2001 Dodge Caravan DIY

Tiny
DAVEDAVEMIGHTSHAVE
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 150,000 MILES
My 6cyl 3.3 2001 dodge caravan has recently been estimated by tuffy to retain a $900 dollar cost to replace tie rods, one valve cover gasket, and clean the carburetor. Is this a job an aspiring auto mechanic can take head on?
Monday, November 11th, 2013 AT 2:42 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
Yes, these are do-it-yourself items, but it depends on which tie rod ends, inners or outers. Either way you'll want to have the van aligned when you're done.

$900.00 is way too much for this service. Two outer tie rod ends are about $30.00 each, and it takes about 15 minutes to replace each one. This engine doesn't use valve cover gaskets. You clean off all the old sealant and use a bead of new sealant from a tube. Cost of material is less then ten bucks. You'll have to remove the intake plenum to do the rear valve cover. It's very rare for them to leak.

You don't have a carburetor. You have a throttle body assembly. Cleaning them may solve a mild hesitation problem but that is more common on GM products. What problem are you hoping to solve by cleaning the throttle body?
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Monday, November 11th, 2013 AT 3:12 PM

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