Timing chain replacement

KEITHMAC

MEMBER
2000 DODGE CARAVAN
3.8L
AWD
AUTOMATIC
100,000 MILES

Vehicle will not start. Battery and starter okay. Could timing chain need to be replaced and if so, can you send me step by step instructions? I have more information (Keith is the one fixing it, he was not here when I sent the question). He drove it in the driveway, it was running good, next time he went to start it, it was locked up tight and will not turn over. It is a six cylinder and has 230,000 miles, not 100,000.

3 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
48,363 POSTS

Hello,

Yes it does sounds like the timing chain broke it which case the engine is no good. I would try to put a long socket wrench on the front of the crankshaft bolt and see if you can get it to turn at all in either direction.

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken

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Wednesday, August 16th, 2017 AT 2:38 PM

KEITHMAC

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I tried that. It will not turn either way. Is there a way to fix it. If so, how?

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Wednesday, August 16th, 2017 AT 7:50 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,573 POSTS

It would need to be torn down to determine what parts are damaged. If it did break the timing chain you would still need to remove the heads to check for damaged valves/pistons because the 3.8 is an interference engine design. Plus with 230,000 miles on it you would really be better off going through both the top and bottom of the engine, by the time you buy the parts and have the machine work done to make it correct you will have more money into repairing it than a used engine (and probably very close to a factory re-manufactured engine).

Accurate engines gets around $1,600.00 for a re-manufactured with a 100,000 mile warranty.

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Wednesday, August 16th, 2017 AT 8:06 PM