Someone convince me to keep my 95 Caravan/3.3L V6. Right now I'm having some problems with the oil pressure. Started about 2 months ago when the pressure dropped to 0 and the check gauge light came on.
Replaced the pressure switch and all seemed fine for a while except for an annoying tick in the engine. (dealer said it was a hydraulic lifter that probably had garbage in or around it, not to worry. RIGHT!)
Weather got cold, went to start it and now the pressure is either normal or 0, depending on the day. If I start it and the pressure is 0, I can restart it and reset the thing, but it may or may not drop.I refuse to drive too far till I figure this one out. I did notice a strange noise coming from the area around the pulleys but it comes and goes too. Is the oil pump by any chance belt driven?
This my 2nd van, the first was a grand Voyager and I am a bit partial to it but I'm not going to sink a lot of money into a dying horse! Any ideas?
christian
12-11-2002, 03:24 AM
Who knows but the dealer is proably right.
Check the ground for the sending unit (remove, scrape and clean the seat) - that'd probably take care of the reading problem.
Change oil soon - if the noise resurfaces, then you probably have a worn lifter.
:cool:
btbishop
12-11-2002, 01:56 PM
I changed the oil when it first happened and used slick 50 but there was no change. Someone suggested using an engine flush to see if I can knock some of the garbage loose. It doesn't smoke and never has so my problems can't be that bad.
I read somewhere on the net about Dodge products and that I shouldn't use after market products. I've always used Castrol brand motor oil but where would I find oem tranny fluid? I've been getting a little slippage every now and then and would like to change the filter and fluid in the tranny to see if it would help.
christian
12-11-2002, 02:05 PM
Sounds like a simple case of a worn lifter.
As far as the tranny - you can get the right fluid at Pep Boys or just about any auto store that carries tranny fluid.
But if the tranny is slipping it probably needs service; it could be as simple as a band adjustment or it may be much wor$e.
How many miles on this vehicle and how has it been manitained?
sapp4l
03-02-2003, 08:42 PM
Hey Dodge Fan: Any updates?
I just was seaching the net for problem similar to yours.
'91 Caravan 3.3L w/172K on engine (on 3rd tranny!, though). Anyway, one the engine gets warm, when the thing idles, about 50% of the time, the oil gage will go from about 1/3 way up, to '0' (while I watch), and instantly go back up if I increase RPM at all. If I restart the engine, this car operates normally for a while, and then this reappears.
I thought is was perhaps a bad oil switch, and temperature dependant, which cuts out when the oil pressure is low (low RPM).
Other thoughts is a worn oil pump (I guess these puppies do wear out), but the flakiness seemed more electrical to me.
Any thoughts from those 'industrial strength' Dodge geniuses out there?
(BTW just nursing this thing for my new driver son; purchased a new vehicle already. Kid ain't going to go zooming around too fast in the old wagon... at least that's what I tell myself).
Have a great day.
btbishop
03-02-2003, 08:50 PM
Update on my 95. It ended up being the oil pump. That was AFTER the mechanic said nothing to worry about and wait till spring. Now it needs a new engine. Don't take any chances, have the oil pump checked/replaced before you experience what I have and have a dead van on your hands!
