From: Krzysztof@netxsys.guild.org (Krzysztof Adamski)
Subject: Re: A problem on 1990 Dodge CaraVan and other problems.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: 21 Nov 92 23:15:00 EST
Organization: NetX Systems Inc.

Darrell Massengill (massengi@cloves.unx.sas.com) wrote:
: In article <guido.721924527@sparc-3> guido@blink.att.com (Guido Bertocci) writes:
: >florence@infonode.ingr.com (John Florence) writes:
: >
: >>In article <402@yak.COM>, clg2521@yak.COM (Cindy Guo) writes:
: >>> 
: >>> I have problems with my 1990 Dodge Caravan (around 30,000 miles), 
: >>> and I wonder if anyone there similiar problem ? The car died once 
: >>> when I drove it, but the dealer and a local shop could not find any 
: >>> problem.  
: >>> 
: >>  I could not restart the car, but I can restart it after 40 mins. 
: >>> 
: >>   you probably have a marginal heat sensitive computer chip that 
: >>   controls the flow of fuel........
: >>	
: >>	I am working on my third Caravan/Voyager....so far have only
: >>	experienced what you describe once and that was the prob.
: >>	
: >>	replaced chip and no more problem.............good luck !!
: >
: >I would strongly suggest having the contacts to the computer cleaned.
: >Our 88 Voyager died while driving in sleeting rain on the highway.
: >We ended up having it flatbedded to the dealer.  They replaced the
: >computer which solved the problem.  They then replaced the old computer
: >and it still worked fine and has ever since.  I think that just the
: >process of removing and replacing it cleaned the contacts enough to
: >solve the problem.  
: >
: >Another known possible problem if the car is failing when hot is the
: >MAP sensor.  Being about a $60 item it is a fairly easy thing to replace.
: 
: 
: Hmmm.  There seem to be a lot of people (that I know - 6 off the top
: of my head) who have had this type of problem.  The symptom is 
: always the same.  There have been many different solutions applied.  
: I know of some people who have had the sensor replaced.  Another 
: solution involves replacing the fuel filter (under the van at 
: the sliding door).  The fuel filter seems to
: have worked for me for a while (until just before it blew a head
: gasket).   All solutions seem to have some effect.  But I keep 
: wondering why so many Caravan/Voyager owners are having the problem.  
: Are the Dodge/Plymouth people hiding a known problem?
: 
: The blown head gasket is another strange problem.  My '88 only has
: 39K miles.  It suddenly started running rough, "using" oil and coolant,
: and running hot.  A friend with the same van had the same problem -
: a blown head gasket.  The odd thing is the fact that they had replaced
: the valve covers with a different looking cover when I got it back

This may be related to the valve cover gasket change. On my 89 horizon the
valve gasket needed to be changed. Chrysler had a recall on this gasket - a one
piece. They changed the valve cover and used the old form gasket - a tube
of silicon with two rubber end pieces.

: (no mention of this).  Is this another "hidden" fix?  Have other people
: had the head gasket problem?
: -- 
: Darrell Massengill    Manager of Image Processing   SAS Institute Inc.
: massengi@unx.sas.com  (919) 677-8000 x7658          SAS Campus Dr, Cary, NC
From: lou@hpkslx.mayfield.HP.COM (Lou Kvitek)
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 19:23:09 GMT
Subject: Re: Water first?  Or, detergent first?
Organization: HP Response Center Lab