Dodge Caravan 3.0L replacing timing belt, water pump and front seals, part 1: Disassembly 1

This eight part video series covers a tear down of the front of the 3.0L engine found in many Chrysler products.
Support me on Paypal: www.paypal.me/...
The vehicle shown is a 2000 Dodge Caravan with a serious oil leak.The front crankshaft oil seal is replaced as well as the timing belt, the water pump gasket and a cam shaft seal. Part one covers initial dis-assembly, up to the removal of the engine mount. For step-by-step text and still pictures of this procedure see:www.originalmec...

[@LisaLovee420]

my man just completed a water pump and timing belt change on my 1998 caravan 3.0 yesterday. van runs beautiful now no problems. all by watching your videos on KZbin.you give great sf directions. thank you

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

You're welcome. That's never an easy job. Well done!

[@garydubois4278]

im changing a timing belt an water pump on a 2000 dodge caravan. i am somewhat mechanically inclined, but have never attempted anything this big, i googled how to do it an got you site. so glad i did too, i was so impressed with the whole video, plenty of light to see, u mention how many bolts, what size, where the hidden ones are, how to disconnect wires, i have it all apart an sat will replace the parts an start to assemble, best mechanical video ive ever watched thank you!!

[@Everything817]

Just wanted to express my thanks for taking the time to put these videos together. I just volunteered to do a timing belt and water pump job on a friends 97 3.0 Caravan so these videos were priceless. Well done, sir!

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

Corey Bryant You're welcome. I hope your friend appreciates the amount of work that you're going to be doing on their Caravan. It's a toughie. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Everything817]

The Original Mechanic Mission accomplished. I managed to get it put back together today. It was definitely a toughie. I rebuilt the head, and put rings and main bearings in a 92 Toyota Tercel without having to pull the motor a few years back, and it seems like it was less work. LOL

[@angrejsingh6756]

Thxs bro am change water pump after watching your videos its really helpful

[@kennynegaard4530]

I just finished downloading and viewing this series for my Plymouth. You have done a fantastic job with so many useful details. I feel I will be able to do this myself now. I watch your other vids on the thermostat and plugs as well as pcv valve and oil change. So I will be doing all of it at the same time as it will be easier with everything off.Will let you know how it turns out.Thank you once again.Kenny Disabled Veteran

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

+Kenny Negaard You're welcome. Sounds like you have some work ahead of you on this challenging engine. Just take your time and good luck with it!

[@mushtaqtalib8574]

Thank you so much for your video you help me to replace water pump , time belt and oil seal. My car dodge spirit 1992 3. 0 l. Im from Iraq Baghdad

[@harryfischer6741]

Got my disassembled to the AC belt tensioner. It is really tight. I stopped for the night on a good note. Go at her again tomorrow. Thanks

[@jefferywarburton2116]

my friend gave me their 94 voyager the other day and as soon as i got it home i saw a pretty nice puddle under it so looks like im on deck for this one

[@beaukneaus]

I guess I"ll get to do this job today, or part of it. I did it like 30k miles ago, but yesterday, after changing the injectors, I dropped the bolt that holds the fuel supply line down behind the timing belt cover. I can't see down there, and I tried fishing it out with a magnet. I prayed that it would be okay when I started it, but no, I could immediately hear the bolt rattling around in there so I shut her down. I'm hoping that I'll maybe be able to get to it without having to take the entire front of the engine off, but we'll see!

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

Good luck. What a bad break though. When parts fall they have eyes and always find the worst landing place!

[@christianferrene267]

I've replaced my timing belt, water pump, camshaft seals, crankshaft seals, serpantine belt. assembly went well. I now have a hunting idle rising and falling around 950-1000rpms. Otherwise the car drives great. No loss of power. I just checked my Timing marks and everything looks good in top dead center. Just changed all spark plugs and new wires and cleaned the throttle body. Dodge caravan 3.0l v6 any help is great. I'm wondering if I was off half a mm when finding tdc on the rotor before removing and installing a new belt. My camshaft timing marks are right on. Thank you

[@kennethnegaard7599]

Thanks, I will. Starting this afternoon, will post results. :-)

[@JD-em9lh]

Thank you,this is the best detailed repair video I've ever seen,from start to finish!!

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

JD123 Well, thank you for the kind comment. That inspires me to do more of this kind of thing!

