Mechanic Needed

SherriBabee · Post by **SherriBabee** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:03 pm

Well, I have a '91 Dodge Minivan, bought from parents in 12/1997 after father passed away, so im only the 2nd owner...

It's got a v6 and can't remember some of the other spec's on it, but it's an automatic and body not in to bad of shape, some rust.

My problem is in Feb of '06, it stopped running... I think/thought it might be the "Flywheel" as I was having a loud noise for bout a month prior to it not starting up at all.... Funds are a problem is why it's sitting in my parking space....

I have in the past: changed a tire, done my Own Tune-ups, and replaced the Radiator 2 yrs ago.... So as you can see I don't mind doing things myself, but this problem is beyond my technical area.... I know it's 15 yrs old as of this June, but I just "LOVE THIS VAN" for sentimental reasons and have even named her "BETSY" LOL .. No seriously, I treat her good and can't bare to part with her.

Hoping their's an IL mechanic in the area of my lives that wouldn't mind coming by and taking a look at her....

Tks,
Sherri

p.s.. Hope I posted this in the right forum

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:30 pm

SherriBabee wrote: p.s.. Hope I posted this in the right forum

Yep, this is the Northwestern, IL "Mechanic Non-Gratis" forum

Hope you find some help.

SherriBabee · Post by **SherriBabee** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 1:57 pm

bigmo66 wrote:Yep, this is the Northwestern, IL "Mechanic Non-Gratis" forum
Hope you find some help.

Well wasn't looking for a 'Freebie', just someone to tell me if my conclusions where correct... Between the Flywheel and I think it's called the Timing Belt...

No bites here, oh well.....

Rgds
Sherri

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 3:22 pm

Sherri, without running some tests, it's really pretty hard to be able to give you a diagnostic on the van.

I can say with "some" certianaty though, that your flywheel is probably ok.

A question or two. Make and year of van? How about what size engine is in it?

You might be right in your second post that it could be the timing belt or chain. Depending on the motor.

SherriBabee · Post by **SherriBabee** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 3:31 pm

downhill wrote:Sherri, without running some tests, it's really pretty hard to be able to give you a diagnostic on the van.

I can say with "some" certainty though, that your flywheel is probably ok.

A question or two. Make and year of van? How about what size engine is in it?

You might be right in your second post that it could be the timing belt or chain. Depending on the motor.

I GOT IT !!.. The Drive Chain is what I ment to say ... Got out my Chilton's Chrysler Cavavan & Voyager Repair Manual, 1984-94 yr.
(Handy book to have with your vehicle

, i've used it many times too)
Father bought this when he got the van in June '91...

Ok, got more specs: '91 Dodge Caravan, 2.5 L, 4 Cyl, 106,000+ miles on it (it stopped bout a yr ago now), but being I hardly drive it, Im sure it don't have much more milage on it, if a couple thousand more than that.

Rgds
Sherri

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 4:28 pm

Those vans are durable and go a long way, but the transmissions usually only last about 70k. What happens when you turn the key?

MadDoctor · Post by **MadDoctor** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 4:42 pm

bigmo66 wrote:Yep, this is the Northwestern, IL "Mechanic Non-Gratis" forum

Hope you find some help.

Be a nice Marine.

Semper Fi

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 4:58 pm

SherriBabee wrote:I GOT IT !!.. The Drive Chain is what I ment to say ... Got out my Chilton's Chrysler Cavavan & Voyager Repair Manual, 1984-94 yr.
(Handy book to have with your vehicle , i've used it many times too)
Father bought this when he got the van in June '91...

Ok, got more specs: '91 Dodge Caravan, 2.5 L, 4 Cyl, 106,000+ miles on it (it stopped bout a yr ago now), but being I hardly drive it, Im sure it don't have much more milage on it, if a couple thousand more than that.

Rgds
Sherri

Humm...not positive but I do belive that motor has a timing belt and not a chain. Going by your above post that the thing was making noise before it died, dunno..... Usually with belts, they just start slipping a bit. With chains, they "usually" make quite a bit of racket before they go. Usually it's not the chain either but one of the sprockets. Dang companies were making them out of nylon in some later model motors that were still using chains. Dumb idea.

