REPLACING YOUR DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Alternator, REPAIR, SHORTED DRAINING BATTERY...

[@tomblobasjamesc.mccollum1740]

That intro riff is really doing it for me. Thanks, it's likeable

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Rock on! Haha

[@tedvandell]

On those vans I take the AC compressor loose and take the alternator nuts and those studs out too. With the studs out it drops straight down, nice and easy. Wish I was doing that instead of this timing cover on this 06 Escape. All day just getting it out. Keep rowing Jimmy!

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Yeah, I thought about removing the stud, but it wasn't too bad with it in place. Maybe next time.

[@tonymijares5368]

Glad you are feeling better

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Thank you Tony!

[@grawey77]

Seen this generation of vans with very high miles and still going. Resale value in my area with over 100,000 miles is still high. I have owned Chrysler minivans throughout my driving life and I am 45 now. The 3.3L and 3.8L are simple engines and last a long time. The 3.6L has some known issues, but it has proven longevity as well.

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Thanks for watching!

[@alfredbernal8603]

Jimmy! Hope your week is going great. Thank you for the video. Have a great day!

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Thank you Alfred!

[@mikeanthony6391]

​

[@dsteinhil]

Thanks for the vid Jimmy! Did a friend's in about 1.5 hours. One tip for others who are about to do the same: You don't need to detach the wiring harness from the fan shroud. Just lift it out and let the whole thing sit on the battery.

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Thanks for sharing!

[@sluggJB]

I have the exact same problem. Alternator un-alived my battery and its overheating and not charging. Like your method the best to replace the alternator except I don't have a hoist...or even a garage. The hardest part will be releasing the tensioner while laying on the ground. I will find a way. Just waiting for the new alternator to arrive. Good video. Thanks for sharing.

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Glad it helped, hope you get it sorted!

[@Richies_Garage]

that's one way to do it I just did one. evact the ac pulled the lines. your way was much simpler lmfao I didn't use aldata I just went with it. knocked out a brake job as the ac was evacking. worked out well.

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

There you go, more than one way to skin a cat! ;)

[@TowMan127]

Thanks for the video. I have to change the alternator on our van. The other day the van felt like a loss of power, ac stopped working but when I started driving everything went back to normal. This morning I went to go grocery shopping and it wouldn’t crank. Wish I had a shop but I don’t so time to get working on the driveway is this nasty humidity 😂

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Good luck! Hope the video helped.

[@Jrockjeff]

Tow man, how bad was the swap? I’m staring down a dead alternator, and I’m not sure I want to take it on myself or just eat the shop prices to avoid working in the snow

[@TowMan127]

@ honestly it wasn’t horrible. I would suggest covering the radiator with cardboard when pulling out the alternator so you don’t bang into it.

[@Jrockjeff]

@ funny you say that, I had the idea but wasn’t sure if it was a good one. Thanks First step is to order all the parts Do you think there’s value in buying a new serpentine kit (pulley and tensioner plus the belt?)

[@TowMan127]

@@Jrockjeff you can’t go wrong with changing some parts. I changed our cause it’s been a few years we own the van and I don’t know when it’s been changed or if it has been changed. I put a new belt, new tensioner, and new idle pulley. The parts weren’t too expensive so I figured I might as well do it all at one shot. I bought my alternator from a local shop here that sells new and re-manufactured alternators that they rebuild and so far everything has been great.

[@petergarofolo9385]

Short one today. Great video 👍 👍 👍

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Thanks for the visit Peter! Trying to do more videos about individual repairs. Some might have shorter appearances in my day in the shop series videos. :)

[@MrCalisto77]

Love the guitar intro to the vids.

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Thanks Stefan! An edited YT sample! :)

[@georgeferlazzo7936]

Hello again Jimmy Thank you for another Great Video 👍

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

My pleasure! Thanks George!

[@myviews469]

I have same vehicle 2011 and tried a few things 3 new alternators got 8.8v from field wire from PCM but still not charging is there something I am missing I been at this for months I remember the days when alternator went bad just replace it or the voltage regulator now you have to figure out what the hell is controlling what.

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Some of the aftermarket alternators won’t work correctly on these. On rare occasions we’ve had to use OEM. Also if it is not charging, using a meter, sometimes turning the lights on can force it to charge. But if the dash light is coming on I’d try the OEM part.

[@jesseskellington9427]

Just had the over heating alternator as well.....

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Hope you got it sorted!

