He's a new one on me. Having a problem with rough idle on my 04 dodge
grand caravan with a 3.8. Check engine is showing briefly P303 which
is cyl 3 misfire. Had the same problem 6 months ago and it was a bad
plug (or so I thought) on cyl 3. Back then Dealer was great and
suggested what it might be but plugs and wires were first on the list
and with 80,000km on it I could save money by doing it my self which I
did.

Within the last week idle is very rough, feels like it's going to
stall but doesn't.

Go back to regular dealer and they have closed up after 50 years last
Friday!

Go to next local dealer and explain what's done and it's doing. I
clearly say plugs and wires were just change 6 months ago and same cyl
is having the same code... something else is wrong. I take the
shuttle home.

2 hours later they call, bad wire and they have to replace all as they
don't sell just 1. crock # 1.
they also say my engine is full of carbon but won't tell me how they
know as they have not taken the engine apart. Crock #2

Best is now coming, they say I need to reprogram the PCM when the
wires are changed and that costs $110 (plus tax).

After arguing on the phone I tell him he’s wasting my time, send the
shuttle back and to not touch the van. I get the van and ask to speak
to the mechanic, it's like I 'm not speaking as he ignore that
altogether. When asked about how do they see the carbon he say's
through the air intake (air cleaner hose removed) which I have cleaned
earlier this week. I tell him that he is a idiot and leave. This of
course after I have to pay $100 for them to look at it.

Comment from the shuttle driver indicate I'm not the first to call him
that and I was politer than most.


Now... after that long storey;

Has anyone ever hear of reprogramming the PCM at ever tune up? I
called another dealer and he was shocked, they said they would read
the PCM for error codes but no re-program it unless there were updates
available.

Before I write a nasty letter to the dealer and Chrysler Canada is
this how a tune up is done on the new computer controlled cars? Maybe
I've been doing it wrong all these years.

And before anyone comment, I know my letter will not likely do any
thing but it will make ME feel better and no I will never take my van
there again.

TIA

Derek

.bob

I've never reporgrammed my ECU after a tune up.
Can't see any reason to. It think it's a good
idea to plug in a code reader just to be sure, and
clear any codes you find.


--------
..boB
2006 FXDI hot rod
2008 Mustang Coupe
2001 Dodge Dakota QC 5.9/4x4/3.92
1965 FFR Cobra - 427W EFI, Damn Fast.

maxpower

He's a new one on me. Having a problem with rough idle on my 04 dodge
grand caravan with a 3.8. Check engine is showing briefly P303 which
is cyl 3 misfire. Had the same problem 6 months ago and it was a bad
plug (or so I thought) on cyl 3. Back then Dealer was great and
suggested what it might be but plugs and wires were first on the list
and with 80,000km on it I could save money by doing it my self which I
did.

Within the last week idle is very rough, feels like it's going to
stall but doesn't.

Possibly a dirty throttle body (with the p0303, I would have the compression
of that cylinder taken. Possibly low compression assuming that the plug is
gapped correctly. ( and i doubt if the plug wire is causing the problem)

Go back to regular dealer and they have closed up after 50 years last
Friday!

Go to next local dealer and explain what's done and it's doing. I
clearly say plugs and wires were just change 6 months ago and same cyl
is having the same code... something else is wrong. I take the
shuttle home. (low compression) have reading taken


2 hours later they call, bad wire and they have to replace all as they
don't sell just 1. crock # 1.
they also say my engine is full of carbon but won't tell me how they
know as they have not taken the engine apart. Crock #2

Makes no sense... do you know what the warranty is on parts at the dealer?
They are 12 months or 12k miles. why wasnt it replaced under the MOPAR
warranty?

Best is now coming, they say I need to reprogram the PCM when the
wires are changed and that costs $110 (plus tax).

Actually this is true and should have been done the first time the plugs and
wires were replaced. There is a TSB 18-018-04 to change the software. It
only has to be once and if the vehicle is still under 80k miles it would be
done under warranty. This will not take care of the misfire or P0303

After arguing on the phone I tell him he’s wasting my time, send the
shuttle back and to not touch the van. I get the van and ask to speak
to the mechanic, it's like I 'm not speaking as he ignore that
altogether. When asked about how do they see the carbon he say's
through the air intake (air cleaner hose removed) which I have cleaned
earlier this week. I tell him that he is a idiot and leave. This of
course after I have to pay $100 for them to look at it.

The service writer you are arguing with gets his info from the technician.
The carbon they are referring is probably the carbon buildup in the throttle
body and yes you can see it. If they would have done a compression test and
found a cyl to be low they may also be referring that to carbon build up on
the valves and possibly be selling you an induction service to remove the
carbon

Comment from the shuttle driver indicate I'm not the first to call him
that and I was politer than most.


Now... after that long storey;

Has anyone ever hear of reprogramming the PCM at ever tune up? I
called another dealer and he was shocked, they said they would read
the PCM for error codes but no re-program it unless there were updates
available.

You are not communicating with the service writer like you should be. Sounds
to me like you went in there with an attitude from the start. Just because
one dealer did work and went out of business does not mean that another
dealer has to take care of the rechecks for free. Unless it is a warranty
issue

Before I write a nasty letter to the dealer and Chrysler Canada is
this how a tune up is done on the new computer controlled cars? Maybe
I've been doing it wrong all these years.

Yea, by all means write that nasty letter if you think it will help, thats
always the proper way to handle it.


Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech


And before anyone comment, I know my letter will not likely do any
thing but it will make ME feel better and no I will never take my van
there again.

TIA

Derek