88 caravan HELP Needed Please!!!

Hi, I'm new here...

I have an 88 Dodge Caravan I bought very cheap in March. No real problems until recently,,, uses a bit of oil (about 2 quarts a month). About three weeks ago, it just died, My husband was picking me up from work (about 35 miles from home). It wanted to start, it was turning over, but wouldn't 'catch'. Anyway, we got a ride home with a friend and my hubby came back the next day and had it towed home. A mechanic friend of our changed the fuel pump and gas tank (it was leaking some gas). We had a gas leak after the change, but after we replaced the filler neck grommit (seal), no more leaking. However, now it does not get any power going up hills, or even on the flat. It sputs and jerks, like it's sucking water, maybe air...we used a gas treatment in the tank in case of water,,, but it still does this. We can take the van on very short trips around town, but up hills it's like it's not getting any gas.

Any suggestions on what this could be? Our mechanic friend is at a loss, and we are very very poor, so we can't go replacing things that don't solve the problem. Some things suggested to us where fuel filter, distributor cap, plugs... some help is really needed.

We have the 3.0 liter, six cyl. Also some electrical problems, speedometer not working, mileage meter not working, radio doesn't work, fuse won't fix these problems, fuses keep blowing...

If I can't get to work, I'll lose my job.

Thanks is advance...

Laura

The EGR valve (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) were very nasty in these Caravans. They are pollution control devices, that when fouled, up will at the worst keep the car from starting, otherwise they will give the problem you have. We had the same problem with our 86, no power, hard starting, and ended up clamping off the hoses to the EGR, and the thing ran perfectly from there on. You could try replacing the EGR (Isnt hard to do at all, look at a Haynes or Chiltons repair manual). Otherwise, if you havent already, try replacing the plugs, wires, ignition coil, etc.

If it is fuel injected, like our 92 Carvan was, you may have a problem with the ECU (Computer that controls fuel injection). Our 92 with the 3.0 V6 had that problem, and there wasnt much could do about it, besides replacing fuses that blew, and unhooking the battery to reset the damn thing.

Anyways, look at all your fuses first, check the EGR valve, maybe throw in a tune-up. Otherwise, I dont know.

Thanks for the quick reply. We'll check into your suggestions as soon as possible.
Again, thank you!