So it could still be a mirad of things gone wrong. Maybe it's serious and maybe it's a cheap fix. No way to tell over a computer.

Do you know how to check the motor for spark at each of the plugs?

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:27 pm

Coil pack? cam sensor? issues i had with my 94 intrepid (not a machanic btw) gas pump?

SherriBabee · Post by **SherriBabee** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:31 pm

TonyT wrote: What happens when you turn the key?

Nothing unless you continually keep it turned and you can hear this loud noise it had b4 going completely dead. It don't run at all... It's like it wants to or could, but it don't.

downhill wrote: Humm...not positive but I do belive that motor has a timing belt and not a chain. Going by your above post that the thing was making noise before it died, dunno..... Usually with belts, they just start slipping a bit. With chains, they "usually" make quite a bit of racket before they go. Usually it's not the chain either but one of the sprockets.

Yep, was making a VERY Loud noise for over a month b4 it died on me.. Thats why I originally thought the Flywheel... I've had one replaced on a previous vehicle and seemed it was a possibility...

downhill wrote: So it could still be a mirad of things gone wrong. Maybe it's serious and maybe it's a cheap fix. No way to tell over a computer.

Do you know how to check the motor for spark at each of the plugs?

Nope, can't say I do, but im a quick learner, just may take me awhile to do it right... What would I have to do? I have tools at my father's garage I can get as needed...

Rgds
Sherri

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 6:10 pm

to check for spark

lipto spark wire foot to ground

j/p not the best idea, dunno how safe it is for the electronics, but i check by sticking a metal rod int he spark plug wire and grounding it to the car while turning the engine over

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:48 pm

First it's a two person job. morbidpete pretty much summed it up. I'd like to add.....use a screwdriver with a narrow blade or a phillips driver. Take off one wire from one of the sparkplugs. Be very careful to grab it by the boot. You can easily ruin a wire if you pull it from the boot.

Once off, sick the screwdriver into the boot so it contacts the metal band in the boot and then "hold the plastic handle" of the driver and get the metal of the driver VERY close to metal on the engine. When your ready, have someone turn the engine over. You'll look for a spark from the screwdrive to the motor every 6th turn of the engine. If you see no spark, it could be the timing belt/chain or something in distributor but since your hearing noise, I'd guess possibly the timing belt.

Keep in mind that if you mess up while looking for spark, you could get hit with 30,000 volts or more, depending on the coil. This probably won't kill you but hey...your not going to like it either. LOL

Again, it's just too hard to give you good advice on what to look for over an internet forum. Do you not have any good friends that might know a bit about cars that could give you a hand?

SherriBabee · Post by **SherriBabee** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:38 pm

downhill wrote:First it's a two person job. morbidpete pretty much summed it up. You'll look for a spark from the screwdrive to the motor every 6th turn of the engine. If you see no spark, it could be the timing belt/chain or something in distributor but since your hearing noise, I'd guess possibly the timing belt.

Keep in mind that if you mess up while looking for spark, you could get hit with 30,000 volts or more, depending on the coil. This probably won't kill you but hey...your not going to like it either. LOL

Whoa, SH$T ... LOL I'll readup somemore and look over the engine b4 I decide to give it a wack I guess

downhill wrote: Again, it's just too hard to give you good advice on what to look for over an internet forum. Do you not have any good friends that might know a bit about cars that could give you a hand?

Well at this point, 1 Uncle is to old, another Uncle is to busy, and ex-brother-out-law nope... My oldest son has no interest in Fixing cars so he's useless and my youngest son is 17 and interested, but has limited knowledge... Getting his father to take a look at it is a no-go also, tried that, never showed up.

Don't really have any male friends, im a person in 'hybernation' I guess you could say

But hey, im always willing to try things myself, just broadens my knowledge of things, even if it takes me all day, few days or all week

I'll keep ya's posted... Tks 4 the replies, truly do appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Sherri

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 11:31 pm

Before you give yourself a new hair perm. Tell us, what kind of loud noise does it make when you turn the key? High pitched grinding?

