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- From: faq@allpar.com (Dr. David Zatz)
- Newsgroups: rec.autos.makers.chrysler,rec.answers,news.answers
- Subject: rec.autos.makers.chrysler FAQ, Part 5/6
- Followup-To: rec.autos.makers.chrysler
- Organization: http://www.allpar.com/
- Summary: Noises, oil leaks, temperature
- Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU
- Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU
- Date: 04 May 2004 12:59:21 GMT
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- Archive-name: autos/chrysler-faq/general/part5
- Posting-Frequency: 15
- Last-modified: 2002/4/26
- Version: 3.9b
-
- DISCLAIMER:
- Effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information
- in this compilation, but the author and contributors assume no
- responsibility for errors, omissions, or damages resulting from the
- use of the information. Some of the information is opinion.
- The writers and the maintainer are not authorities. Any part of
- this FAQ may be reproduced PROVIDED that credit is given to
- the writers and the maintainer; that it is not published in any
- form without the prior written permission of the maintainer;
- and that the maintainer receives, without needing to ask, a
- FREE copy of the final material; and that no changes are made
- without the express permission of the maintainer
- (faq@allpar.com = Dr. David Zatz).
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
- IMPORTANT. Do not attempt to respond to faq@allpar.com.
- Due to spam this address DOES NOT GO ANYWHERE.
- Instead, reply to faq2 at that allpar /dot/ com address.
- Thank you.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
- Please do NOT ask me car-related questions, as I have a limited.
- personal knowledge; send them to the newsgroup. Thank you.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
- PART V - Funny noises, oil leaks, temperature stuff
-
- Note that troubleshooting and diagnostic procedures are
- also in sections 3, 4, and 6.
-
- * For heaven's sake, if your antifreeze was just changed and your car
- started to overheat, find a different mechanic and purge the system of air
- bubbles. (See below).
-
- Index of oil leaks: (funny noises, temperature follow the oil leaks)
-
- 1. Oil loss from 2.5 (maybe 2.2) liter engine
- 2. Oil loss from 2.5/2.2 revisited
- 10. Oil seepage from the valve cover or oil pan gaskets
- 25. Oil leak - manual transmission (VERY common)
- 42. Oil loss/smoking from 3.0 V-6 - MOD 1/96
- 46. Oil in air filter area or in air intake
-
-
- 1. Oil loss from 2.5 (maybe 2.2) liter engine
-
- Chrysler replaced acote's 1991 Acclaim 2.5's valve seals (though there was
- no blue smoke on startup) and the PCV valve, and installed an oil
- restrictor valve, which he thinks was made standard in 1993. See also #10
- and 46. Oil pan leaks appear to be common.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2. Oil loss from 2.2/2.5 revisited
-
- Joe Coffey used two hose clamps, one at each end, and a better fitting hose
- to fix an oil leak from the valve cover to the air breather on a
- Shadow/Sundance. Dan LaBrake said the culprit was the hose that went from
- the upper part of the valve to the underside of the air breather; oil
- collects in the breather and leaks onto the engine.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 10. Oil seepage from the valve cover or oil pan gaskets
-
- ** 2.2 and 2.5 liter engines only **
-
- Lemon-Aid Used Car Guide: "1989-93... cylinder head and oil pan gaskets are
- prone to leaking." ... "1990-91 - Owners can get a new cylinder head gasket
- cover on models with 2.2L and 2.5L engines." (Jim Hoare)
-
- wmg051760@aol.com wrote of p/n 4773193, a new valve cover (1994?) which
- forms a superior seal on 2.5 engines, maybe 2.2s too. If anyone actually
- gets Chrysler to buy them one, let me know. Chances are you're on your own.
-
- Bob Meyer <robert_meyer@ncsu.edu> says: The valve covers on
- emission-controlled cars are vented through the inlet hose from the air
- cleaner to the valve cover and the PCV valve from the valve cover to the
- throttle body/intake manifold. If you are having a problem with valve
- cover oil leaks, then you should check whether these hoses, or the small
- crankcase air filters in the air cleaner, are blocked first before you
- reseal the valve cover.
