98 Caravan ?? listen to this

[vicegrip]

Two novembers ago I started it up to go to work.
Went about 20 feet and completely lost all locomotion.
I Coasted to the side and waited a few moments to take it in.

Thinking like in the 70's I figured a main issue a major seal blown,
a front pump ?? sump'n any way.
Started thinking lets see, and it went back into the alley.
The Escourt got better MPG's so I parked it and started
the engine every two months.

It's battery was near the end anyway. I put a good battery in it today
and SHAZAM...... IT WOKS AGAIN.
I had heard about shift solenoid issues, that I know Jack Diddle about.
Maybe I'll retag and insure it, and see what happens...

What do I know anymore.

[Sberry]

You are a genius,,, come fix one I have,, ha. I just did one in a 2005 Freestar, busticated torque converter,, really it was stripped along with input shaft. I didn't even take the whole thing apart, only as far as I had to. Ford garage wanted 3300. Cost me less than 300 and a day R&R. I have another one to do next week, different issue though and need to investigate a bit more first.

[vicegrip]

I have another one to do next week, different issue though
and need to investigate a bit more first.

When it went one more burst and made it to the alley.....
I knew I was in over my head. There are just things that give out
mechanicly that simply can't go one more time.
That univerce is reserved for electrical & electro-mechanical wounds.

Hence I've been casually taking in information for over a year.
This was totally unexpected. I just had that nudge from with-in
that said "put it in gear", after the good battery was installed.
I still need ta Know.... specially if I'm going to commute with it.
Cheers.

[vicegrip]

Well just Kuz I went out and tryed her again, just to sleep good tonight.
YUP , nuthing, Nutt'n, nadda, and I realy did expect that.
Tomorrow I'll open the battery circuit again and see if this cycle repeats.

Looks like I'll be taking intwebs Shift soleniod 101 this week.
I look at this like an early Christmass preasant.
I was gonna pull the tranny.

[whateg0]

Our 99 T&C did that for awhile when it was cold. You would stop at a corner, and then when you wanted to go again, it just sat there for a few seconds 'til it "kicked in". Then it was fine. Seemed worse when it was cold. Ex ruined the motor shortly after we split. Apparently, it's true that these internal combustion engine things do need internal lubrication. Anyway, I no longer have that problem. Kept putting it off for nicer weather, then it wouldn't fail. Good luck!

Dave

[Sberry]

While its easy to assume that there is electric problems,, etc,,, most of it is pretty reliable, today still the lions share of problems are caused by failure of hard parts that go round and round, up and down. I was in shop not to long ago, they were fooling with every gadget on the car, I finally said,,, give me the comp tester,,, bigger than ****, burned exhaust valve and no matter how many times they change the puter and gadgets wasn't going to fix the valve.
I ordered service manual for mine, I had already suspected the problem though, it wasn't pumping any fluid,,, no go, not a whimper. Since we cant post links,,, Makco Transmission parts dot com, they were the most reasonable on the parts and had the manuals.

[whateg0]

That reminds me of a friend's car that would die after running for about a half-hour. I kept telling them that I just needed to look at it, but they had so many other friends who had a car that once needed a MAF, or whose dad had a neighbor whose car needed a TPS, etc, that they never would bring it over. They just kept throwing parts at it half-blindly. One day, I was over there and suggested having a quick look. Started it up and it started to sputter after about 25 minutes idling. Sounded like it was losing fuel. So, I put the fuel pressure gauge on it and it as almost nothing. Let it sit for a bit and it started back up with good fuel pressure. Ran for a few minutes and the FP started to drop. I said fuel pump. Replaced the filter, since the neighbor insisted that that's all it was and we would do that anyway, but the symptom was the same. So, I replaced the fuel pump and all was well. I was over there for a get-together a couple weeks later and commented out loud about how sometimes the uninformed just assume that because they had a car with a problem that was fixed by replacing "part A" all car problems must be fixed by replacing "part A". I don't think I made too many new friends that day.

Dave

[Sberry]

Yes,, its common method of trouble shooting,,, all red cars do that,, ha

[dumb as a stump]

So I have a 98 voyager so I will give you a piece of cheap advice replace to atx circuit breaker first new 11 bucks but swap it from somewhere unnessessary for now and see what it does. Lots of electrical problems on those pos's.

[vicegrip]

So I have a 98 voyager so I will give you a piece of cheap advice.
Replace to (atx circuit breaker) first.
New 11 bucks, but swap it from somewhere unnessessary for now and see what it does.
Lots of electrical problems on those pos's.

A little hard for me to follow.
Is the above what you mean? Replace the/a (atx circuit breaker) first.
PS
I discovered that about 15 seconds of nearly full throttle in neutural, does the trick.
Release pedal to idle, drop in drive or reverce, and shifts normal.
Shut of engine, turn back on , nothing again.??

[Wyoming]

Phil, you need to take that automatic out of the equation.

[vicegrip]

I did consider briefly gutting the power train......... do'n some body mods,
and ending up with a cool airodynamic camper.

No rockets thO'
Wife has mentioned dynomite

[Wyoming]

Best of luck Phil. Don't know about dynamite these days...those Homeland Insecurity guys get rabid at the mention...how the heck they expect ya' to catch any fish in Kentucky???

[vicegrip]

This is S.E. Wisconsin, we here are sitting ducks for Gov't brainfarts,
like ethinol and the fatherland OOps I mean Homeland thugs.
but easier still to be mowed down by a 5-time convicted drunk-driver
or a gangsta's stray bullit.

[Wyoming]

Phil,
It doesn't matter where ya' live when it comes to the multiple conviction drunken drivers. Too much money in 'em to keep 'em off the road. During the day you can't find a cop...come bar closing time they are as thick as thieves. Once the police got a taste of that $575 DUI conviction money any chance of actually getting the drunks off the road went out the door. Remember, we have to keep our lawyers, judges, bail bondsmen, police, etc., etc., etc. in a job.