Intake manifold SUCCESS...well almost

It starts.

It runs.

Nothing appears to leak.

However, two MINOR problems...

1. The "Service Engine Soon" light came on. At first, it flashed, then it stayed on. Any ideas?

2. I have a piece leftover. I'll try to take a picture of it and upload it to my wife's website so I can reference it here. However, just in case you can tell me what it is based on a description...here goes. It looks like a bracket of some sort. Imagine a 1/2" long piece of angle-iron. Each flat surface is about 1" long, with a hole on each surface. One hole is threaded. Any guesses?


I used "GUNK" engine oil additive. I let it run for a few minutes. I ran out of time, though. I'm going to start it back up tomorrow night and let it run long enough to warm up, then change the oil and filter. After that, I'll take it for a little ride.

New plugs, wires, PCV valve, air filter, coolant, serpentine belt and radiator hoses. When I started it, it ran a little rough, then settled right down to a very low idle. "Purrs like a kitten."

So, I'm not TOO worried about the service engine soon light or the bracket, but I still want to get them figured out and fixed.

Thanks for all of your help. I'm probably going to post a few hints over at the Venture forum sticky that I learned along the way.

I would guess that bracket probably is mounting for the alternator.
one end should fit into rear of the alternator with mounting bolt and the other end should be top of left rear or #1 cylinder intake upper plenium bolt.
One of the plenium bolt should have extra thread past mounting surface.

I would guess that bracket probably is mounting for the alternator.
one end should fit into rear of the alternator with mounting bolt and the other end should be top of left rear or #1 cylinder intake upper plenium bolt.
One of the plenium bolt should have extra thread past mounting surface.

Y'know, I think you might be right. I wondered why that one plenum bolt was a stud. I'll check that out tomorrow.

The SES light is probably due to a misfire. Scan the computer and get the code but since the light flashed first that usually indicates a misfire condition.

Y'know, I think you might be right. I wondered why that one plenum bolt was a stud. I'll check that out tomorrow.

I should know because I forgot the f#@$* thing and had to do it all over again !!!

I learned and next one I did I put it in the bag and marked it.

The SES light is probably due to a misfire. Scan the computer and get the code but since the light flashed first that usually indicates a misfire condition.

It still is misfiring. It runs just a little rough. It idles at about 800-900 according to the guage, but it seems to be "missing" on one cylinder.

I think I'll take it to AutoZone and have them put it on their scanner, but I need to figure out what's going on. I suppose it COULD cure itself with time, like if I got too much dielectric grease on a plug or something, but I'd like to get it fixed and "enjoy" the new plugs and wires and stuff.

Any ideas? It's not running rough enough to be mixed up fuel injector wires or anything crucial like that. In fact, it seems to run pretty smoothly when you get out and go. It just idles rough.

Also, the bracket doesn't go to the alternator. I checked back there, and there is no place it can connect to the alternator. Like I said, I'll try to post a picture soon.

It is possible that the injector wire is not full connected or that one of the wires has broken and only making partial contact. Once you get it scanned you will be able to tell what is really going on and you can direct your efforts at that particular cylinder. I doubt that the dielectric grease is your problem as it shouldn't interfere with connections.

Also, the bracket doesn't go to the alternator. I checked back there, and there is no place it can connect to the alternator. Like I said, I'll try to post a picture soon.That bracket for the life of me sounds like the one that goes on the alternator. There should be a bolt on the top front of the alternator that passes through a support, through the alternator, and then threads into that bracket. The other end of that bracket fits on the stud on the upper plenum.

I'll take a picture of it tonight if I remember, but until then, if you can take a picture of the bracket that would help.

That bracket for the life of me sounds like the one that goes on the alternator. There should be a bolt on the top front of the alternator that passes through a support, through the alternator, and then threads into that bracket. The other end of that bracket fits on the stud on the upper plenum.

I'll take a picture of it tonight if I remember, but until then, if you can take a picture of the bracket that would help.

I have to agree with you there CDRU !!
Like I said before I forgot the darn thing when I was doing mine and took me 2 days to figure out where it fit.

OK. It's time for some confession.

On the misfire...I evidently didn't get the boot on plug 5. Duh.

I decided to take the car to a good independent a few doors down from my office this morning to find the misfire problem, rather than to try to figure it out on my own.

He put the sensor on the van, and it came up cylinder 5. He put the van up on the rack, reached up from underneath and could feel the top of the plug.

How in the world could I be so stupid?

Don't answer that.

I don't know - you saved yourself a lot of money doing this work yourself, and that sounds pretty smart....most people won't even try repairs anymore.....Glen

That bracket for the life of me sounds like the one that goes on the alternator. There should be a bolt on the top front of the alternator that passes through a support, through the alternator, and then threads into that bracket. The other end of that bracket fits on the stud on the upper plenum.

I'll take a picture of it tonight if I remember, but until then, if you can take a picture of the bracket that would help.Here is a picture of the bracket that I am thinking of. It's the black bracket just above the PS pump cap.

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/9987/dscf03791ai.th.jpg (http://img295.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf03791ai.jpg)

CDRU that is correct bracket but mine is slightly different shape. I think it depends if you have rear AC or not. If you have rear AC you get bigger alternator and hence different bracket.If you have rear AC it looks a bit like ? but turned left 90 degrees.

Oh, THAT way!

I was thinking about it going straight back (toward the firewall) and attaching to the alternator.

There's a bunch of stuff in the way, but I'll check that tonight. Definitely a possibility.

Mine doesn't look exactly like that. A little smaller and shaped like a ? like shogunl said.

If you have rear AC you get bigger alternator and hence different bracket.If you have rear AC it looks a bit like ? but turned left 90 degrees.Maybe that was an later refinement. I have rear AC (and hence the beefier alternator) on my 98 Trans Sport w/ the Montana package.

Hufhouse, FYI my 98 montana had two round angled brackets that bolted to the alternator.

Anyway, congradulations on your repair.

Question, Last night I was cleaning up the garage and noticed that I forgot to put back the front exhaust heat shield, should I worry about this ? ?

Not really just make sure your plug wires don't come in contact with the hot manifolds and watch your hands when the vehicle is hot.

Maybe that was an later refinement. I have rear AC (and hence the beefier alternator) on my 98 Trans Sport w/ the Montana package.

You are correct CDRU !!
mine is 99 and it looks like they changed the alternator mounting in that year. New mounting bracket has fair size bolt going through the alternator anchor point. That is where the bracket goes on and the other part mounts on to top of the intake plenium.

BTW hufhouse if you mounted alternator without that bracket what did you do with extra nut that suppose mount on top of extra long plenium bolt?

BTW hufhouse if you mounted alternator without that bracket what did you do with extra nut that suppose mount on top of extra long plenium bolt?

I had the nut and the bracket. Other than a little holder for the plug wires that I chose not to use (used a zip-tie instead), those were the only parts I had left over.

You were ALL quite correct. I went out this evening, and the top alternator bolt goes through the threaded part and the hole fits on the back left stud. I backed out the alternator bolt, put the bracket in place, tightened it all up (including the extra nut!) and I am GOOD TO GO!

Van runs great! So far, no leaks. I've made about 5-6 short trips of less than ten miles. It's probably too soon to tell, but I don't see any change at all in the coolant level. I keep sniffing around after driving to see if I can smell any steaming coolant from the engine. I thought I smelled it early on, but that was probably old stuff from all the work burning off.

I'll drive it a thousand miles or so, then do another oil change and have the oil tested. I'll let you all know the results in a month or so!

Another happy customer, how about that !!!