Hi - I'm looking for some ideas on what would be the best way to proceed with my van. It is a 2005 Town and Country, 3.8L engine, 191,000 miles.
I took my van in for service because a few days ago it began "chugging" and what sounded like misfiring. The codes I got read p0300, p0306, and p0032.
The shop that looked over the van diagnosed the problem as an internal engine issue and not anything a replacement of a sensor is going to repair. They noted: "#6 cylinder high leakage past valves. Vacuum gauge fluctuates - vacuum produced from tailpipe. Cylinder head valve train (valve not seating)." They do not repair these types of engine issues. The mechanic told me I'm looking at getting the top end of the engine fixed, but then if I do that, I've got essentially a new top end over an old bottom end.
I'd like to drive the van for another 5 years, and am willing to spend the money on an engine repair if I knew I could get 5 or more reliable years of service out of it. The mechanic implied it wouldn't be wise to put a new top end over an old bottom end. And I guess there's the question of how much life the transmission has left in it. The mechanic seemed to suggest it was time to walk away and get something else.
So I find myself at one of those vehicle owner decision points. I average about 30,000 miles a year and need the van to be reliable for a daily 26 mile round trip commute as well as multiple in and out of state trips. Do I repair the current vehicle? Pluses are the body is in good shape for a vehicle driven in the Midwest USA, it meets our needs, and in general, we like the van.
Anyway, if you can offer some guidance or share your experience if you've been in the same situation, I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance for your time.
I took my van in for service because a few days ago it began "chugging" and what sounded like misfiring. The codes I got read p0300, p0306, and p0032.
The shop that looked over the van diagnosed the problem as an internal engine issue and not anything a replacement of a sensor is going to repair. They noted: "#6 cylinder high leakage past valves. Vacuum gauge fluctuates - vacuum produced from tailpipe. Cylinder head valve train (valve not seating)." They do not repair these types of engine issues. The mechanic told me I'm looking at getting the top end of the engine fixed, but then if I do that, I've got essentially a new top end over an old bottom end.
I'd like to drive the van for another 5 years, and am willing to spend the money on an engine repair if I knew I could get 5 or more reliable years of service out of it. The mechanic implied it wouldn't be wise to put a new top end over an old bottom end. And I guess there's the question of how much life the transmission has left in it. The mechanic seemed to suggest it was time to walk away and get something else.
So I find myself at one of those vehicle owner decision points. I average about 30,000 miles a year and need the van to be reliable for a daily 26 mile round trip commute as well as multiple in and out of state trips. Do I repair the current vehicle? Pluses are the body is in good shape for a vehicle driven in the Midwest USA, it meets our needs, and in general, we like the van.
Anyway, if you can offer some guidance or share your experience if you've been in the same situation, I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance for your time.