Hi there

Recently purchased '94 Grand Caravan from my friends' elderly parents who owned it since around '95 or '96.

Historically the van lived in Strathmore AB (30 minutes East of Calgary AB) at a farm, driven by his mother on washboard gravel roads to access the blacktop from their farm. It's been on some road trips to the US (Arizona) when they used to be snowbirds.

Took the van to Canadian Tire for the insurance inspection (mandatory for all vehicles over 12 years old) Need to replace the drums, shoes, rotors, pads on the brakes and service the calipers, then the insurance inspection is complete. Will get a Haynes manual and attempt this myself, can't pay the $1200 that Canadian Tire will do it for.

Tire rims are very rusty, no balancing weights on any of them, good rubber. Tire pressures have been checked. High milage... 350,000+

Body's in good shape, minor surface rust that can be ground away/repainted with Tremclad.

Bigger issues:

1)

Front end vibrates upon acceleration, more so when going uphill (under more torque?). Baaaad vibration up a steep hill (like the Cochrane Hill on the 2A)

On flat city roads, the front vibration is minimal or it doesn't vibrate if I am very gentle on the gas and don't accelerate aggressively. (under 1500 RPM)

Any guesses on the cause of the vibration?

Simple balance/alignment issue?

Or something deeper and troubling/expensive to fix?

2)

Rear passenger area of vehicle makes metallic clanking noise when going over bumps/seams in road, vibrates quite a bit when going 90km/h and above on the highway. Need diagnosis on that as well. Canadian tire? Other shop in Calgary?

I want this vehicle for city driving and also road trips this summer through BC and maybe across the border to Montana/Washington state.

Suggestions? Advice?

thanks

Caravanlover

 

Never ever treat Canadian Tire like a real mechanic's shop. They just aren't up to the task. There are plenty of good shops in Calgary, I suggest taking a poke around Beyond.ca, it is a local car enthusiast forum and there are plenty of good reviews and recommendations on there.

As for the vibration, if it only happens under load perhaps it is the CV joints?

 

If you hold the van with the brakes and give it gas, does it still vibrate? If not, it may be a CV joint, especially with the gravel roads in its background. I assume the front end was inspected as part of the safety check but if not, I'd look at tie rods.

 

No vibration when I hold the van brakes on, and accelerate...

..something new came up... happened twice now.

Transmission...

...when I put the van into reverse, nothing happens. It doesn't do a thing, it's like it's in neutral. Then I accelerate, and when the rpm's are coming down, the van kicks into reverse.

Does this mean the need to replace the transmission is coming soon?

Hmmm.... is this wee van that I bought for a great deal now going to cost me a bunch?

Comments? Suggestions?

thx

 

I would guess then its the torque converter. If you take it to a trans shop they usually check it for free.

 

Okay, will try to have the van checked out. Thanks for the help everyone... will post a new thread about the tranny issue.

 

The vibration you are experiencing, what is the frequency of it?.. Is it wheel speed dependant? Engine speed dependant? Is it more of a wobble than a vibration?

Also, delays engaging reverse usually are the solenoid pack and not the torque converter as far as I know. I would be tempted to change the fluid and replace the solenoid pack and see what that does.

A metallic clanking in the rear going over bumps could be bad shocks, bad springs, bad leaf spring mounts / bushings or any number of loose components. If you are not mechanically inclined that is best checked out by a professional.

 

Hey Zero10

Front end vibration: Vibration happens only upon acceleration, not related to wheel speed, more related to rpm's. At low low rpm's <1200, there is no vibration upon acceleration. The vibration is usually really bad on a hill, at any speed (rpm's are usually >1500). Do not feel the vibration in the steering. Pretty sure it's a vibration and not a wobble. I'm guessin' if it was an alignment issue or balancing issue, the vibration would not disappear when the foot is taken off the accelerator. The vibration always disappears when the foot is taken off the accelerator, no matter what speed the vehicle is travelling.

Re: Reverse not engaging...I'll try changing the solenoid... and the trans. fluid and see if that gets me anywhere.

Have to replace brake pads,shoes,discs, drums in the morrow... then will tackle the other stuff.

Thanks!

caravanlover

 

From my comfy chair it sounds like a typical inboard CV joint failure. They cause what you're experiencing and/or a thump/cluck on acceleration.

 

Hi ,Raise the hood an have the wife put the park brake on an go from reverse to drive & then back to reverse with a little throttle to check the motor mounts . My long distance internet guess ! Lovvorn