-
- Around 1987, Chrysler switched from using a gasket to using RTV.
- In 1994, they switched to a 1 piece valve cover from a 3 piece cover.
-
- Mike Manning informs us that recall #467, issued in 1990, covers the valve
- cover gasket; he says that the gasket was replaced with blue goo. Once this
- stuff has set up, the cover needs to be re-tightened. We don't think the
- dealers usually do it correctly. Mike finally replaced his with a cork
- gasket.
-
- This is a known problem but reps deny it; the situation calls for
- assertiveness. Keep checking your engine, especially around the spark plug
- area, for seeping oil. Ask that your engine be cleaned every time the
- dealer fixes the seepage. If your car is out of warranty, try to have the
- seepage fixed anyway. (New advice: on second thought, just do it yourself,
- which is easier).
-
- Paul F. Schikora : Went to NAPA and got a gasket set and a bottle of gasket
- goo (orange colored stuff). Took my time cleaning the surfaces completely
- and applied the gasket & goo per instructions. No more leak. However, I'm
- sorry I didn't take the time to reseal the PCV connection cover. It's
- always bled quite a bit of oil into the valve and air filter. (Note: this
- was for 1987 model, which had a gasket).
-
- JoDee McKenney says: I'd use the gaskets and the high temp silicone on each
- of the metal surfaces. This allows a way to seal the parts together and
- still get them apart later.
-
- Daniel Stern warns: DO NOT DO THIS on an engine with mechanical lifters
- (i.e G/RG engines and early V8s) because there will be hell to pay when it
- comes time to adjust the tappet clearance.
-
- Duane P Mantick provides TSB 09-17-89 which advises replacing the original
- cover with one using RTV. The "cylinder head cover kit" is PN 5241066 and
- contains the cover, five screws, 2 end seals, four studs, but not RTV
- sealer PN 6500435. This TSB applies to "1989-1990 all domestic vehicles
- with 2.2L or 2.5L EFI engines"
-
- Michael J. Challis <bigchall@aone.com>, a Chrysler Master Tech, wrote that
- Mopar RTV silicon works well: "The trick to this stuff is to have a clean
- surface. Use brake parts cleaner to remove oil so you have a dry surface
- for the RTV to bond to."
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 25. Oil leak from manual transmission
-
- Applies to all cars and minivans with the manual trans A-523, A-543, and
- A-568 (most of them). The TSB (21-24-93) says that "vehicles that are in
- the dealership for any other reason should also be inspected for this leak
- condition." What is replaced is a remote vent assembly in place of the
- existing lock pin, and a new linkage adjusting procedure for future
- service. It should take about 20 minutes. Most dealers will say "no problem
- found" unless you stick the service advisor's finger into the oil leak.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 42. Oil loss/smoking from 3.0 V-6
-
- Jim Thatcher: the smoking from his 3.0 liter engine was coming
- from the PCV housing. A redesigned valve cover handles the oil
- properly. Details from Keith Vicker (I think): inside the front valve
- cover, the PCV housing does not always drain oil properly. Drilling
- holes in this MAY cure the problem - we have no experience with that.
-
- Another reason:
-
- In the older 3.0 heads the exhaust valve guides sink into the head. The
- usual repair is to remove both cylinder heads, knock the guides back to
- their normal position, and have snap rings installed onto the guides so
- that they don't sink again. (Eric Eleazar, Dick Greenfield Dodge)
-
- Check the oil pressure sending unit. You'll see it if you lie down and
- look around the starter/oil filter area. A lot of 'em start leaking at
- about 75K or so. It'll cost you around $20 to replace. Put a drip pan
- under it. Then, gently back the old one out (threaded), and screw the
- new one in; don't over-torque it. (Stan A. Bidlack)
-
- Keith Vickers said: ...