[@JD-em9lh]

Your welcome,but in my opinion,the way you presented this video series is in fact the best and only way to do it so that even a beginner mechanic could understand and pause the video wherever they wish,and complete the job without any additional concerns to wheather they had did the job right,even the repair manuals I've seen never touch on the details like you did,keep up the good work I know that you deserve the A+ for this,I have the 3.0 in my wife's 1999 Dodge Caravan and for all the mechanic work I have to do from time to time and first time working on this kind of engine,when it comes to doing this job I atleast know ahead of time what I'am up against.

[@shantahsieh432]

I think you can see how to make it on Avasva . This is just an advice ;)

[@SirDeanosity]

"This bolt will come out!!!". Not sure how you did it, but it seems sheer necessity produces the desired outcome.

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

Which one is giving you trouble?

[@SirDeanosity]

I was commenting on the long engine mount bolt in your video, not on one of mine. Recently I did encounter a flush snapped bolt on the water pump on a 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.3L. That was a tough recovery job...and winter to boot!

[@ricardoines5786]

Cómo se cambia la bomba de agua

[@beaukneaus]

Question for ya. On that engine mount, there's a ground strap. When I pulled that harness off the mount (as you did at 4:58), the strap was still connected to the engine side, but disconnected from the wheel well side. Do you know where I'm supposed to connect that little clip?

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

Look at 9:24 and you'll see it clipped onto the the very top of the engine mount.

[@sergioamador80]

I have the same type of van 96 plymouth voyager, The car has been leaking from the driver side but after taking off the water pipe that goes threw the engine and sealing it back togather with new seals n cylicon it still leaked water so I'm guessing it's either a bad water pump but not sure because then it would leak from passenger side but it does not, or maybe the engine is needing a new gasket??? Let me know if you got any information on this, My car is currently broken down till I get more information on what might be the problem.

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

+sergioamador80 I had something similar on a '98 Caravan. It turned out to be a water pump gasket failure. The trouble is you have to tear down the whole front of the engine to get a good look at it. As long as I was in there I replaced the water pump too. Good luck if you decide to tear into it. It's a job and a half!

[@brentgardner8719]

What do you know about codes p0700 &p705? Car ran rough...we replaced the cap and rotor and plug wires. Autozone ran their scanner and came up with those 2 codes. We were told it was the speed sensor input. Any thoughts or input?

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

I haven't had experience with either of those codes. My Haynes manual for the Caravan does mention the P0700 as "An automatic transmission input DTC has been sent to the transmission controller." It makes no mention of P0705. That doesn't seem to relate to a rough running engine. Good luck with it.

[@stevenbuell5387]

Is there any way you can over stretch the belt if you do losen the timing tensioner

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

I don't think so. I never heard of that happening.

[@eyeballll]

I've had a guy replacing the timing belt on my 2000 Chrysler Voyager with a 3.0 liter V6. He's been working on it for weeks. He finally got it done and all back together but now the starter won't turn the motor over. I thought the starter suddenly went out and got a new one but it didn't fix the problem. I think he got the belt too tight. Can he adjust the timing belt tension without taking it all apart again?

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

Unfortunately not. That's a tough engine to make a mistake on. The timing belt tension is provided by a spring on this engine and not really adjustable, as I recall.

[@TSGAdventures]

Do you think this would this be similar to a 3.3 l also?. It is also a 2000 caravan. I had the water pump and timing belt changed a few years ago so I am just worried about the seal only which it seem that is were my issue is.

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

I've never done a 3.3, but in looking at my Haynes manual the crank pulley (and the front oil seal) looks much easier to get at than the 3.0. The engines don't appear to be very similar.

[@scottouimet2865]

Thank you for these videos, I have a question tho plz... this all looks fairly similar to my 93 caravan... I'm just changing the timing belt, tensioner and water pump... is there any torque specs I need to be careful for

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

In parts seven and eight I cover some important torque values on reassembly.

[@scottouimet2865]

The Original Mechanic thank you, tho it's a lil different on the ac bracket and up by the distributor, it is the same basic block so they torque specs should be the same? this is really the only easily accessable and understandable step by step I've found. also decided to change the seals while I'm in there even it don't leak. it's at a 130,500 miles. again thank you very much for your videos and response to my initial question!

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

Sure no problem. I've done this job on an early nineties Caravan 3.0 and it is much the same. Take your time and good luck with this difficult job.

[@scottouimet2865]

Just wanted to say thanks again every is gone off with out a hitch accept for my first piece of angle iron breaking and the my ratchet breaking on that crankshaft bolt lol... one question tho my rear cam jumped 1/4 turn like almost all on it's own... it went back to it's spot but I'm just curious if that is ok as long as I make sure it's all lined up when I out it back together?

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

That rear cam will do that. It happened to me. Just double check to make sure those three timing points are still lined up. If not you will have to roll it back and redo the belt.

