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The Caravan is a mini-van designed and manufactured by Dodge. The 3.8-liter 6-cylinder engine is equipped with a camshaft position sensor. This device helps to maintain the engine's fuel-to-air mixture and improves fuel economy. The camshaft sensor is subject to extreme heat and vibration making it a component that needs to be replaced overtime. If you suspect your camshaft position sensor is failing, you can perform a simple test with a multimeter.
Step 1
Open the hood of the Dodge Caravan and locate the cam position sensor. On a Dodge 3.8L, it's mounted on the transmission bell housing next to the EGR solenoid. The sensor can be identified as a cylindrical metal component. If needed, a diagram can be found in your repair manual.
Step 2
Disconnect the electrical harness from the end of the sensor. Turn the multimeter on to the "Ohms" setting.
Step 3
Touch the two probes on the multimeter to the two pins inside the electrical socket of the camshaft position sensor. This will measure the resistance. If the resistance is zero, there is a short somewhere within the sensor and it should be replaced. If the resistance is infinite, the sensor is working properly.
References
Things You'll Need
- Multimeter
Writer Bio
Johnathan Cronk is a freelance writer and began writing at the age of 18. Throughout his career he has specialized in sports, how-to and advice articles. He has also written sales pitches in the corporate setting since 2001. He studied business at Hudson Valley Community College before transferring to the State University of New York, Albany.