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Followup To
Question -
i need help my van is leaking water out of a pipe that runs into the top of the transmission.ive never seen this before .1988 dodge chrysler caravan se
Answer -
P.S. The leak may merely be due to a fatigued lower radiator hose that is cracked at the connection of that hose to the pipe, just above the transmission. So see if you can verify that the leak is right at that joint and if it is just get a new large hose at a parts store and replace it to stop the leak. You merely have to have large pliers to release the hose clamps or a screw driver if it has screw type clamp fittings.
******Roland a few more questions. please go ahead and send me the pages for more detail...this may sound stupid but what is considered the front of the motor? the end with the water pump etc.
AnswerP.S. I sent you that last suggestion this morning, about the o-ring, before I had read your feedback comment.
I am sorry if I offended you, but it was not intentional. You will recall that I asked you several times if it was a 3.0L engine or not and got no response. You didn't describe where the leak appeared to be coming from. You seemed to be inexperienced about terminology.
In light of all that uncertainty I decided to wait to find out if it was a 3.0L or not and whether you had tools and experience to deal with the intake manifold before offering to copy and send you the pages at no cost to you. I was concerned about whether the pages even applied to your motor, and if they did whether they would lead to more trouble than you already had.
In any case I am glad you have it repaired now.
Peace.
Roland
Hi Kimberly,
If it appears to be leaking at the other end of the pipe (where it is attached to a pipe that goes forward into the engine), then that may be due to a worn out o-ring seal between those two pipes. So all you would need to do is detach the bracket that holds the rear pipe to the transmission and separate the two pipes. Then get a new o-ring from a Chrysler dealer or good parts shop, lubricate the o-ring so it slides, and reinstall the pipe. That may be the place it is leaking and you won't have to remove the intake manifold, etc.
Roland
Hi Kimberly
Because the engine is mounted crosswise, the front of it (the end with the waterpump and drive belts is on the passenger side of the van, and the rear is on the driver's end of the van and abuts the transmission).
You still didn't verify if this is a 3.0L V-6 or some other engine, look on the underhood sticker if it doesn't say on the engine itself.
Still assuming this is a 3.0L I believe that unless you have tools and some repair experience the only kind of leak that makes any sense for you to do yourself is if there is a leak where the big hose from the lower port of the radiator attaches to the pipe (or maybe where the smaller radiator hose attaches to the pipe). And either of those that need no instruction except to drain off all of coolant from the drain on the bottom edge of the radiator into a pan for reuse, the pan(s) should hold about 9 quarts (maybe only 4 quarts if the radiator hose is the one that is leaking). Then detach the hose at the pipe and inspect it for cracks or frank leaks, and it it isn't spongy and bulging you might get away with trimming off the damaged area and reattaching it if enough length remains to not make it to taught when the engine moves back and forth. Otherwise, buy a new hose, then detach the old one at the bottom port of the radiaton.
If on the otherhand you find that it is leaking from an area futher up the pipe (which is hidden from view by the intake manifold, and the water nonetheless is coming back to the rear of the engine by gravity; you could test this by securing/replacing the big hose and see if that solves the leak issue or not) then that will require repairs beyond your skill level unless you are willing to run the risk of not getting it apart and back together and then have to tow it to a shop to do the job properly.
For that reason I'm going to take a "pass" on copying the manual at this time. Again, verify that this is a 3.0L V-6 and that the leak is right at the hose/pipe connection. Otherwise a semi-professional repairer is necessary.
Roland
