First a funny story, then a few questions. I am unlucky enough to own a1998 Dodge Grand Caravan with an IMS conversion.
Yesterday I took an 160 mile round trip to our cabin in the mountains. I got through the first leg of my journey, turned off the hard road, traveled 500 yards and turned into our 1/4 mile drive. The van stops! The motor kept running, I just could not go forward or reverse. When giving it gas, the RPM's did not register, it was like it was on idle. There I was by myself, 90 degrees, couldn't get out of the van and no cell signal. OK God, I need my cell for just a few minutes, so moving around within the van, opening the lift and A DIAL TONE! I called the garage, and my guardian angel arrives in about 15 minutes. I tried to start the van, no luck, he sprayed something in the carboratouer and off it goes. I go to the cabin, give the van two hours to cool a little, stop at the garage on the way out, everything checks fine. Just in case I ask for a can of the spray. I traveled about 10 miles and thought, stop and get a cheap cooler, 6 bottles of water and a bag of ice. I was feeling "pretty warm" (early heat stroke) so I asked the manager if I could sit in the cooler room for 15 minutes. No, I didn't get any steaks while I was there. The clerk loaded the cooler in my van and I'm in the parking lot pouring a bottle of water over my head and arms while two big, brawny, scruffy bike guys watch me like I've lost it. I take off, travel 75-80 mph to get as far as I can, crossing a river bridge on an interstate, guess what. That's right, no power. Ah ha, an exit right in front of me no traffic behind me or in front, so I drift into a stone parking lot at the bottom. Again, the van is running but no RPM's. At this point, by the way I'm not using the a/c just in case this may be contributing to the problem, I'm about ready to take a flying leap in the river, but instead pour another bottle of water over me and start to eat ice. If I didn't have the ice and water it would definitely have been heat stroke time. Well, after 1 hour, the state police and AAA still hadn't found me. I kept eating ice and pouring water. After 90 minutes, I see the police car approaching, so I move so he can see me, bye, bye, Mr. Policeman. He just kept going as I start waving my arms. Two guys talking in the parking lot saw him go, so they started waving and I saw his turn signal come on. GREAT! He comes back and bye, bye, he keeps going. One of the two guys jump out on the road and waves his arms and luckily he was looking in his rearview mirror. He comes back and there I was, looking half dead, wet from pouring water over my head, and he ask, "Do I have a problem?" He wasn't aware of any call. Well, the poor little policeman in his clean prim and proper uniform didn't even have a screwdriver to loosen the hose from the carb. Luckily another truck pulled up at that moment and ask if he could help, and he had a screwdriver. As the very tidy officer sprayed the carb spray, the can sprung a leak and sprayed on his nice clean uniform. The idiot was more worried about getting dirty than the guy about ready for a heat stroke. The van started, I the other 40 miles, praying and holding my breath as I came to exits. A five hour trip takes 10+ hours, almost as bad as Gilligans Island. OK. Did anyone have this van problem happen to them? They can't find anything wrong, but suspect the fuel pump. I've already put $2500.00 into the door mechanism over the past 18 months, now this! Which brings me to a second question, did anyone need to have the door motor replaced, latch limit switches replaced and basically have so much problems with the door? They just can't seem to get it right. Staying in the a/c, at least for today. GA
