Wednesday, January 22, 2014
How to Change the Head Gasket on a 1993 Dodge Caravan 3 3 Liter
Dodge introduced the Caravan in 1983 and still manufactures the vehicle. This minivan was equipped with a 3.3 liter V6 engine that had an output of 158 brake horsepower, which is pretty impressive for a family car. The V6 engine was designed to have two head gaskets, one on each side of the block. The head gaskets must occasionally be replaced because a blown or a leaking head gasket may cause bad engine performance.
Instructions
- 1
Drain the cooling system and disconnect the negative battery cable. Remove the intake manifold and throttle body. Disconnect the coil wires, sending unit wire, heater hoses and by-pass hose. Remove the closed ventilation system, evaporation control system and cylinder head covers.
2Remove the exhaust manifolds. Remove the rocker arm and shaft assemblies. Remove the push rods and identify each one of them to ensure re-installation in the original locations. Remove the nine head bolts from each cylinder head, and remove the cylinder heads.
3Inspect the surface of the cylinder head. Remove the old head gasket. Before cleaning, check for leaks, damage and cracks. Clean the cylinder head and oil passages. Check the cylinder head for flatness. Inspect all surfaces with a straightedge if you suspect leakage. If out of flatness exceeds 0.00075 inches, either replace the head or lightly machine the head surface.
4Clean all debris, coolant and dirt from the engine block cylinder head bolt holes. Failure to remove all foreign material may result in improperly tightened fasteners, damaged threads or damage to components. Install the new head gasket. To re-install all parts, follow the same operation in reverse.
Friday, December 27, 2013
How to Replace the Water Pump in a 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan
The Dodge Caravan is a family minivan made by Chrysler since 1984. The Grand Caravan has a longer wheelbase than the Caravan and most often has a 6-cylinder, 3.3-liter engine. The water pump in the 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan is attached to the front of the engine and receives power from the engine with a belt and pulley. The replacement of the water pump in this vehicle also requires you to drain the radiator.
Instructions
- 1
Allow the engine to cool completely to ensure the coolant will not cause injury. Remove the negative battery cable with a socket wrench to prevent anyone from starting the engine inadvertently.
2Place a drain pan beneath the drain hole for the radiator. Remove the radiator drain plug to drain the coolant into the drain pan. Replace the radiator drain plug.
3Disconnect the right splash shield from the engine with a socket wrench and remove the accessory drive belt. Unfasten the mounting bolts for the water pump pulley and position the pulley between the drive hub and the water pump. Remove the mounting bolts for the water pump and detach the water pump from the engine.
4Install a new seal into the housing groove on the new water pump. Mount the new water pump to the engine and torque the mounting bolts to 105 in.-lbs. with a torque wrench. Fasten the mounting bolts for the water pump pulley and tighten them to 250 in.-lbs. Turn the water pump manually to ensure it rotates freely.
5Install the accessory drive belt and right splash shield for the engine. Connect the cable for the negative battery terminal with a socket wrench. Fill the radiator with coolant and start the engine. Check and correct any leaks in the cooling system.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
How to Reset a Computer for a 1998 Dodge Caravan
When one of the sensors on the 1998 Dodge Caravan stops working or senses incorrect information, the computer sends a code to the data link connector and turns the check engine light on to alert the driver that there is a problem. You can extract the codes with a code scanner, which is available at any auto parts store. The code scanner comes with a code sheet that tells the consumer what each code means.
Instructions
- 1
Repair the problem as dictated by the code scanner. If you try to erase the codes and reset the computer before the problem is fixed, the computer will send the code and turn the engine light on again.
2Plug the code scanner into the data link connector, which is under the dash and just to the left of the steering column.
3Press the "Erase" button on the code scanner to erase the codes and reset the computer. Remove the code scanner plug-in from the data link connector.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
How to Replace a Headlight Bulb on a 1997 Dodge Caravan
In the 1997 dodge Caravan, a single headlight bulb unit contains both the low-beam elements and the high-beam elements. That means theres only one bulb on the driver side and one on the passenger side. The benefit is there aer fewer bulbs to have to replace. The drawback is that, even if only one element burns out (the low-beam element or the high-beam element), you still need to replace the bulb for safetys sake. Headlights obviously enhance vision for nighttime driving, but they can also make your car more visible to other drivers during the day.
Instructions
- 1
Open the hood of your 1997 Dodge Caravan.
2Locate the headlight assembly screw, at the top center of the assembly with the burned out headlight, then remove it with the ratchet and a socket.
3Wiggle/jimmy the headlight assembly forward from the front of the Caravan far enough to reach behind and access the headlight bulb and wire connection.
4Remove the wire connection from the base of the headlight.
5Turn the base and retaining bezel of the headlight bulb counterclockwise to remove it from the headlight assembly. Remove and discard the old bulb.
6Place the replacement 9007 bulb through the retaining bezel (make sure the threads of the bezel are pointed toward the direction of the bulb), then align the bezel and headlight into the headlight assembly. Do not allow bare skin (fingers) to contact the glass bulb portion of the replacement headlight. Skin oils and perspiration will overheat the glass, compromising the life of the replacement bulb.
7Turn the bezel and headlight bulb base clockwise until it locks into place in the headlight assembly.
8Reinsert the headlight assembly into position. Be sure to align the guide pins on the back of the assembly into their respective holders. Align the top of the assembly with the assembly screw hole, then replace the screw and tighten it with the ratchet and socket.