2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, 4.0 with trailer package.

For the first 20,000 miles, I had absolutely no problems with
starting.   At about 22,000, I was sitting in the van waiting for my
wife to come out of a doctor’s appointment.  I had one LED reading
lamp and the REN radio on Sirius. After about 2 hours I went in to
check on her. When I came back out, I tried to start the car, and only
got a grunt.

It sounds like the starter begins to engage, then stops after 1/4
second or so.  Guy from the tow truck got it started with a jump, so I
thought it was the battery. It had been about 2 years, and in the
Southern Nevada climate, the heat eats batteries alive.
I stopped in at AutoZone and got one of their "Gold" level batteries
and installed it. I cleaned the posts, terminals, and used some of the
dielectric grease.

About a week later, same problem, but this time it did eventually
start. Same symptom, starter engaged for 1/4 sec then stopped.
I turned the key back and forth from off to start about 5 times,got
just as many 1/4 second grunts,  when it started fine, like new.
I generally just have to quickly flip the key to start, when it
engages and starts.

I had the dealer check when I had an oil change done, he advised
it was the battery terminal that was not making good connection with
the battery cable. He spliced in a new battery post connector.

Skip ahead a few weeks, same problem again. Cranks for 1/4 second or
so, then stops.

Ideas? It will be going back to the dealer in about a week for next
oil and service.

I remember on an older car I had, the starter solenoid contact
actually rotated within the unit. This was done so the same point of
physical contact was changed every time the solenoid was engaged. If
you got a burnt spot on the contact, every time you landed on that
same place you would have problems starting until you bumped it off
the bad spot.

Does the GC use the same sort of system?

Thanks in advance.

Hello,
I am having trouble with my brake lights.  My lower two went out, but my
high center one is fine.  I replaced the fuse and the bulbs.  Still no luck.
Any suggestions?  Could it be the switch?  But wouldn’t the center one be on
the same switch?

thanks,
SA

Hello. Yesterday I swapped out a transmission in a 1994 Dodge Caravan
3.0 automatic with the 3-speed transmission. It needs some adjustment
and things tightened but the transmission seems to be working ok.
However when I returned from my test drive and had it parked and
idling to check the transmission fluid level I noticed a fair sized
oil leak happening but couldnt tell exactly where the oil could be
coming from. Since it was getting dark I have decided to wait untill
tomorrow to mess with it again. Any rough ideas where a leak could
have developed while doing the transmission swap? I`ll be honest and
admit I was a bit careless with my jacks and things while doing it so
stuff was getting lifted and pushed at everywhere. (Did it on a
parking lot with no sort of lift or hoist) Thanks for any early
input.

When idling in gear at stop light, the idiot oil pressure lamp flashes on
with the accompanying audio beeps.  When i put in neutral, it resolves.  Oil
level is fine.

I put oil thickener in (Motor Honey) which solved the problem.

Ideas?

thx
bob

  Hello. We have a 1994 Dodge Caravan. Long story short the passenger
side calpiper froze up like 8 months ago and we just tied it up out of
the way and drove it more carefully. Anyway, finally got a new
caliper, rotor, pads but found the lower section of hose had gotten a
kink in it from being bent out of the way. OK got a new hose but once
it was hooked up neither side would work and the peddle went to the
floor. Tried bleeding the system and there was very little fluid or
air coming out of the passenger side but a lot on the drivers side.
Only when we put the old kinked/blocked hose back on the passenger
side would the drivers side brake work again. There`s no fluid leaking
anywhere. Just from this does anyone have an idea what may have gone
wrong? The passengers side lower hose being blocked or not affects how
the drivers side works but nothing gets the passenger side working.
Thanks for any quick input.

Have the following codes set on a friend’s ’96 Dodge
Intrepid, 3.3L, Auto trans. which are purported to be
serial communication link malfunction and a TCM
module issue, respectively: P0600 & P01698.

Any hints/leads/suggesstions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your response and information.

John

Anybody lend a hand?

This is a ’92 Grand Caravan with a 3.3L engine. What’s the easiest way to
remove the alternator from this thing?

I have a 1999 Chrysler Intrepid car. I want to purchase a copy of the
factory service, repair, and parts cd rom(s) that will run on my
Microsoft compatible computer.

Hi all,

I need to replace the power seat track in my 99 RAM VAN.  My wife
either raised or lowered it with an aluminum bat wedged under there
and snapped the shaft that runs all the way across the front.

Does anyone know which other years and models used the same seat
track?  Like maybe the pickups or caravans??  I’d like something that
just bolts up without drilling new holes in the floor.

From AB

*****
Is a "macho" minivan even possible? Toyota’s exploring the
"Swagger Wagon" angle with the Sienna SE, and Dodge is
apparently going to try and find out with a new variant of the Grand
Caravan. Minivans are generally not aspirational vehicles; people buy
them because they need the utility. Of course, that’s not a bad thing
– people haulers were created for a reason.

However, Dodge is going to try and spread the appeal beyond
kiddie-schlepping moms to attract more men into the fold. A
"sportier-looking" front end paired with a black-and-grey
interior doesn’t seem like it’d be enough to swing much of the male
demographic. After all, how sporty can you make a big box without a
total redesign?

The new model will reportedly draw from the Caravan R/T concept that
was quietly displayed at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, and it could
debut within a few months. The Chrysler minivans have a lot to offer
in terms of packaging, but their interiors leave much to be desired.
If Chrysler substantially upgrades the look and feel there, its vans
could land a few body blows in the battle against the Toyota Sienna
and Honda Odyssey.
*****

Now who wouldn’t want to see an AWD SRT-8 Dodge Caravan

Pictures below of the R/T concept

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