My wife and I have a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan Crew, and let me start off by saying that after a while of searching for a decently active forum for this vehicle, I seem to have found one here.....so keep up the good work!!


So I have 2 problems that I need to get taken care of.


First, tonight I need to replace the window regulator in the drivers door. About 2 months ago my wife was driving and she heard a grinding noise and then the window stopped moving. Anytime that she would hit the switch, it would just grind. I got a new regulator from Oreilly's and went to town on it and because I didn't have much info on the disassembly of the door panels or how to get to the regulator, it took much longer than it should have. Fast forward to this past Sunday, and the same grinding noise happened and now the window won't work again. When I removed the old regulator the first time, I noticed that the cable that runs everything was frayed and flat and cut up, so I'm assuming that is the same issue this time. I am picking up the new regulator under the parts warranty tonight and will be installing it. Does anyone have any DIY or instructions/tips to make this easier for me?


Secondly, the A/C went out a couple of weeks ago. I tried charging it and using a leak sealer, and after 2 days the AC went out again. I took it to a local shop yesterday and $95 later they tell me that it's a leak in the AC suction hose. They say that this hose costs over $200 and in the end will cost me $500+ total. I have found the hose for $113 thru a dodge parts website and am wondering if anyone has replaced this part themselves and can give me any advice or even a DIY on that procedure as well. I was going to buy a Chilton manual (which kills me to do at $30/book), but both of my local stores are out of stock on it and I'm doing the window regulator tonight.

 

I could email you the information. You would have to PM me your email address. I have done a couple motors but not a regulator. Make sure the cable isn't rubbing on something.

I have also never heard of a suction line failing. Where exactly is the leak point at? I am very curious. And if you take your vehicle to a shop to have it recharged, let them know you have leak stop in your system. That stuff will destroy an a/c machine and they are very expensive.

 

I got the window regulator taken care of. I whizzed right thru it since I remembered everything from 6 weeks ago lol. The shop that checked out myba/c couldn't find the leak using the regular test and ended up jacking it up, standing under it and then pumping freon thru it and they said it was right there on the bottom. When I picked it up and asked where it was, the guy said "I don't know exactly where, I'm not the one that checked it out"....the paper they gave me says the " low side a/c suction line" and that it's a $200+ line. That's all I know...

 

The only thing I know of that leaks on a 12 minivan it the rear evaporator. The dye will run down the suction line when it leaks. Maybe that's what they were seeing.