[@mikemaj8467]

I didn't understand, you mentioned the new battery you installed was dead and you could smell the alternator. So you then hooked up the battery charger to the new battery with the alternator disconnected? Were you attempting to charge the new battery with the bad alternator? I think i have the same thing going where my alternator is draining the battery.

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

When the new battery began to discharge from the alternator short I recharged it with the alternator disconnected.

[@LubaLuba1]

great job but what is the fuse for the alternator? on Town and Country or Routan?

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

These have a "Maxi fuse" in the fuse box, they are high amperage specific fuses for the task, usually 80-120 amps. They rarely blow though, unless jumper cables are connected backwards or an alternator has a very solid short that pulls a lot of amperage. This one only drew about 20 amps and discharged the battery, but didn't blow the fuse.

[@LubaLuba1]

@@JimmyMakingitwork do they look like the other but larger?

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

They are usually square plastic and varying colors, they can also be flat bars between posts in the fuse panel.

[@LubaLuba1]

@@JimmyMakingitwork thanks for your response but I can’t find anything that looks like a fuse or anyone talking about it on KZbin hmmm

[@2point..0]

I will be keeping an EYE out if you every repair 2008 Chevy Equinox!!! My Emergency and ABS lights on and someone said its the Brake Fluid Sensor mounted below the reserve and I cant see it??? I know a Sensor is like 12-15bucks!!!

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

If the brake fluid level sensor is bad unplugging it will usually turn off the light? It’s in the fluid resovoir.

[@2point..0]

@@JimmyMakingitwork Its INSIDE??? I looked all over the place for it!!! I never thought to take the cover off to look!!!

[@williamsanders5016]

How are your none snap on tools doing and which brand are best

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

They are great William, my best impact sockets so far have been Gray Pneumatic and for Chrome tools and wrenches the GearWrench tools have been very good per dollar. I do have some Capri, Sunex, Proto, Williams and Tekton that have been very good also!

[@alejandrodelgado-garcia8934]

I have a new battery and alternator and still have battery light and still drains battery and alternator is getting power what could it be bad pcm?

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

I would use a wiring diagram to check alternator controls and main leads. Also check with a scan tool to see if it’s trying to make the alternator charge. Should be over 80% duty cycle. I have also seen defective alternators, PCM can cause the issue but it’s rare.

[@TexasDharma]

what fuse does the alternator go to while charging the battery? It's not labeled on my 2017 caravan

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

They usually use a fuse link or large main fuse. 100 amps or more.

[@sluggJB]

On my 2011, the field circuit uses fuse M19 in the TIPM then to the PCM. Look for ASD 1 & 2 on the diagram under the lid. For the large charge cable there is a fusable (sp) link towards the front and below the TIPM. To test, check voltage drop between B+ on the alternator and pos battery terminal. Should be in the low mV DC range.

[@angelsuniverse6021]

Where is the alternator relay or fuse located?

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Alternators aren’t usually fused by a common fuse, but by a large main fuse of 80-120 amps. Usually located near the main fuse panel. They mostly only open when jumper cables are connected backwards or something similar.

[@mxracerguy]

thanks

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

You're welcome!

[@chuckiesangels]

whats it cost for an alterantor and replacement generally. i never had a dad, so im sacred to do any of this on my own, even with a video, im just so afraid of causing so much damange. if i paid someone what should i expect

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

These aren’t too bad as far as labor. About 1.5-2.0 depending on rust and other considerations. But I’d think it’s a $500-600 repair or so?

[@SDSniperFury15]

Will you show me fusable link please mu wife got 2011 dodge grand caravan and has starting problem :(

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Usually a bad starter or battery cable connection on a Caravan that won't crank? Have to use a test light and check to see where the power is going or not going during cranking.

[@SDSniperFury15]

@@JimmyMakingitwork the alternator burned out, when she went to work cause its smoking when i get there, i replace that, and i was like aince i was here replace the starter, still no good, i use probe see if it cranks and it did but wont start.

[@Scott_69HemiDart]

Another repair done.....................those engineers do not like to make your life easy, LOL!

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Man, seems like a majority of vehicles are requiring special tools, lots of time and some level of frustration. It's as if they prefer people buy new cars instead. ;)

[@davidfields2930]

Lol. It’s a boy. Keep rowing

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Haha, thanks David!

[@alexneil394]

I heard the clue.. NOT CHARGING

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Exactly!

[@rcjames5286]

👍👍

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Thanks James!