HI ALL,

My girlfriend has a 97 Dodge Caravn Sport 3.0 with about 110,000 miles. We have been hooked up the past month or so, and she is having car troubles.

The van slowly lost all power and mumbled to a stop with no power whatsoever esterday, and the Service Engine Soon light came on.

I asked when she had it serviced, and she claims she has only changed the oil every 3 1/2 months and put tires on it, and get it aligned. It has never got any other services to it!

The moment I opened the hood, it was something else.

Some of the issues I first saw:
- Plugs have never been changed
- Transmission has never been serviced
- Accessory belt is cracked
- Radiator hoses are dry and cracked on the insides when you squeeze them
- Who knows how the timing belt is

But now onto the major the issues, the engine has the "Service Engine Soon" light on. I just changed the engine oil, and the front 3 spark plugs, any ideas on how to change the other 3 plugs behind the throttle body?

I will try to lift it up tomorrow and see if I can change the other 3 plugs without having to remove the throttle body.



Now here are some symptoms, starts with no problems, idles at around 1000 rpm, I hit the accelerator it accelerated but kind of hangs for a little time, not sure if this is normal or not. I don't want to drive it, cause the idle ranges from 1000-1500 when I run the rpms up to around 4 or so and let it catch. Seems fine to the ear but I want to change the other 3 plugs before I get hot into it and rip it apart more.


Still trying to diagnose the problems but I need some advice n how to change the 3 plugs behind the throttle body.




Any help is appreciated, thank you all so much!!!! I will get a OBD2 reader and post the codes I download tomorrow.

Thanks


-Tony

 

Perhaps its the fuel pump... My dads van had the same type of problem.
It turned out to be a faulty pump.
But check the filter first. it may be clogged up.
Start cheap and go from there.

 

You shouldn't need a code reader, all Chrysler vehicles have a self checking computer. Just turn the key to the "ON" position and back to the "OFF" position 3 times, but leaving it in the "ON" position on the 3rd time. After the "Check Engine" light goes out it will start to flash any codes. It will flash a series of 2 digit codes with a pause between each number and between each code. When it flashes the code "55", that means the systems check is over. You can call any Chrysler/Dodge dealership and ask their service department what the codes are and they will tell you. Do this before spending any money on parts or tools.[sm=smiley2.gif]