Repair And Fix it

Charging a Dodge Caravans air conditioning unit, called commonly "A/C" or "AC," with new freon is not a hard task to do, and the reward of having your A/C working properly again is plenty of motivation. If your air conditioning unit is not working, a recharge of the A/C systems chemical cooling agent, called rigerant or often freon, may be just what you need. If your Caravan was made before 1995, a professional will have to make other adjustments before you can recharge with rigerant on your own.

Instructions

1

Check your Caravans air conditioning line for air conditioning leaks before attempting to add rigerant. Auto parts stores sell leak-detection kits that you can use to detect leaks while also sealing small ones. Follow manufacturers directions on how to use the leak detection kit you choose. If there is a large leak, do not add rigerant; instead, take your Caravan to a professional.

2

Find the Low Pressure Side service port. It is marked Low and is black in color. Remove it.

3

Turn on the A/C to the coldest, highest settings possible. Use a pressure gauge to make sure there is pressure. If the pressure gauge is not measuring any pressure, then there may be a bigger problem that needs the attention of a professional.

4

Attach the hose to recharge the rigerant on the Low Pressure Side. Open the valve so the rigerant can flow into the system. Keep the can upright. When it is emptied, remove the ill hose and close the cap.

5

Turn on your air for 30 minutes to allow the rigerant to make its way completely through the system. Check the pressure again; it should have increased. If it has not, add more rigerant.

The Caravan is a family minivan manufactured by Chrysler under its Dodge brand since 1984. The 1997 Model is a third-generation Caravan that had a choice of several different engines, including a 6-cylinder 3.3-liter engine. This engine uses a belt-driven water pump to circulate coolant around the engine. If you need to replace the water pump in a 97 Caravan, you must access it from underneath the vehicle.

Instructions

1

Remove the cable from the negative terminal of the battery with a socket wrench. This will prevent you from starting the engine during the water pump replacement procedure. Place a drain pan under the drain plug for the radiator and open the drain plug. Allow the coolant to drain into the drain pan.

2

Remove the serpentine drive belt with a socket wrench. Raise the vehicle with a jack and support it on jack stands. Disconnect the right front wheel and the lower shield on the right front fender.

3

Disconnect the pulley for the water pump with a socket wrench. Remove the mounting bolts for the water pump and detach the water pump from the engine. Discard the O-ring for the water pump and clean the mounting surface for the O-ring with a shop towel.

4

Place the new O-ring onto its mounting surface on the new water pump. Install the new water pump onto the engine and tighten its mounting bolts to 108 in. lbs. with a torque wrench. Install the pulley for the water pump and tighten its mounting bolts to 20 ft. lbs.

5

Connect the lower shield for the right front fender with a socket wrench and install the right front wheel. Connect the lug nuts for the right front wheel and torque them to 95 ft. lbs. with a torque wrench. Lower the vehicle and connect the serpentine drive belt. Fill the radiator with a mixture of 50 percent water and 50 percent ethylene glycol antifreeze.

6

Connect the cable to the negative battery terminal with a socket wrench. Start the engine and allow it to run until the thermostat opens. Turn the engine off and allow it to cool. Check and correct any leaks in the coolant system.

The exhaust manifold on a Dodge Caravan is responsible for getting the exhaust gasses created by the engine out of the cylinder head and into the exhaust tubing. The manifold is made of cast iron, which can crack under certain atmospheric conditions, or when cold water is applied to a hot manifold. When that happens, the exhaust will come out of the manifold and not out of the exhaust pipe itself, which will make an annoying noise and potentially cause a loss in horsepower.

Instructions

1

Raise the front end of the Caravan with the jack and place a pair of jack stands underneath the front of the chassis. Unbolt the exhaust from the exhaust manifold using the 3/8-inch ratchet, extension and sockets.

2

Unbolt the EGR tube and crossover pipe from the exhaust using an open-end wrench. Unplug the oxygen sensor connection by hand, then remove the oxygen sensor with the oxygen sensor wrench.

3

Unbolt the heat shield from the exhaust manifold using the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket, then unbolt the manifold from the engine with the ratchet. Pull the manifold off of the engine and out of the engine compartment. Remove the exhaust manifold gasket as well.

4

Scrape the mounting surface on the cylinder head using the gasket scraper. Slide the replacement gasket and manifold onto the engine and bolt it in place from the center of the manifold outward using the 3/8-inch ratchet, extension and sockets. Apply a thin coat of the anti-seize compound to the threads of the oxygen sensor, then install the sensor into the manifold.

5

Reconnect the crossover pipe, EGR tube and exhaust to the manifold with a 3/8-inch ratchet and socket. Then reinstall the heat shield with the ratchet. Lower the van off of the jack and jack stands.