- Pat Goss said that in his shop only about 1 in 250 needed the heads pulled.
- The seals can be replaced without pulling the heads.
-
- DJ Allen said: My '88 3.0L was smoking like a volcano. The valve guides
- were all in place. I replaced the valve guide seals while I was in there
- and there hasn't been one puff of smoke since. I used Keith Vickers'
- procedure. I found an 'on engine' valve spring compressor at my local
- parts store for $25 and it worked, but I struggled with it because of
- tight clearance.
-
- For more: http://www.allpar.com/fix/3fix.html
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 46. Oil in air filter area or in air intake
-
- There is a curtain in the valve cover which prevents most oil from being
- blown out the breather. Any oil in mist form should stay in mist and be
- captured by the air filter. I had a problem where someone replaced my
- leaking valve cover gasket and *forgot* to reinstall the curtain. I was
- blowing about a quart every 500 miles. The worst part was that it
- *looked* like my rings were blown. You would step on it on the freeway,
- oil would pump out the breather, go down the air heater hose and burn on
- the exhaust manifold producing oil smoke. (Thomas Lee Grice)
-
- This is often just from a stuck PCV valve. If it is, chances are it's
- leaking down to the air filter (and the air intake pipe) from a black
- hose which comes up to the air horn (2.2/2.5 engines).
-
- In the 2.5 (probably 2.2 as well) engine, oil can get sucked into the
- PCV system unless a baffle plate is installed. He did this and it
- worked.
-
-
-
-
- Index of Funny Noises:
- 1. Noise on turns
- 2. Dakota creak
- 3. 2.5L engine knocks/ticks; poor cold idle
- 4. 4-cylinders: snapping noise when starting/stopping (see #18)
- 5. Daytona rattle
- 6. Metallic banging during 2-1 downshift when stopping
- 7. Whining or whistling noises from belt driven accessories
- (most FWD vehicles from 89-94).
- 8. Rattle from back of car (hatchbacks)
- 9. Rattles/noises from engine compartment
- 10. Misc rattles
- 11. Squeak on acceleration (from gas pedal)
- 12. Rear end noise - Neon
- 13. Squeal when ac is or goes on: see above, #61.
- 14. Doors make grinding noise when opening/closing
- 15. 1996 minivan (Caravan/Voyager/Town & Country) noises
- (comprehensive list)
- 16. 1996 minivan sloshing gas tank
- 17. Grand Cherokee clunking noise (highway speeds)
- 18. Clicking/snapping noise on stop (see #4)
- 19. Clunking
- 20. Knocking/metallic clanking
- 21. Drive belt squeal
- 22. Inexplicable chime
- *******
- *******
- *******
-
- 1. Herbert DaSilva <hsd@swl.msd.ray.com> writes:
-
- (Problem: Noise happens on left hand turns and some bumps. Was
- originally chirping noise, but now more of a rumble. More frequent. Car:
- 1987 Shadow 2.2, five-speed, 110K miles.)
-
- Isolate the problem with the following test:
- 1. - Select an off-ramp or empty parking lot where you can attain some
- velocity while maintaining a left hand turn when the noise is evident.
- 2. - Clutch in or slip the tranny into neutral and pump the gas pedal to
- rev the engine. If the noise does not change tone when the engine is
- revved, the problem is in your driveline. If the noise changes tone
- with the speed of the engine, the passenger side engine mount has
- probably collapsed.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2. Dakota creak
-
- my truck had a loud "creak" while driving. The problem: a cover plate
- between the converter and the truck body, directly under the front
- drivers seat, that flexes under use. The fix was easy-stuff something
- between the plate and the body. [Robert Duggan]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 3. 2.5 liter knock/idle
-
- Cold engine knock a few seconds after startup, lasting about 3-5 minutes
- -- most noticable at 2,000 - 2,500 rpm. Sounds like valve lifter or
- tappet noise. Noise loudest when weather colder. Usually disappears when
- the car is warm.
