I just joined, and this is a wonderful site. I have looked through the Caravan threads and didn't find this, so if it was covered somewhere please anyone feel free to guide me....

I bought my wife an '06 Grand Caravan SXT with the 3.8L V6 last year, and it's been pretty decent (I'm a Ford guy, so sue me .) Today she noticed that it started shuddering / lugging a bit when running around town. I drove it and noticed the same thing, so I ran it in the driveway. It idles smooth as glass, but I give it gas and it won't go past 3K RPM, and at that it sputters like a poorly tuned lawnmower.

It has only 63K miles on it. I hate to throw parts at it, and nothing comes immediately to mind. Any thoughts?

 

Welcome to DF
Don't worry ford or chevy people are welcome too. Is the ck engine lite on? If not, it may just need the plugs and wire set replace.

 

No, the CEL isn't on.

It idles so smooth, I wouldn't have thought plugs / wires. I haven't owned a Mopar in years... is this common? I can get Bosch wires on the cheap (my brother in law runs the local AutoZone). What plugs would you recommend?

 

how many miles? ya sounds like ya need a tune up.

 

I believe the Champion double platinums are OEM

let us know how they work, I need to do my plugs/wires in the fall, required for 75k maint. but I will probably go Mopar for the wires

 

she's only 63K, and the owners manual says 100K on plugs / wires. I don't mind doing it (hopefully not as much of a PITA as my 98 Ford Windstar was. geez), but I'd rather not spend the $50 or so and still have the problem. Can't hurt, I guess.

 

yup 75k if schedule b (since most of my trips are 9 miles each way, 50/50 highway city)

and 100k if schedule a

 

I'll give it a shot this weekend, I guess. A lifelong buddy of mine is the parts manager at the local Chrysler dealer, so maybe I get a deal on the wires. :-)