I have a '99 Caravan with 84,000 miles on it. Now that the warmer weather is here if I'm not on the freeway (blowing constant air against the van) the temp guage goes all the way up. I can't even consider blowing the a/c, or again, the temp guage goes all the way up. No steam emerges from under the hood. Usually, I blow the heater on full blast and that helps to bring the temp down-of course that doesn't feel too good when it's 90 degress outside. Also, I'd really like to use my a/c now that it's hot. My coolant (anitfreeze) compartment is full and doesn't seem to be leaking.

I really don't want to pay for a diagnostic. Any ideas? Once I know what the problems are I have some guys that can fix it for me. I really need to save money and can buy the necessary parts to fix.

 

Most usual cause of overheating is a bad thermostat. It's cheap and comes with a new gasket for the housing. Most I ever spent for one was $21 for my cherokee.

 

Someone suggested that my engine fans don't come on, would a thermostat fix that? How do I check that?

 

Start her up, turn on AC and the fans should automatically start running, if not then fan relay may be bad (follow electrical leads from fan to relay, probably attached to inner fender well or maybe a bad fan motor, again you,or your buds, can run a jumper wire from positive battery cable to the fan motor and if motor is good then fans will run). but first, I would change the thermostat.

 

Check the fan.Do the cheap things first,then replace the thermostat.

 

Bad rad fan relay, very common issue on the 2000-96 Chrysler/Dodge minivans.

 

how do I fix that?

 

I would install a new relay, you can get it at any Dodge dealer, Napa, Advance, Pepboys, Oreillys, Autozone

 

Here are pictures of the relay location

 

tell me this: if when the temp guage is all the way up, and then I blast the heat-the temp drops back down to a normal level. Isn't that an indication that my fan relay is ok and that this is a thermostat problem or no?