1999 Grand Voyager Problem

[2o6]

This is the car I will be learning on, so it needs to get fixed ASAP.

It's got a bad problem with leaking coolant. After short drives around the corner, it heats up. It could be a number of problems:

Hole in Radiator (not too hard, nor expensive)

Cracked Head (Bad)

or it could be something else altogether.


This car is a 1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager with the 3.8L V6.

[93JC]

Check all of the hoses, they're usually the first things to go on a cooling system.

[FoMoJo]

Check all of the hoses, they're usually the first things to go on a cooling system.

Gaskets?  Are there puddles of coolent underneath?

[Raza]

You're learning on a Grand Voyager?  Good luck. 

[3.0L V6]

This is the car I will be learning on, so it needs to get fixed ASAP.

It's got a bad problem with leaking coolant. After short drives around the corner, it heats up. It could be a number of problems:

Hole in Radiator (not too hard, nor expensive)

Cracked Head (Bad)

or it could be something else altogether.


This car is a 1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager with the 3.8L V6.

Hoses and radiator would be my first bet. Leaking water pump would be my second.

Cracked head usually results in milkshake looking oil and/or oil in the coolant. The 3.8 isn't known for cracking heads either.

[Laconian]

I think there's some stuff you can dump in the coolant that will patch minor holes in the radiator. It might be worth a shot.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I think there's some stuff you can dump in the coolant that will patch minor holes in the radiator. It might be worth a shot.

pepper

[Eye of the Tiger]

This is the car I will be learning on, so it needs to get fixed ASAP.

It's got a bad problem with leaking coolant. After short drives around the corner, it heats up. It could be a number of problems:

Hole in Radiator (not too hard, nor expensive)

Cracked Head (Bad)

or it could be something else altogether.


This car is a 1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager with the 3.8L V6.

Fun for you. I learnt on a Voyager, too; but an older one with the super dooper Mitsu 3.0.

WHERE IS THE LEEK

WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT "HEETS UP AFTER A SHORT DRIVE AROUND THE CORNER"

Is the radiator cap tight?

[2o6]

You're learning on a Grand Voyager?  Good luck. 

I don't have much of a choice, rich boy.

[2o6]

Yeah, I'll run these potential solutions by my dad.

[Madman]

The overheating could be down to a stuck thermostat.  That's the first thing I'd check.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[Laconian]

The overheating could be down to a stuck thermostat.  That's the first thing I'd check.

Stuck thermostats stick open, no?

[Madman]

Stuck thermostats stick open, no?

Not always.  I had one stick closed.  The pressure from the closed thermostat actually blew the radiator!

Cheers,
Madman of the People

[S204STi]

The overheating is due to the coolant leak most likely, though while you're repairing the leak you might as well also replace the thermostat and radiator cap to ensure proper cooling system operation when you're done.

Look for leaks at the intake manifold gasket and the water pump.  Those are the two most common sources of leaks on vehicles with "wet" intake manifolds.  Also check out the radiator of course.

[AutobahnSHO]

Get out and look for leaks while it's running.

On the plus side, if you learn to parallel that van, you can parallel most anything. (I can mine.  )

Also, you'll think you're in a Porsche when you get into anything smaller- the difference is KRAZY. Although these vans are better than the first ones, (I had a 1992 also,)
-steering is still soft
-brakes are still weak. (DON'T expect to be racing anyone, and just be careful!)
-it's LONG. careful w/ curbs and the rear wheels.
-acceleration is obviously on the slow side because it's heavy.

[ifcar]

On the plus side, if you learn to parallel that van, you can parallel most anything.

I learned to parallel park on the Caravan, and it took extra practice to learn how to do it in a smaller car with a trunk.

[AutobahnSHO]

I learned to parallel park on the Caravan, and it took extra practice to learn how to do it in a smaller car with a trunk.

driver's ed fail

LOL
j/k- I can see that now that you say it.

[2o6]

I think it may be the radiator. There's no puddle underneath, and it seemingly runs "straight out", but only when the car is running. Never does it leak when the car is stationary.

[the Teuton]

You're learning on a Grand Voyager?  Good luck. 

I have a friend who took his maneuverability test in a long-bed F-150 (it's fairly different than the parallel parking in Pa -- a little more intensive) and another who took the driving test in a Tahoe Z71.

[S204STi]

I think it may be the radiator. There's no puddle underneath, and it seemingly runs "straight out", but only when the car is running. Never does it leak when the car is stationary.

Are you sure you're not burning it?

[2o6]

Are you sure you're not burning it?

I have no clue.

[S204STi]

I have no clue.

If you can't find a leak, yet it's losing coolant, I'd start checking that out.  A mechanic should be able to discover that for you.

[giant_mtb]

If it's burning, he should definitely smell something bitter-sweet, no?

[S204STi]

If it's burning, he should definitely smell something bitter-sweet, no?

Not necessarily.  Had a G5 in this week that was leaking a fair amount of coolant into cylinders 2 and 3, but you could never tell from the exhaust.  Just idled kinda rough.

[S204STi]

Also, if it's an intake leak it could just be settling at the bottom of the oil pan, or pooling in the intake plenum and slowly burning off.

[AutobahnSHO]

Also, if it's an intake leak it could just be settling at the bottom of the oil pan, or pooling in the intake plenum and slowly burning off.

When my SHO blew up, I let it sit a couple weeks. When I finally pulled the oil plug about a gallon of antifreeze came out first it SMELLED like you wouldn't believe!!! 

Wouldn't coolant burning off make some kind of smoke??

[S204STi]

When my SHO blew up, I let it sit a couple weeks. When I finally pulled the oil plug about a gallon of antifreeze came out first it SMELLED like you wouldn't believe!!! 

Wouldn't coolant burning off make some kind of smoke??

Sometimes.

[2o6]

The rear wheels are locked. This isn't a problem is it? After all, the car has been sitting for almost three months.

[SVT_Power]

The rear wheels are locked. This isn't a problem is it? After all, the car has been sitting for almost three months.

Of course it's a problem. What do you mean it's not a problem 

Unless you meant "this isn't a problem that's hard to solve is it"

[2o6]

Of course it's a problem. What do you mean it's not a problem 

Unless you meant "this isn't a problem that's hard to solve is it"

Well, the car has been sitting for three months..........a bit of work (moving) will clear this up, right?