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Car Forum / Chrysler Cars / September 200494 Caravan Mount Replacement doesn't fit. Need help!
I was very proud that I managed to pull the old Front Right Engine Mount out of my 94 Grand Caravan 3.3, when I realized that the replacement mount, similar in all respects, had a smaller bolt hole through the metal composite within the rubber. I have now gone to 4 different auto parts stores and all of the after market mounts have the same smaller bolt hole. Currently I'm stuck with the engine on a jack until I can figure out what to do. My guess is that my Caravan was built at a different plant or something, and that perhaps they ran out of a part and used something differnt? I heard somewhere that Mitsubishi was producing some Caravans back then too. I can't use a smaller bolt as the nut is part of the bracket. It looks like I could drill out a millimeter or two and be fine, but I'm not sure if this is safe? The hole is in a diamond shaped piece of metal or composite within the rubber, and my guess is that it would be safe, but as I'm not sure it is worth the risk. Please let me know your thoughts and if you have ever come across this before? I can call the dealer on Monday but I'd like to be driving to work by then! Thanks. The only Mitsubishi was vans that had the 3.0 V6 but that was only the engine, the mounts and everything else were Chrysler. Ya might have to get the mount from a dealer to make sure you get the correct one. >I was very proud that I managed to pull the old Front Right Engine > Mount out of my 94 Grand Caravan 3.3, when I realized that the [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > before? I can call the dealer on Monday but I'd like to be driving to > work by then! Thanks. > I was very proud that I managed to pull the old Front Right Engine Mount > out of my 94 Grand Caravan 3.3, when I realized that the replacement > mount, similar in all respects, had a smaller bolt hole through the > metal composite within the rubber. I have now gone to 4 different auto > parts stores and all of the after market mounts have the same smaller > bolt hole. Quite likely they're all manufactured by just one company. > My guess is that my Caravan was built at a different plant or > something My guess is you've got the wrong mount. > I heard somewhere that Mitsubishi was producing some Caravans back then > too. It's amazing the claptrap you can hear if you don't filter for source. Mitsubishi made the 3.0 litre V6 that was used in a great many Caravans, but that's it. Chrysler made everything else, including the engine mounts, and in the case of your 3.3, that's a Chrysler-made engine. > I can't use a smaller bolt as the nut is part of the bracket. ...so you'll have to go get the correct mount... DS > I was very proud that I managed to pull the old Front Right Engine > Mount out of my 94 Grand Caravan 3.3, when I realized that the [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Please let me know your thoughts and if you have ever come across this > before? I've never come across this in an engine mount but I've often come across stuff like this in aftermarket parts. Most recent was fuel pump in my 84 Chevy Celebrity. The aftermarket pump had an inlet that was turned about 3 degrees different than the factory-supplied pump. Normally nothing big for a fuel pump except that it's all steel lines going to the pump, and I did not feel like trying to bend one of them to get it to fit. I went to 3 different auto parts places, all of them had the identical pump. So I gave up and bent the fuel line slightly to get it to fit. It did make it much harder to get the fuel lines started without cross threading them, but I just worked very slowly, carefully and gently, worked them around and eventually got them in without ruining them. In your case if the new and old mount were _identical_ (not just 'similar', there's a difference) except for the size of the hole, I'd drill it. Most likely, Chrysler used the larger bolt for a number of years then for some reason changed the spec to a smaller bolt but did not change the mount. The person who designed the aftermarket part probably didn't see the actual mount, and was going off the bolt size of a later model when putting in the holes. It is probably likely that this kind of scenario comes up so seldom (I cannot think of many people bothering to check for broken engine mounts in a 10 year old van) that when it does the people just drill it and forget about it. It is frustrating when you run into this kind of thing in the aftermarket, but aftermarket parts are cheaper for a reason. Ted >> different auto parts stores and all of the after market mounts have >> the same smaller bolt hole. Currently I'm stuck with the engine on a >> jack until I can figure out what to do. > Most recent was fuel pump in my 84 Chevy Celebrity. The aftermarket > pump had an inlet that was turned about 3 degrees different than the > factory-supplied pump. Will fit has now become will ALMOST fit. I had the same problem with a radiator. The cap wouln't even tighten all the way. All three stores buy from the same will ALMOST fit vendors. Thanks for the follow-ups people. This has been a learning experience! The dealer had one for 3X the cost but it also included the bracket and bolt. To remove the current bracket would have been beyond me as it is bolted from the underside. So I separated the new one from the mount, (which had the right size hole), and put it all back together. The van has not been running right and the engine shakes at times. That old mount was letting it shake violently, especially in reverse, and though is had not split, it had cracks all over the place and generally looked tired. The new mount is defiantly calming things down. I hear a tiny bit of a rattle that sounds like a couple valve/piston things aren't firing right, but I don't know much of anything. I have just gone step by step; new plugs, wires, coil, pcv valve(or whatever it is). I'm not sure what to do next. It's a nice van with only 85,000 miles on it so it is definitely worth the effort. All the comforts; interior, stereo, electric widows, etc. are in good condition, and up till a month or two ago the engine was humming great too. > Thanks for the follow-ups people. This has been a learning experience! > The dealer had one for 3X the cost but it also included the bracket [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > interior, stereo, electric widows, etc. are in good condition, and up > till a month or two ago the engine was humming great too. A WAG: dirty injector(s) causing an imbalance. Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my adddress with the letter 'x') > A WAG: dirty injector(s) causing an imbalance. Think I ought to drop in a little Chevron Techron or something? >(snip) >The van has not been running right and the engine shakes at times. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >down. >(snip) I had lots of problems with shake with a 94 GC while driving. It would mimic a wheel balance problem. To be brief, after many and costly consultations with people who should have known the answer, I traced it myself to the engine being off center. Under certain driving conditions this can cause binding (and wear) in the in the front axle shafts as they rotate which is manifested as a shake or wobble in the front end. Changing the engine mount or mounts can affect engine centering, as can changing the front axle shafts. Ageing of the mounts can do it to, in my opinion. Mine had sagged badly, and I changed all three. I have the service manual for theGC, and you can forget the centering procedure given in that manual. It can be done in your driveway using a technique of measuring the projections of the two front axle shafts beyond the rotor hubs. It should be the same on both sides. The major difficulty in doing this is removing the big hub nut so you can make the measurements. I borrowed the big socket from AutoZone. The nut is very tight. If the projections are not the same, jack up the engine and loosen all three engine mounts where they attach to the frame, pry the engine right or left as needed to equalize the axle projections (half the difference of the two projections) making sure the mounts move with the engine, and then tighten the mounts. Put it all back together, drive it a bit, and recheck the measurements. You can find additional (more detailed) info on this procedure with a dilligent internet search. Good luck! |
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