89 caravan problems

bridget36907 · 11-16-2003, 04:49 PM

Hey all I have a 1989 dodge caravan..the engine and tranny has been switched with one from a 93 by previous owner

1. I am having a whining (roaring noise) when i start it and it gets louder when i turn the wheels..I am thinking power steering ..

2. my tire is loose..not loose at the lugs..they are tight..but my whole passenger side wheel rocks more than it sould ( the whole tire unit rocks..not just the tire....it sems very loose..even though the tire is tight..any suggestions?

3. everything on my cluster does not work (rpm) ( speedometer) (mileage meter)
I am thinking it has something to do with the different year engine as all the wires under teh hood are not connected..and there seems to be nothing to connect them too...would a cluster from a 93 fit directly in my 89..and would the guages ets work correctly since the engin is from a 93?

email me at bridget36907@yahoo.com or post suggestions here..thanks

yale329 · 11-18-2003, 02:42 AM

Please get your front end checked, for somthing more than your power steering is faulty. Nothing wrong with a motor and tranny change over if it was put together right, wiring included. Take it in to ***two** service shops for a hounest opinion and ask them to take it for a ride. I'm concerned that this might be a real drain on your wallet. You have two separate, but serious problems. Can you take it back, or was it sold as is. Mam, I would not drive it to far. Wish you the best of luck. Wayne from Canada

proticus · 11-18-2003, 04:55 AM

first, i just have to ask: did you pay for this vehicle? ok, sorry, just wondering. the loose wheel means one of two things. both a fairly easy fix, but if you have driven it this way for a while, there is a VERY good chance you have done some serious damage. one option is that your strut is very loosely bolted to the strut tower (those two bubble looking things under the hood above the tires). just tighten them down if this is the case, and maybe you didn't do any real damage. the second option, is that the collar on your steering knuckle is loose. this collar tightly grips the bottom of your strut, and keeps if from wiggling, and such. if it is loose, it is very possible that your strut was damaged. i let this happen to mine, and damaged my strut. but i jimmy rigged it and it gets me around. it's a rolling junkyard. as far as the cluster not working, i would bet money on the old cluster being gear driven, and the 93 being electrical. hence the absence of ... everything. i don't know if the 93's cluster would drop into your 89. but one thing i do know, is that you will be spending a little more than pocket change on this vehicle if you want it safe. if it were my vehicle i would sell it to a junkyard for 150 bucks, and save a little and get something more reliable, and safe. good luck.

bridget36907 · 11-18-2003, 07:35 AM

Umm.. Yes i did pay for it..pretty cheap though..and yes I drove it from Nashville TN to Cuba Alabama..a 4 hour drive ( i was in tn visiting my brother when i purchased it) the engine and tranny drives very good...Had an emissions test done on it and they asked did it have a new engine..it tested like a new vehicle..the motor and tranny only had about 60,000 miles on them..thanks and i will try and look at the suggestions you told me about the struts....i took the tire off and the rotor/brake pad assemble did not have hardly any play in them..would they be loose to if it were the bearings? if not i will look more towards the struts..thanks

yale329 · 11-18-2003, 10:26 AM

Now where getting some where. Yes, your rotors might wiggile a bit with the wheel off. All play will be gone when your wheel is back on for your rotor is separate from your front hub and bearing I believe. Check your strut like advised. I think you just might have a bearing problem or damaged cv. Check which side the noise is on with a freind. Are you sure the roar does not sound more like a loud scraping sound. It sounds like you Have the guts and basic no how. keep on checking and get a repair manual, and a good freind to help. Keep on checking as long as you can, if you don't want to give it up. Don't scrap it though. It sounds like your motor and trans are still okay. If it comes down to it, at least you have some way of getting some money back. Good luck again.

bridget36907 · 12-11-2003, 06:29 AM

the noise is comming from the right side only on right turns!

the wheel is loose from left to right onyl not up and down

i checked the top of the strut and it is very tight...

also the steering rod moves along with the tire or is it suppose to move?

all of this is occurring on the same side!

what type transmission fluid and i suppose to use

and can anyone give ma a link with a picture of a 93 caravan's engine and that of a 88 caravan engine i was told it was an engine out of a 93 but it looks really old..thanks

thanks

firechicken1986 · 12-13-2003, 11:35 AM

You might have a bad upper or lower balljoint problem this will cause your wheel to rock back & forth

rrbtheman · 10-24-2004, 07:57 AM

my mom have a voyager where the wheel is lose side to side and i found out the rack and pinion cam right off the fram

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