Car help - 90’s Dodge caravan

Well, The ol Caravan has been sitting around for about 3 years in the driveway awaiting a new alternator, And since I got my license a few months ago, I decided to claim it and drop a new 'alter' in it...

Well, when we first stopped useing it, all she needed was a new alter and mabye a new batt..

Apon dropping the new Alter in it, we found there was some serious transmission problems, We would throw it out of gear all the time... That has seemed to work itself out, the stearing wheel also mysteriosly smoked.... But that has stopped.



The problem is, This van has the slowest acceleration i've ever seen, and can only seem to manage 50 MPH, I can obtain 50 MPH after about 3 miles of flouring it... I was wondering if any one might happen to know what the problem is? the acceleration seems to be a bit faster when its warmed up, but still slow... I am flouring it to manage 45 MPH...



I like the caravan because it's a great storage vehicle and party van.. but when I need 10 mins of solid floruing to get it to 45... I got problems.


Edited by *Stealth*

For even extra power add shag carpet, subwoofers, and several Plasma screen TVs.

Hades wrote: For even extra power add shag carpet, subwoofers, and several Plasma screen TVs.

I already have Shag... Im working on Subs.

procarbinefreak wrote: i know what your problem is... your flouring it.  i mean, you're not making cookies!  why would you have flour in the van!

LOL, I was wondering if any would catch that, I could'nt bring myself to say flooring it because its so slow, So I said flouring it (Intended to be said flowering it, but flowering is to easy to spot)

Not being a car person myself, my guess is that there may be something with a filter somewhere..

I learned how to drive on a caravan, and I loved it. while it's not QUITE as hefty as a truck in terms of storage capabilities, it's still very good.

I still tool around in the parents voyager every now and then when I'm not driving my tempo.

Say what you will about them, minivans are very good cars.

 

*Stealth* wrote: procarbinefreak wrote: i know what your problem is... your flouring it.  i mean, you're not making cookies!  why would you have flour in the van! LOL, I was wondering if any would catch that, I could'nt bring myself to say flooring it because its so slow, So I said flouring it (Intended to be said flowering it, but flowering is to easy to spot)

Anyways, Caravan transmissions are not very durable. I would Check the transmission fluid (make sure car is running), and make sure it has enough, possibly change it. Also, take it to a shop and have them flush the transmission. Worked miracles on our old caravan.


Edited by Apache16

I almost bought a 91 Caravan for 900 bucks.

When I took it for a testdrive, I floored it and burned out of the lot. All 4 cylinders kickin' it.

Unicorn wrote: If you can find any way to convince your parents to trade it in, do so immediately. The 90's Dodge Caravans have the worst history of any vechicle ever rated by Consumer Reports. For like 8 years in a row they had the lowest ratings.

8 years, they should go back a lil further, I had a 87 Dodge Caravan (over 180,000 miles) that my dad gladly gave to me.....after 2,000 miles down the road the Timing Belt snapped in two in the middle of the freeway...$3000 later on repairs/tow charges and raggin on my dad fer not tellin me that the belt was never replaced, he gave me the go ahead and trade it in fer a new 2001 GMC Sonoma.

This is fer *stealth* bring yer old used and abused Caravan to an automotive repair shop (not a gas station) or if you know someone that owns/runs a repair shop and have them run a full "diagnostic check" on the entire motor to find out what exactly is wrong wit it.

Edited by evil_fingers

Fuel pump going bad will do that, and the transmission thing sounds a LOT like the shift solonoid. I've had an 88 and a 93 Chrysler van, and had to have those items replaced on both of mine.

By the way, flooring a vehichle that's starving out on gas (for whatever reason) will cause slower acceleration than if you gently give it gas.

Check the Catalytic converters. Friend of mine had a 87 Cougar that wouldn't pass 30 MPH when Flooring it, but when gently giving it gas it would. We gutted the cats, which happened to be completely clogged, and it ran mint.

I would also recommend changing the oil and filter. Use this when you do:
http://www.autobarn.net/chmf-3.html
Just a warning though. If you use it, DO NOT LEAVE IT IN MORE THAN 5 MINUTES. It is VERY harsh and CAN ruin the engine. Heard some stories from my Shop teacher about this.
Run it for a week and chaning the oil and filter again. Just to get any crap out of oil, and oil Galleries that you can.

Also, add this:
http://www.autobarn.net/chm49-12.html

To a can of gas. Chances are if you left it sitting for 3 yrs, the gasoline has gummed up the internals and are not letting it work properly.

Flushing the radiator would also be a good idea. Seeing how the radiator is probably rusted to crap.

Also, if you know how, check the rear brakes. If the parking break was left on while it was out, and it's dragging, it could decrease gas milage, and if it's dragging alot, it could be holding the car back.


Just a few suggestions from a Automotive Student.