95 caravan 3.3.threw everything but the kitchen sink at it come to find out after i pulled the motor the flywheel was broke around the center.put a new one on and ran as perfect as could be.very very frustateing though.put a new flex plate/flywheel on it will run perfect.it does throw the timing off as flywheel id wobbleing.

does it make any noise.mine made a faint knoking noise somewhat like a rod. its like a timing chain that jumps time.the crank sensor cant pick up the signal correctly.put a new flywheel on it.

Quote:

---

it's most noticeable when under power and you just feather the gas for a little more speed. almost like a dead spot in the throttle.

---

Replace the plug wires and plugs.

You may find the starter doesn't sound the same while cranking,and a strange noise while at idle. Very hard to diagnose, have done many over the years. When you remove the flywheel you will see why, the retainer holds it in position(no wobble) But will retard valve timing to the point cam and crank are out of sync. Lots of times when you shut the car off it will move back. Just think as if your bolt holes for the crank to flywheel were elongated and moving back and forth.

thanks guys,
NITROUSN, I did plugs and wires about a month ago, also did the fuel filter.

I take it you'll get no codes to narrow down the issue?

You should condiser the coil pack as well bad plug wires can cause them to fail. a broken flex plate will generaly make some noise.

Can this be a 2.4 problem also in a caravan?

C-Tech. when I thought it was water in the tank (which I still think it was) It would idle rough and run rough. I did a couple tanks with Heet dry gas then changed the fuel filter, little to no change..
Then I asked Blown71x what he thought and he said check and replace the plugs and wires. The plugs all had a .050 gap and all looked like they were burning lean cause they were on the whitish side. I replaced them and the wires and it was a very noticeable improvement. Idled good ran pretty good but the skips were still there, just not as noticeable. That made me think it was a spark issue and maybe the coil is breaking down some how.
Then of course a coworker had a fuel pump quit and said he had the same symptoms so I'm not real sure which route to take.
The starter and the fuel pump sound normal, but I'll be listening closer now.

Still looking for advice or ideas, thanks to all that have helped so far.

Thanks to all that offered advice, I took a shot in the dark and installed a new coil pack and it's running fine now.