SherriBabee · Post by **SherriBabee** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:50 am

Sid wrote:Before you give yourself a new hair perm. Tell us, what kind of loud noise does it make when you turn the key? High pitched grinding?

ROTFLMAO @ SID Dang, you sure have a way with words

But how did you know I use to be a "Perm Freak" kinda chick? lol ...

Ok the noise was very loud, so loud that sometimes I just drove with it making it and my son was embaressed to even be in the vehicle with me.. But sometimes we would start it, turn off and re-start and it would stop doing it.. Like I said, it was doing it for 1-2 months and I just ignored it (like an idiot) instead of taking it in b4 it went POOF... It won't make that sound now at all, it wont start, but the last time I did turn the key (bout 5 weeks ago or so) if I kept trying it would try to start and there was that loud noise as it was trying, but it didn't keep running or anything like that... it sounds like it's something with teeth that have to catch something, thats why I originally thought the Flywheel...

Rgds
Sherri

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:04 am

SherriBabee wrote:ROTFLMAO @ SID Dang, you sure have a way with words But how did you know I use to be a "Perm Freak" kinda chick? lol ...

I said that because if you check for spark the way that was mentioned you have a chance of being bitten a electrical charge of up to 45,000 volts! Thus giving you a new perm. It won't kill you but your fingers will hurt for a short time.

Is the noise more of a heavy rattle or knocking sound?

SherriBabee · Post by **SherriBabee** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:36 am

Sid wrote: Is the noise more of a heavy rattle or knocking sound?

More like a loud scraping sound actually...

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:11 am

it's entirely possible that the noise was caused by the starter being stuck in the "out" position, and the gears wore off and now when you turn the key nothing happens. Can you hear anything under the car when turn the key? Stupid question: how much oil is in the oil pan?

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:39 pm

SherriBabee wrote:More like a loud scraping sound actually...

This noise was the entire time the engine was running or only when trying to start it?

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:45 pm

Take your van to a mechanic.

Izzo · Post by **Izzo** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:49 pm

SherriBabee wrote:More like a loud scraping sound actually...

that's not good.

SherriBabee · Post by **SherriBabee** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 7:37 am

Guess WHAT ??

Charged up the Battery last week, went out at 5:30am today and put it back in, turned the key and SHE STARTED !! my BETTSIE Girl

She still makes that noise, but if I turn her off, it stops.. So I know it's not the Motor or alternator.. She's worth fixing tho... Gonna see what I can do with her this week

Had to share my Good News

Rgds
Sherri

tHE_0ne · Post by **tHE_0ne** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:43 am

congrats, now make sure your transmission doesnt crap out on you, ours did back in the day and our neighbors and right now my co worker's van transmisson went out, its a major flaw for dodge

SherriBabee · Post by **SherriBabee** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:08 am

[CENTER]IM MOBILE AGAIN

Well, she's UP and Running

Got my plate sticker and car insurance back up and I still have the Noise
(think it's a starter motor) and long as I don't turn the key all the way on,
she starts up and won't make the noise... She's a Running ..Zooooommmmmmmm

Rgds
Sherri

p.s.. Been chatting again after a 2 yr hiatus, kinda got tired of the Forums for a bit,
so just to let ya's know why I haven't posted lately....[/CENTER]

Bastid · Post by **Bastid** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:32 pm

congrats!!!

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:36 pm

[CENTER]Thats really good news

You've been dealing with this car for a while

and apparently get back to chatting.

And whats up with this centering of the words?

Its kinda like Prey's been helping you to figure

out how to post and transform a regular reply

into a lesser poetic reply.[/CENTER]

blebs · Post by **blebs** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:43 pm

Me wonders if your starter drive isn't broken.

Bastid · Post by **Bastid** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:47 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:[CENTER]Thats really good news

You've been dealing with this car for a while

and apparently get back to chatting.

And whats up with this centering of the words?

Its kinda like Pery's been helping you to figure

out how to post and transform a regular reply

into a lesser poetic reply.[/CENTER]

oh,,, nm i was like: whos Pery?

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:49 pm

Bastid wrote:oh,,, nm i was like: whos Pery?

Fixed.