- OR
- Cold idle rough util coolant reaches 50-60 degrees F.
- -- TSB 09-06-93 provides for replacement of the computer.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4. Snapping noise on start/stop
-
- Noise comes from the left side of the engine while starting from or
- coming to a stop. More prevalent when engine comaprtment hot.
- Diagnosis: With windows closed, trans in drive or first and parking
- brake on, put a load onto the gas. Release the load and shift into
- reverse. Listen for the noise as you apply a load in reverse. If you
- can't hear it, drive at low speeds with several quick, but not hard,
- acceleration/deceleration moves. Parts requried: left engine support.
- Time: .6 hours (from TSB 09-02-93).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 5. Daytona rattle
-
- Christopher Sennett Homer: Under the rear hatch are
- two black plastic screw things with rubber bushings on the bottom,
- at the rear corners on the hatch. When the hatch is closed
- it rests on these bushings, now if one, or both, of them are too short
- then the hatch pivots on the latch and rattles, so take some pliers
- and unscrew the plasic bushings a little to extend them. that should
- clear up that hatch rattle.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 6. Metallic banging during 2-1 downshift when stopping
-
- Jim Zimmerman had this in his Caravan. There was a TSB, but the dealer
- said "you have to complain LOUDLY. The guy called it the 'post shift
- bang' "
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 7. Whining or whistling noises (most 89-94 FWD vehicles)
-
- Jim Zimmerman said TSB 21-40-93, affecting most FWD vehicles from 1989
- to 1994, covers this. This noise comes from the transmission of the
- FWD cars and minivans, with automatic "transaxles built with 3.02 or
- 3.22 final drive gear ratios. 1994 model year vehicles must have a
- transaxle code prior to 1826 for this bulletin to apply." This is a 7
- hour job and replaces MANY parts.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 8. Rattle from back of car
-
- The screws that hold the trim onto the hatchback tend to come loose and
- fall off. They cost 22 cents, so get extras.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 9. Rattles from engine compartment
-
- On a 2.2, the plastic hood covering the air cleaner lost a bolt, and
- now has a huge rubber band holding it down to keep it from buzzing at
- some RPMs. The air injection tube into the catalytic converter has a
- filter which used to buzz against the firewall LOUDLY until I
- relocated it.
-
- These engines produce a lot of vibration, and there are a lot of hoses
- and gismos nearly touching each other. Someone will have to poke her
- head inside the engine compartment while an assistant revs up the
- engine through the RPMs that it makes noise, and try to isolate the
- noise producer. The safe way is to shut the engine off and see if you
- can rattle anything with your hand. Also, look for any broken hose or
- wire brackets. (Jim Van Damme)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 10. Misc rattles
-
- On my Sundance (Shadow), *all* the plastic covers that go over the seat
- belt mounts were squeaking or rattling. I sprayed them with white
- lithium grease where they were attached and where the were scraping or
- hitting other plastic parts. (Dave)
-
- Also on my Sundance, I had several instrument panel noises. The mechanic
- put foam on the back of the radio faceplate and other easily removable
- bits of plastic, which helped somewhat. The center console rubbed
- against the underside of the dash. (Dave)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 11. Squeak on acceleration (from gas pedal)
-
- Get this -- there is a spring under the gas pedal. One squirt with white
- lithium grease (well, a dozen squirts) took care of this annoying noise.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 12. Neon rear end noise
-
- jbaze@NMSU.Edu (Jody L. Baze) sez:
- Look under the rear of the car - shouldn't need to jack it up, it's
- accessible. The sway bar is attached to the frame and runs up to near
- the wheel where it is attached to the shock assembly with a tie rod.
- It was the tie rod attachments that were squeaking.
- I applied a few drops of teflon lube (it's what I had on hand) to both
- the top and bottom pivot points around the bushings and no more
- squeak. Pretty simple...it's a 1-minute job once you know where to lube!
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 14. Doors make grinding noise when opening/closing
-
- robert_meyer@ncsu.edu had the same sound when his Stratus was delivered.
