96 caravan money pit
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6
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96 caravan money pit
My 96 gc 3.3 stalled while driving it, no restart, figured it was the fuel pump.
I called AAA for a tow to a freind's shop. there was good fuel pressure, so he hooked up the computer and there was no crank signal, so he replaced the crank sensor, then the cam sensor, then tried a coil pack, still no start.
he recommended bringing it to a dodge dealer.
they showed a code for the coil pack to the tune of $325, I paid about $100 for their diagnostic time (supposedly including a compression test according to service writer)and installed a new pack from napa- no start.
they further diagnosed the powertrain control module ($535)
what else could I do?
after installing and flashing the new computer the service writer tried to tell me that before I brought it to them that I had tried starting it too much and flooded the engine causing the oil to be washed from the cyl walls and there wasn't enough compression to start it (remember previous claim?)
he backtracked and said that they probably only checked one or two cyls because the others were hard to get to...???
I was supposed to call him the next day- he went on vacation???
I spoke with the other service writer who then informed me that my flywheel was cracked and would need to be replaced (of course he'd write me an estimate and call back in 1/2 hour) he called 5 hours later with a $600 estimate, I asked him if he was sure that was the problem, or are we just guessing?
he reassured me that it would fix the problem.
I reassured him that I would not pay him that much. he stated that it was a 6 hour job, I just got back from replacing the flywheel (3 hours)
guess what, no start!!
there is only spark on 4 of the six wires (new wires)
there is no spark on cyls 3 and 6.
any ideas out there????
james
I called AAA for a tow to a freind's shop. there was good fuel pressure, so he hooked up the computer and there was no crank signal, so he replaced the crank sensor, then the cam sensor, then tried a coil pack, still no start.
he recommended bringing it to a dodge dealer.
they showed a code for the coil pack to the tune of $325, I paid about $100 for their diagnostic time (supposedly including a compression test according to service writer)and installed a new pack from napa- no start.
they further diagnosed the powertrain control module ($535)
what else could I do?
after installing and flashing the new computer the service writer tried to tell me that before I brought it to them that I had tried starting it too much and flooded the engine causing the oil to be washed from the cyl walls and there wasn't enough compression to start it (remember previous claim?)
he backtracked and said that they probably only checked one or two cyls because the others were hard to get to...???
I was supposed to call him the next day- he went on vacation???
I spoke with the other service writer who then informed me that my flywheel was cracked and would need to be replaced (of course he'd write me an estimate and call back in 1/2 hour) he called 5 hours later with a $600 estimate, I asked him if he was sure that was the problem, or are we just guessing?
he reassured me that it would fix the problem.
I reassured him that I would not pay him that much. he stated that it was a 6 hour job, I just got back from replacing the flywheel (3 hours)
guess what, no start!!
there is only spark on 4 of the six wires (new wires)
there is no spark on cyls 3 and 6.
any ideas out there????
james
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
RE: 96 caravan money pit
the powertrain control module is the ign module isn't it??
now the service tech is trying to tell me that the timing chain may have slipped- BS. he did a compression test, and I do not hear a dead cyl- let alone all 6
help-please??
now the service tech is trying to tell me that the timing chain may have slipped- BS. he did a compression test, and I do not hear a dead cyl- let alone all 6
help-please??