Here's one that looks to be in pretty good condition......
Posted on 11/08/2014 9:40:27 AM PST by savedbygrace
I have a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan that has more than 130,000 miles on it. Today, it started acting really weird.
The key will not turn in the ignition hardly at all. Twice I was able to get it to turn. The steering wheel gets completely locked and it is nearly impossible to get it to move at all.
Also, the (parking) Brake light, the ABS light and the Air Bag light on the dash stay on the whole time. And the power window buttons on the door do absolutely nothing.
None of this happened earlier this morning, but the third time today that I tried to start the can, it happened.
I am thinking there might be a fuse that has blown, but that does not explain all of these things failing at once.
I am going to go buy a replacement vehicle this afternoon if the solution isn't fairly simple.
Do any of my FReeper friends have any ideas?
No. Only the little remote, which is light.
"Are you logged in"?
Wow, too much.
You must have forgotten to set the clock back in the car.
sorry, I can’t be more help;)
My farmer friend she has 250,000 mi on her old 97 Chevy pickup. If your engine and drive train is in good and well maintained condition it may be well worth keeping the vehicle for awhile longer. Sure beats new car payments.
Sometimes emotions get to us when mechanical issues arise and bite us at times.
I’m leaving to look at some used vehicles in a few minutes. Decision soon.
That’s good—less weight.
Yep, belt for power steering and alternator broken. Low voltage causes dash lights and failing power windows. No power steering causes the steering wheel to be hard to turn. Fully turned steering wheel and now power steering makes it hard to turn the key to on.
Took 20 posts to correctly diagnose!
Steering column repairs can be done by a quality professional aftermarket automotive shop, as well as a dealership shop, if you have one locally.
A 14 yo Dodge Caravan should be put out of it’s misery. May I suggest trade it in? Every dollar counts.
5.56mm
Really he should just do what they do in all of the cop shows now a days. No matter how new a vehicle is all you have to do is reach under the dash, grab any two wires and rub them together, Voila! Not only does the car automatically start, the steering wheel lock is magically disengaged also! See that solves both of the problems.
Here's one that looks to be in pretty good condition......
You may be right but I say it depends on its condition. If the engine is still strong and everything else is in fair working condition then fixing the issue(s) may be worth it.
If its been wore down and gotten tired to drive then its probably time for an upgrade.
>>Yep, belt for power steering and alternator broken. Low voltage causes dash lights and failing power windows. No power steering causes the steering wheel to be hard to turn. Fully turned steering wheel and now power steering makes it hard to turn the key to on.
>>Took 20 posts to correctly diagnose!
I recently fixed a Rav-4 with the exact same problem - serpentine belt feeding the alternator tore and the car was barely functioning with power steering gone, etc.
If this is the problem with this car, a wrench, a breaker bar, a $30 belt, and a youtube video like this - I have a feeling the belt may be shredded or non-existent. Check this first and if the belt is gone, any Sunday mechanic will be able to replace it for you in 30 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OoLPfk1JnY
>>Yep, belt for power steering and alternator broken. Low voltage causes dash lights and failing power windows. No power steering causes the steering wheel to be hard to turn. Fully turned steering wheel and now power steering makes it hard to turn the key to on.
>>Took 20 posts to correctly diagnose!
I recently fixed a Rav-4 with the exact same problem - serpentine belt feeding the alternator tore and the car was barely functioning with power steering gone, etc.
If this is the problem with this car, a wrench, a breaker bar, a $30 belt, and a youtube video like this - I have a feeling the belt may be shredded or non-existent. Check this first and if the belt is gone, any Sunday mechanic will be able to replace it for you in 30 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OoLPfk1JnY
Spin all the pulleys the belt contacts by hand and make sure everything spins smoothly. If the bearings have gone bad in any of them, the new belt will be following the old one in short order.
do yourself a favor - get rid of the van. I have my mothers chrysler pt cruiser - this month I have to replace the transmission, window regulators and before brakes, brake caliper, rotors and hoses. The way it is going I am buying the car part by part.
Taking care of a mother with Alzheimers is bad enough but the car is used for her appointments and so forth. How would you like to transport your mother around in convertible in the dead of winter, or have to get her to get into a Ford Escape, not possible.
Get rid of the dodge, chrysler, as you know chrysler stands for
Can’t Have refund, You’re Stuck Leasing Edsel’s replacement or
Company Has recommended You Start Learning Engine Repair.
since you are complaining about multiple issues, odd lights staying on, key is hard to turn, etc and it is a combination of mechanical and electrical issues... it is possible that the switch itself (not the lock tube mechanism itself) has worn out and fallen apart or gotten jammed up inside. This could explain the hard to move key tumbler, lights not going off, etc. It's pretty simple to swap out on most cars, but i've never seen one in a van like yours. It would be a 10 minute job to take the plastic off of the column behind the steering wheel and try to visually see what is going on in there.
Here is a video you can look at for comparison. Might not be exactly the same, but the concept will be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab40F_kIN6s
It was aliens.
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