- He put white lithium grease on the aluminum check straps and cycled the
- doors several times.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 15. 1996 minivan noises (comprehensive list)
-
- Bob Jaworski says rattles in the back may be cured by getting the rear
- shocks replaced - there is a recall or TSB on this. If your middle seat is
- rattling: the hook that holds the seat in may be loose. Crinkling sound
- from the steering wheel: Resolved by readjusting column housing
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 16. 1996 minivan sloshing gas tank
-
- Chrysler now has a new bracket with spacers. Many people will need a new
- gas tank to replace their warped tank. All under warranty.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 17. Grand Cherokee clunking noise
-
- awang@ecl.psu.edu (Alvin N. Wang) wrote that he had a random clunk/think
- noise while at highway speeds. He moved the load bars on his roofrack as
- far to the rear as possible and it cured it. The noise had sounded like it
- was coming from under the floorboards! A TSB may have been issued on this.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 18. Clicking or snapping in the front end
-
- ntmydoin@nyc.pipeline.com (Mark T. Hoops) wrote that a "clicking or
- snapping noise in the front end just as braking to a full stop" could be
- the left side engine support, especially in a 2.5 liter; but could also be
- the strut plates, C/V joints, or loose steering rack bolts.
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 19. Clunking
-
- djallen@msmail3.hac.com had a clunk in his Caravan in the front driver's
- side; the dealer didn't find it, but he did. It was the bolt that tightens
- around the ball joint pin. He had done a cv joint boot job and had not
- tightened the bolt adequately. The ball joint pin would slip up and down
- with braking, bumps, whatever. He tightened it up and the problem went
- away.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 20. Knocking/metallic clanking
-
- From: garanita@gnn.com (gary cristadoro) writes: A constant
- knocking/metallic clanking which increased with engine rpms and got louder
- with engine speed on a Jeep turned out to be the vibration dampener
- (harmonic balancer) bolted to the driveshaft. It drives via belt all
- accessories. You can visually inspect the rubber insulator between the yoke
- and counterbalance pulley; if a severe shift has taken place (the two parts
- are misaligned and protrude), the fan belt is not aligned with other
- pulleys.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 21. Drive belt squeal
-
- Frank E. Tressler Jr. fixed his 1991 Dodge Shadow's (2.2) belt squeal by
- removing the washer between the alternator pulley and the alternator. The
- washer or shim was approximately 1/8" to 1/16" thick.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 22. Inexplicable chime
-
- B. Bennett pointed out that minivans (possibly other vehicles) may
- automatically sound a chime when the turn signal has been left on. This
- might come up on long highway ramps. It was part of the Family Value
- Package in 1991, maybe others.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Temperature stuff
-
- Index:
-
- 1. Temperature gauge swings
- 8. Heater isn't working right (front wheel drive cars)
- 14. Air blows through the wrong vents
- 18. WIndshield washer nozzle freeze-up
- 38. Temperature gauge problems
- 40. Head gasket seems to need replacement / coolant loss /
- car runs hot / no heat / other coolant shenanigans --
- Tom Johnson may help you to prevent $$ problems!
- 62. Air conditioner (a/c) ineffective OR cycles too often
- 65. No heat - minivans, maybe others
-
-
- 1. Temperature gauge swings
-
- From: "Frank E. Tressler Jr." <wizman@defnet.com>
-
- Problem: Sundance thermometer swings back and forth. Repair attemps include
- replacing the thermostat and both engine temperature sensors. Test the fix
- by keeping the temp control on RECIRC and seeing if th gauge stays at a
- constant level. If so, check the hose going to from the thermostat housing
- to the heater core - it goes through a plastic bypass valve just before
- entering the heater core. The hoses on the valve turned out to have been
- switched at a prior servicing.
