Introduction - East Coast Canadian
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Joined: Nov 2006
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Introduction - East Coast Canadian
Just introducing myself to the forum:
I have been browsing the forum for some time, but not posting. Thought I had an account, but couldn't find one of my Email addys in the "forgotten password" area.
so, I am logged in finally, and ready to post, I reckon.
I am not an auto mechanic (but I play one on TV) but have many years background in mechanical repairs and troubleshooting, just not on vehicles.
Besides owning a Ford Aerostar, I purchased a backup van, a 97 Dodge Grand Caravan. Like the van before it, one repair after another is costing me more than I intended to spend, and although I have time to do my own work, most require a hoist, or more tools than the backyard mechanic might have laying around.
And I don't think for a second, that every mechanic instantly knows the fix, they just get paid more for guessing. At least if I can troubleshoot, I might get as close as they do, but still require the garage to do the fix.
I found this group helpful in pointing out areas to search, and so far, here's what I encountered.
Power steering: A line was leaking, and it appeared to be the pressure line, so I ordered one. In the meanwhile, I cut the line, and inserted a compression fitting that worked fine. By the time the line came in (close to a $40), I had developed another leak and ordered the wrong line. So, I ordered the other one, and intended to keep the first. If one line is rusted out, chances are, they both are. Next leak was fixed with a piece of hose, which the heat from the catalytic converter melted away in half an hour. Then, with more relocation and shielding, another leak started. There was no way to find the source lying on the ground, looking up from below. Turns out, it was the pump.
When everything is rusted out, time to replace them all. So, I did. Lines and pump, and about $600 at the garage. 30 days later, my power steering failed. <insert "jump-for-joy> which turned out to be a cut in the new line from the rotating driveshaft. The garage found the problem. A transmission mount was worn out, and caused the engine (under load) to drop slightly, enough to cause rubbing on the line. Fixed again, tied back out of the way, and waiting for a transmission mount to come in. What is it about a $10 part that it costs $190? And that is before labour !
Another problem I see is common here. Van would not start, instruments dead, nothing working. Turns out, someone explained it away as a connection or loose solder joint on the circuit board behind the Speedometer. I am not ready to remove the dash just yet, but nice job of posting the pictures (of how to do it) by someone in the forum. The few times it happens, I have been lucky to recover, with just a bang on the dash.
Now, the next problem. Just passed my Safety Inspection (same time as the Power Steering Pump was replaced) and my horn stopped working. I know from the lock and alarm TOOT that the horn is still working, its something else. Thinking maybe a wire was knocked off at the garage, that was where I was looking, until someone mentioned that there is a spring of some type, inside the column, that completes the horn circuit. And my AIR BAG light is on. Hmm.. OK, is there any risk of accidently lauching the airbag, by taking apart the steering column? Should I continue to send my Mechanic's Kids through college, or do it myself?
So, I'm in for the long run, intending to get a few good years out of the Caravan. And like the Ford before it, by the time you replace or repair everything, you don't want to discard it just because it is old. I tend to keep them going as long as possible.
This isn't the right area to answer or post questions, but if anyone reading has any advice or links to Caravan problems I have had, I would welcome an email or post somewhere.
I don't see a good way to search yet, for topics, except to browse, and see what is already there. Hopefully I won't ask the same question over and over again.
BTW.. thanks to all those experts in the area. Its nice to know you don't have to pay for everything you don't understand. In the old days, there was tons of room under the hood. Now there isn't anything you can really see. If not pointed in the right direction..
Cheers
Rasta
I have been browsing the forum for some time, but not posting. Thought I had an account, but couldn't find one of my Email addys in the "forgotten password" area.
so, I am logged in finally, and ready to post, I reckon.
I am not an auto mechanic (but I play one on TV) but have many years background in mechanical repairs and troubleshooting, just not on vehicles.
Besides owning a Ford Aerostar, I purchased a backup van, a 97 Dodge Grand Caravan. Like the van before it, one repair after another is costing me more than I intended to spend, and although I have time to do my own work, most require a hoist, or more tools than the backyard mechanic might have laying around.
And I don't think for a second, that every mechanic instantly knows the fix, they just get paid more for guessing. At least if I can troubleshoot, I might get as close as they do, but still require the garage to do the fix.
I found this group helpful in pointing out areas to search, and so far, here's what I encountered.
Power steering: A line was leaking, and it appeared to be the pressure line, so I ordered one. In the meanwhile, I cut the line, and inserted a compression fitting that worked fine. By the time the line came in (close to a $40), I had developed another leak and ordered the wrong line. So, I ordered the other one, and intended to keep the first. If one line is rusted out, chances are, they both are. Next leak was fixed with a piece of hose, which the heat from the catalytic converter melted away in half an hour. Then, with more relocation and shielding, another leak started. There was no way to find the source lying on the ground, looking up from below. Turns out, it was the pump.
When everything is rusted out, time to replace them all. So, I did. Lines and pump, and about $600 at the garage. 30 days later, my power steering failed. <insert "jump-for-joy> which turned out to be a cut in the new line from the rotating driveshaft. The garage found the problem. A transmission mount was worn out, and caused the engine (under load) to drop slightly, enough to cause rubbing on the line. Fixed again, tied back out of the way, and waiting for a transmission mount to come in. What is it about a $10 part that it costs $190? And that is before labour !
Another problem I see is common here. Van would not start, instruments dead, nothing working. Turns out, someone explained it away as a connection or loose solder joint on the circuit board behind the Speedometer. I am not ready to remove the dash just yet, but nice job of posting the pictures (of how to do it) by someone in the forum. The few times it happens, I have been lucky to recover, with just a bang on the dash.
Now, the next problem. Just passed my Safety Inspection (same time as the Power Steering Pump was replaced) and my horn stopped working. I know from the lock and alarm TOOT that the horn is still working, its something else. Thinking maybe a wire was knocked off at the garage, that was where I was looking, until someone mentioned that there is a spring of some type, inside the column, that completes the horn circuit. And my AIR BAG light is on. Hmm.. OK, is there any risk of accidently lauching the airbag, by taking apart the steering column? Should I continue to send my Mechanic's Kids through college, or do it myself?
So, I'm in for the long run, intending to get a few good years out of the Caravan. And like the Ford before it, by the time you replace or repair everything, you don't want to discard it just because it is old. I tend to keep them going as long as possible.
This isn't the right area to answer or post questions, but if anyone reading has any advice or links to Caravan problems I have had, I would welcome an email or post somewhere.
I don't see a good way to search yet, for topics, except to browse, and see what is already there. Hopefully I won't ask the same question over and over again.
BTW.. thanks to all those experts in the area. Its nice to know you don't have to pay for everything you don't understand. In the old days, there was tons of room under the hood. Now there isn't anything you can really see. If not pointed in the right direction..
Cheers
Rasta