We have a 2000 Dodge Caravan that has been well maintained. We recently took it to a new shop,We got an oil change and had them place on a new air filter, The day after our car was having troubles starting so we took it back they did a Starter, Alternator and Electical Test they stated all was well but the battery was getting low so we Replaced the battery in hopes that everything was good. Car still having troubles starting, But once it started it runs Amazing,Took it bad and then plaed on a new fuel filter car still acting the same way But then the engine light came on. We did the Fuel Pump test turing the key on and we can hear the fuel pump humming.We had read that if the Air Filter is wrong than it could cause issues like this my husband went out and pulled everything off checked the air filter and realized that when you put that big piece back on some of the rubber was ripped and he could fill the air streaming out.But the engine light is now OFF.. Any Suggestions Please.. Could this be the problem there laziness of not placing it back on right could it be the cause of all our problems..Let me know if you think it could be something else.. Thanks ALL

 

Your engine will run just fine with the air filter removed. That said, the shop could have damaged something else in the process of changing the air filter. Since the van runs fine after starting, the fuel filter was out of the picture. Lets back up some.

When you turn the key to start does the engine crank/rotate normally and not start running or does it just click or rotate slower than normal or not at all? You said your hubby found ripped rubber. Was this the air filter box seal or the duct connecting to the box. If the pieces of either are missing it may have gotten sucked through the duct and into the throttle body or into the engine. If it's just torn then all is fine. The engine light means the engine computer stored a code. Did someone connect a scanner and read the code?