Thread: Caravan anyone?

Originally Posted by Rumble_b

Not on a Caravan. I did one a few years ago. To get to the back bank of cyl you need to do it from under the van. Unless they have changed in the past few years you really need a lift to do it right. It is a lot of work to change them. The price sounds about right to me if it includes an oil change and a new air filter.

Things must have changed a bit. I installed them on my old '86 V-6 caravan all the time. If that's the case and the vehicle is stuttering, then plugs and wires are likely required (and maybe a fuel filter, too). I recall my old caravan going through a lot of fuel filters. With labour charges what they are these days, $325 seems pretty normal with parts included. Hopefully that fixes the problem.

The old, old ones were fine to work on. Just like anything that is over 15 years old. The one changed them on was a late 90's I belive. Fuel filter will also help restore some gas milage too. So it's a good idea anyway.

Originally Posted by Robert1950

I am proud to admit that I have never owned a mini-van.

I don't own a mini van. I own a Hammond Hauler that is capable of towing things. Oh it fits the family too. All wheel drive too.

When I had mine, it was sputtering and would just die occasionally. It was an intermittent fuel pump problem. Took the mechanic about an hour of test driving to find it. It was an expensive repair. There is a fuel filter in the tank too.
If you ever have a problem with the BCM (body control module), get rid of the van right away! Mine went and it was REALLY expensive to repair. I tried a couple used ones from the wrecking yard, but they are VIN specific. My wipers stopped working, cycling only once when turned on, or when the electric window reached the top or bottom of their travel. Try that in a snow storm, at night.
Bottom line is, when these things start to go, they go fast. Problem after problem. I won't ever be buying a Chrysler product again. I've owned 2, the voyager and a '68 Sports Fury. Both were crap.

$325 sounds about right if youre paying a shop to do it- ive worked on a bunch of them- can pull the transmission out of one in about the same time it takes to do the plugs lol.
its the shop labour rate- the parts arent expensive really-

that fuel filter problem is pretty common-

see if the shop can put a scanner to it, just in case the stuttering is a sensor or control module acting up. lot of strange things can happen with those ignition systems. and sometimes a strange intermittent problem turns out to be nothing but a confused computer, a reset thru the scanner clears it up.

im sure you already are aware- but ill say it anyway- be wary of any major or expensive repairs a shop says are necessary. lots of places are all about the "upsell". i worked in a shop that did $3000 jobs that were entirely unnecessary. regularly.

Bottom line is, when these things start to go, they go fast. Problem after problem.

yup :smile:

Fuel filter first is probably the best first step. Second, I would pour a bottle of fuel injector cleaner in the gas tank tank and then take it on a run on the highway 110 - 120. Maybe blow out some deposits in the engine..

I second the fuel filter first idea.

Personal experience......

I drive Silverado 1500's (two of 'em ... not at the same time). I've had them develop misses and stutters which were intermittent, and which the dealer (when still under warranty) couldn't find. Being a mechanic type, and a curious kind of guy, when my 2000 Silverado developed its miss the last time, I went to work finding it while it was playing up. I found that one of the fuel injectors was sticking shut intermittently. The fuel tank was near empty, so I dumped in a litre of automatic transmission oil and went for a short drive, then let the truck sit. Fortunately the solvents in the oil freed up the stuck injector and all has been fine since.......as long as I give it a treatment every six months or so.

It appears that the ethanol in our fuel tends to dry up the fuel systems and cause problems such as sticking injectors and corrosion due to reaction with some metals - Dodge fuel pick-ups and level sensors some to mind.....

cheers

John