The Caravan, first introduced in 1984, is a popular family style minivan manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation. The Caravan, while known for its safety and reliability, has experienced problems with the its alarm system. Recognizing these alarm issues and knowing how they are corrected may help Caravan owners to avoid costly service fees.

Panic Alarm

A common complain that is reported by Caravan owners is panic alarms that will not shut off on command. To shut off the panic alarm, Dodge instructs the user to press the panic button again or to turn the ignition switch to the on position. When the panic alarm does not turn off after pressing the panic button a second time, often times the culprit is radio frequency noises caused by the alarm system. In order for the alarm system to receive the signal from the panic button instructing it to shut off, it is necessary to stand closer to the vehicle in order for the signal to be read. If after completing these steps the panic alarm does not turn off, it is possible that you have an electrical short in the alarm system, which should be inspected by a Dodge certified mechanic.

Engaging Vehicle Theft Alarm

The vehicle theft alarm system in Dodge Caravans are designed to protect the vehicle from unauthorized entry and operation. When activated, the lights will flash, the horn will honk and the van will not start. A common concern reported by Caravan owners is the inability to engage the vehicle theft alarm. This is often times caused by failure to follow the proper steps. To arm the system, remove the key from the ignition and press the lock button on the keyless entry transmitter. After the last door is closed, the system will automatically arm itself in about 16 seconds. However, if you open a door during this time period, this cancels the signal to turn on the alarm and the alarm will not engage.

Disengaging Theft Alarm

Another common issue reported in regard to the vehicle theft alarm is the inability to disengage. Oftentimes the culprit is a worn keyless entry transmitter that is failing to send the appropriate signal to turn the alarm system off. If after pressing the unlock button on the keyless entry transmitter, the alarm system does not disengage, insert the key and move the ignition switch to the on or start position, which will disarm the system. In this scenario, you may need to have the keyless entry transmitter repaired or replaced in order to prevent problems in the future.

The sway bar links of a 1998 Dodge Caravan connect the front struts to the sway bar. The sway bar transmits torque across the minivan from one side to the other. When cornering, the weight of the Caravan shifts to the outside of the turn, compressing the strut more on one side than the other. The pressure is transmitted through the way bar links to the sway bar, placing pressure on the opposite strut. This reduces roll and stabilizes the 1998 Caravan. The sway bar links have ball and socket designs. Over time, the socket wears and a clunking noise emits from the sway bar link. Eventually, the stabilizer link will break if it is not replaced.

Instructions

1

Park the 1998 Dodge Caravan on a level flat surface and set the parking brake. Lift the front of the vehicle with an automotive floor jack. Place jack stands under both sides of the front of the vehicle under the subframe.

2

Remove the lug nuts using a lug nut socket and impact wrench. Remove the tires.

3

Remove the nuts attaching the sway bar link. The sway bar links attach with a stud and nut at both the front strut and the front sway bar. Place a wrench on the nut first. Use a small 8 mm wrench to prevent the stud from spinning while loosening the nut. Repeat for the second nut. Repeat for the opposite side.

4

Position the sway bar links. Install and tighten the nuts. Use the double wrench setup to prevent the stud from turning as you torque the nut.

5

Reinstall the tire. Install the lug nuts finger tight.

6

Raise the vehicle with the automotive floor jack. Remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle.

7

Torque the lug nuts using the 1/2-inch lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to 100 foot-lb. torque.

Car mirrors can suffer a lot of damage throughout the life of an automobile. When a mirror is beyond repair, the entire mirror must be replaced. Knowing how to install a mirror on a 2007 Dodge Caravan can spare Caravan owners time and expense.

Instructions

1

Pry off the panel where the mirror attaches to the vehicle with a small standard screwdriver. This will expose the screws attaching the mirror to the vehicle.

2

Remove the two exposed screws attaching the mirror to the vehicle with a T27 Torx driver.

3

Open the door next to the mirror you are replacing. This will expose the third and final screw attaching the mirror to the vehicle.

4

Unscrew the final screw with a T27 Torx driver. Some mirrors designed for a 2007 Dodge Caravan have an internal heating element with a cable attaching it to the vehicles electrical system. With this type of mirror, press the release tab on the cable connector and pull the cables apart before removing the mirror.

5

Lift the mirror to be replaced away from the vehicle.

6

Hold the replacement mirror in place against the vehicle so the screw holes in the mirror base and vehicle align. If the vehicles mirror has an internal heating element, first attach the replacement mirrors cable to the vehicles mirror cable before holding the replacement mirror in place.

7

Screw the screws into the three holes of the mirror base with a T27 Torx driver.

8

Replace the panel where the mirror attaches to the vehicle by sliding it into place and pressing firmly.