[@frenchpilot2009]

hello i have a question i have a 88 nissan maxima with the 3.0 v6 and it is an interference engine my qquestion is after removing all the timimg belt covers can i just take off the old belt and install a new one with making sure that no cams or cranks move??because my engine runs great now so it will be just a swap will it bend the valves do i have to realign everything againn? im also changing the water pump and tensioner please answer as soon as possible the car has 108000 the belt was never changed will u also recomend to change it now or wait??

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

Definitely change the belt. After you put the belt back on rotate the engine by hand for at least two revolutions and make sure the cam and crank are still aligned and you should be fine.

[@frenchpilot2009]

when u shut the engine off are all the lines aligned?how do u align them one by one??

[@rbbartho1]

Question: Does the 1997 Doge Caravan 3.0 L require changing? I have heard that the engine will NOT self-destruct if the belt fails. Any comments?

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

I don't know. I have not heard that before. Though I've worked on a couple of these engines that doesn't make me an expert.

[@beaukneaus]

Bob, that's correct. Do a search for "interference engines". There are several lists online that denote EVERY interference type engine vs non-interference type. The 3.0 L Chrysler SOHC which is what was in the Caravans is listed as a NON-interference engine. So if the timing belt breaks, you should not have to worry about key components of the engine being damaged.

[@rbbartho1]

Beaukneaus, thanks, I'll keep that in mind. It has 152k miles and has a small oil leak. I'm thinking an engine replacement would be a wiser choice, economically, over simply replacing the seals and timing belt. Anyone know what a replacement would cost?

[@FerreneMachine]

I am about to start this project, ordering parts now. Im stumped on what gasket to get for the "timing cover". Working with a 1988 plymouth caravan 3.0l v6. Any help would be appreciated. My book doesn't cover a timing cover.. Thanks.

[@HondaSolutions]

Wondering how to tell if it's the oil pan leaking or the crank seal? Any suggestions?

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

+HondaSolutions If I suspected the pan, I would clean it thoroughly of any oil and then run the vehicle and watch all around the pan for new seepage. The crank seal leak, in my experience, is a major leak that also tends to be spread by the belt and oil will show up all over the place as it is blown back. That's my experience anyway. I hope this helps.

[@HondaSolutions]

+The Original Mechanic well, it's all coming from the passenger side, around the rear of the pan. I'll have to look closely. The belt you took off seemed like it was pretty dry no?

[@HondaSolutions]

+The Original Mechanic starting from the passenger side going to the rear of the vehicle. Sorry that's probably a better explanation.

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

+HondaSolutions The location of your leak is consistent with a bad crank seal on the 3.0. That's the bad news. The good news is I have a detailed video series on the job! Just don't rush it and good luck to you. P.S. don't forget to use your gear wrenches.

[@HondaSolutions]

+The Original Mechanic That's what I was afraid of. I would probably do both at the same time given how relatively easy it is to do an oil pan. I will definitely be using gear wrenches, and air tools to make it go quicker.

[@vg007v7]

do you know how much difference is there between your engine and the 4 cylinder 2.4L on my 99 caravan? mechanic said it will be around $200+ just for the labor because of engine setup, not able to figure or see by my self because of my wheel chair and disability.

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

I'm afraid the 3.0 V6 depicted here and the 2.4L would have little in common. Go luck to you on your problem.

[@drytoast1755]

I have a 98 caravan 3 liter v6 and it is leaking oil profusely in the same place. Think I am gonna disassemble johnny number 5 ha ha.....god help us all ...Wish me luck !!

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

Good Luck. Thanks for watching and commenting. Take your time and try not to get frustrated.

[@drytoast1755]

Well I got the front cam seal done and waiting on rear crank seal had to order that. Worked like 6 hours today trying figure out a way to get the rear sprocket off so I can change that seal too weeee !! lol Sucker doesn't want to come off.....

[@drytoast1755]

Got the rear cam sprocket off today and the alternator bracket and noticed that the seal wasn't in all the way. I just pulled it off with my fingers so hopefully that was where it was gushing oil lol...Now just need to wait for the part to come in and start re assembly....

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

Mike Walden Good job. It sounds like you found the problem. I know what you're talking about with the "six hours." Good luck with the rest of it.

[@drytoast1755]

Well I got it done all 3 seals....Seems to have stopped the leaking...video was the key thanks ....josaling or however you spell it was an understatement lol,,getting the motor mount bracket back on and those two long ass bolts back in good god that was a b^#$@ch but did it with out braking anything....Miracales do happen...ha ha thanks again,,...