2000 Caravan Base 2.4 liter. Old gal is going to get some much needed attention next weekend and I'm looking for any "gotcha" type pointers to look out for.

I'll be changing the timing belt, water pump, timing belt tensioner, and idler pully, A.C. clutch bearing (she's a roaring!), and the oil pump and pick up screen (intermittant oil light at idle sometimes, yup changed the sending unit)

I have changed timing belts before on many different cars, but never a double cam setup. Also have never seen an oil pump like this before, any trick to get it off the crankshaft ar does it usually slide right off.

Will be tackling this next weekend, so I will be boning up on the haynes manual this week.

Thanks in advance!

Bob

 

Before doing all this work I would check out the main/rod bearings for the oil light issue. May be time for new engine or rebuild. Oil pump should slide right off once the timing pulley is off.

 

Thanks, thought about that too. engine was rebuilt 70,000 miles ago, but the owner rebuilder at the time did not change the oil pump. it's original with well over 200,000 miles on it so i've got my fingers crossed the pump is weak

 

What was involved with the rebuild? I would be extra suspicious of the bearings now unless the rebuilder really knew what he was doing.

 

Rebuilder was a professional mech, belt broke on him. tore it all the way down, new head new rings new bearings, but I guess he ran outta cash and reused the old pump since he wasn't having oil issues. Little devil is pricey!! 209.00 here in town. Oil light is weird. Will start to flicker at idle in gear, If I just rev the engine a tad, will go right out and may or may not come back on, or may not see it for 2-3 weeks at a time..

 

I would still guess its the bearings but can't say for sure until you look at them.

 

Will keep ya posted, back to no oil light today. just weird...

 

Jumped into the work today. When I pulled the oil pump I discovered the counterbalance gears and chain were shot! Don't know why the chain hadn't jumped off. Luckily found an autoparts store in the area that had a replacement kit, the gears, chain and tensioners. So when I called it a day, I had the counterbalance area buttoned up, oil pump primed and installed, oil pan back on, bottom front motor mount back on, timing belt pulled. ready for the water pump and new tensioner idler pullys tomorrow. So far so good!!