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URGENT - 2000 caravan engine light

1.6K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  Dodgevanman  
#1 ·
Hope I hear what I'm hoping to hear - I am on the road in my 2000 caravan (3.3 L, 129,000 mi) and 2500 miles from home. Tonight the check engine light came on (a little amber icon of an engine, no text). It's the beginning of the holiday weekend, so I doubt I could get a mechanic to investigate, and am leery of being taken advantage of to boot. I don't have an owner's manual, so I turn to the car experts in cyberspace to advise me. Can it wait until I return home, or will I be taking a chance on breaking down and getting stranded in the middle of nowhere if I continue on my journey? I know the right thing to do is get it hooked up to a computer, but figure that there might be someone who as experience with this type of thing, and it may just be a 'you've got a lot of miles so it's time to check me out' kind of warning. - Thanks for any input -

wyseone
 
#2 ·
Try tightening the gas cap or putting a thin coat of vaseline on the gasket for the gas cap. The system is pressurized and a leak here will trigger the light. Did you just fill the tank with the engine running? The emissions system doesn't like that and will trigger the light. If the vaseline fixes it then get a new cap at an auto parts store. Next check for the evaporative canister under the hood. On top of it will be a small solenoid. It is the evaporative purge control solenoid. It is black with a 2" round top on it. It will have a wire plugged into it and 2 rubber hoses going to it. One hose runs up to the throttle body and burns the gas fumes while the other hose runs back to the fuel tank. Where those hoses attach to the solenoid or the throttle body or meet at a coupling they often crack due to heat under the hood. Visually check those connection points and see if there are any cracks. If there are cut the cracked portion (1/2" or so) off and reconnect it. This is a not so uncommon cause of the check engine light coming on but the engine still runs good especially with your miles. Good luck and have a safe trip. :gr_patrio
 
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#3 ·
Well...it's a Catch 22. Until you get the light diagnosed, you don't know what the code is. Places like Advance Auto Parts and Autozone can hook up a code scanner for a nominal fee.

It might just be something minor or if you continue to drive, it could cause further damage.
 
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