-
- Note that on many cars minor swings are normal during warm-up because the
- computer allows small amounts of warm antifreeze into the heater to provide
- some early heat while letting the engine warm up.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- 8. Heater problems:
-
- () vandammej@lonex.rl.af.mil had poor heat in his Lancer.
- The temperature regulator door was not sealing well in HOT, letting cold
- air bypass the heater core. He stuffed a 4-5mm by 12 cm piece of foam
- in, closed the door on it, and unhooked the cable until Spring to keep
- it in place.
-
- If your radiator cap leaks or the hose to the CRS bottle leaks the
- vacuum will be lost and it won't suck the juice back in. Blow on the
- bottle to see.
-
- Dennis Lippert notes: The temperature gauge will swing back and forth
- until the entire system is warmed fully. This is because you keep
- introducing "cold" coolant from the radiator into the engine, rapidly
- cooling it. WHen the temp falls enough, the thermostat closes, and the
- temp goes back up, repeating the cycle. This is due to a valve which
- lets you get heat before the thermostat opens up. It keeps the warm
- coolant in the engine *and heater* when the thermostat was closed.
-
- Peter Galambos related: Fixed by flushing the system with oxalic(sp?)
- acid (i.e. Prestone Super Flush). Now the heater works great and the
- engine temperature changes much less. There was probably a restriction
- even though the antifreeze looked fine; a lot of rust flowed out when
- flushing.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 14. Air blows through the wrong vents
-
- Problem: under acceleration, air comes through the defroster vents
- instead of the vents it's supposed to come through. Reason: a valve that
- sits in a vacuum line went bad. That valve leads to a vacuum reserve
- tank, and the tank either wasn't forming a vacuum or the vacuum in the
- tank couldn't get out. (The reserve tank may also have gone bad, or
- there may be a leak in the system). (Lloyd R. Parker)
-
- Dan Stern noted there is a Chrysler TSB on this (24-06-92), which for
- all but AB-bodies recommends replacing the vacuum check valve with one that
- contains a reserve tank - part 4677204. (AB bodies use this check valve and
- a couple of extra parts). Dan said this fix worked on his 1962 Valiant!
-
- On many vehicles, this comes out of a vacuum hose which branches off the
- power brake booster; it may look like a film canister or a small funnel. On
- the Shadow/Sundance, it is underneath the dashboard and looks like a film
- canister. This part is right on top and easy to replace. There is a
- replacement check valve sold by Help! in auto parts stores but it does not
- contain the reserve tank.
-
- On my own 1991 Spirit, the rubber piece which the canister connects to was
- also loose, leaking vacuum. ALL vacuum leaks are bad!
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 18. WIndshield washer nozzle freeze-up
-
- There is a check valve to correct washer nozzle freeze ups (which dealers
- may not acknowledge). (Jim Hoare)
-
- In case of emergency, e.g. being stuck on the Interstate, you could add
- rubbing alcohol to the solution, but this is not a good permanent solution
- because it will not last. I found that using a higher quality wiper fluid
- does solve the problem.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 38. Temperature gauge problems
-
- Robert Rowe: With the ignition on, ground the wire coming of the
- sending unit momentarily while the enging is warm. If the gauge moves to
- the correct temp, the sender is at fault. Do not ground for a long
- period of time as this can damage the gauge.
-
- Peter Galambos: Temperature gauge would suddenly jump to 3/4 or almost
- full scale for a few seconds and then drop back to center. I hooked a
- voltmeter to the temperature sender input to the body computer and
- actually saw nice linear voltage swings. It appears
- that the gauge is designed to go super non-linear above a certain
- temperature. I disconnected the radiator fan long enough to verify that
- it was thermostat cycling causing the temperature swing and replaced the
- thermostat and antifreeze.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 40. Head gasket seems to need replacement / poor temp regulation
-
- The clamp on the hose to the overflow bottle wasn't tight enough; it had
- loosened during recent pressure-checking of the cooling system. --
- Louise Penberthy
-
- Ross Gunn heard air (exhaust) bubbling back through the coolant overflow
- bottle and had to replace the head gasket was the solution. The dealer
- estimated $500; Ross did it himself for under $100.
