2000 Dodge Caravan Nothing "Grand" about this one

GREENEYEDLIBRA

MEMBER
2000 DODGE CARAVAN

Air Conditioning problem
2000 Dodge Caravan 6 cyl Automatic 125000 miles

2000 Grand Caravan,

Issue is this:

I go to my child's school, leave the Van on with A/C kicking. 5 minutes, TOPS. Come out, leave the school, get onto the road, and when I accelerate, it acts like it is dying. The RPM's go really high, then drop really low, almost to stalling point. After doing this several times, it seems to stablize.

Last week, it never came back. I would start it, drop it into gear and it would immediately die. After quite a few times of trying to restart, I gave up.

My mechanic ran the codes, and apparently I needed a new Computer. (Go figure, it was "Brain-Dead".)

Just got it back today, was waiting to follow a friend home in their new vehicle. Same scenario A/C running maybe 7 or 8 minutes waiting time, went to accelerate, same wierd RPM jumping thing.

After spending almost $ 2500 on repairs in the last 3 months of ownership, I am real close to selling it. Any idea what this may be? Something I can suggest to my mechanic?

I love the convenience aspect of a minivan. But I really am beginning to miss my 2 door Honda.

HELP! PLEASE! Out of Patience AND Money!

1 Reply

BOBTJR1945

MEMBER
1 POST

If you still have the manual that came with your car it warns of leaving the car idleing for long periods of time. You most likley have pluged up your catilitic converter or your car could be low on coolent and is smarter then you and goes into creep mode to prevent damage to more expensive parts. You may need to take it to a certified dodge garage they may charge more per hour but you get out cheaper in the long run. I have owned a fleet of dodges, fords and v/w vans, I am retired but my years of experience if you service the vehicle and read that book it will not let you down. The v/w were the biggest mistake ever. The imports parts price are way out of line