-
- I managed to trace a slow coolant leak to the point near the firewall
- where rubber coolant hoses are clamped to the metal ends of the heater
- core tubes. Tightening the clamps a few turns ended the problem. I
- probably never would've discovered the culprit had I not noticed that
- a nearby cable had an odd green-ish tint. -- Roger Fradenburgh
-
- The 2.2/2.5 liter cooling systems *MUST* be purged of air before
- operation; otherwise, coolant flow blockage will result (i.e., hot,
- possibly REALLY hot, engine). Partial purging will
- cause the engine to run hotter than normal; the temperature
- will gradually drop to normal as the system purges itself over
- several days/weeks. These engines' cooling systems can be purged
- easily by parking the car on an incline (front much higher than
- rear) and cycling the engine on/off until the thermostat opens and the
- air is expelled into the radiator. The proper way is to use the bleed
- screw in the thermostat's housing...on some engines (like my 2.5) this
- screw is frozen in place because of lack of use; hence, the heat
- soaking of the thermostat's housing. -- Bohdan Bodnar (note:
- letting it "purge itself" may lead to negative consequences).
-
- Sometimes you can fry your brand new thermostat if you don't
- burp it properly. I would always just crank the heat,
- leave the radiator cap off, and start the car to purge the
- cooling system. -- Terry L. Howe
-
- We just went through this with my neighbors 3.0L Voyager. He complained
- of white smoke in the exhaust, we found oil in the water and vice versa.
- The dealer told him $1,000 to replace head gasket; we spent under $300.
- We also replaced the timing belt, water pump, plugs & wires, etc while
- we were there--the parts weren't expensive. We also replaced the
- speedo cable as the best way to get at it was when the heads were off.
- The new gaskets solved his problem, and he has more power.
- -- ssmyers102@aol.com
- ***
- If the cooling system is low on water, the highest parts of the engine
- tend to overheat, causing the head to warp and the head gasket to blow
- out through the gaps left by the warping. Plymouth Reliants have
- temperature gauges and show a high reading within a few minutes of
- starting the engine IF it is low on coolant.
-
- If the heater/defroster fan doesn't blow toasty warm when the engine is
- hot, you are probably low on coolant. or have to bleed the system more.
- It helps to park the car on a grade (front end high), turn the heater
- temperature control up all the way, and idle the engine with the
- radiator cap off. Then, fill the cooling system. [Use distilled water
- - about fiftey cents a gallon from the supermarket] (Tom Johnson)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 62. Air conditioner ineffective OR cycles too often
-
- Jim Zimmerman says: Short cycling [the a/c unit going on and off every
- five or ten seconds) would allow it to cool, but not very well. An
- independent shop immediately found that the first shop put on a
- defective expansion valve in their attempt to repair it. Also, the low
- pressure switch was bad. Mine would only act up intermittently. One day
- it would cool just fine, the next day it would short cycle again.
- --------------------------------------------
- 65. No heat
-
- Daniel Thomas writes:
- [Dealers tried] everything from flushing out the cooling system,
- replacing thermostat, replacing heater core, replacing blower motor,
- etc. The REAL cause of the problem turned out to be the "automatic
- ajjustment" cable on the hot air door. This is the door which allows
- the incoming air to go across the heater core to provide heat into the
- interior of the van. The damn thing had misadjusted itself a number of
- times. The service manuals recommend a way to adjust the door to work
- correctly but it isn't always successful even when it appears to be done
- correctly. The door must be opened wider than the recommendation
- implies then the heat lever is forced to the cold position. This
- automaticially readjusts the cable connection to allow the door to open
- wider which forces more (all) cold air across the heater core. The
- secret is in the adjustment and almost going by the book. I have
- personally been successful in fixing a number of vans that didn't give
- out enough heat. The job is easy once you figure it out.
- --------------------------------------------
- --
-
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