94 dodge caravan

help for a layman my 94 caravan wont start. seems like a spark
problem. have a full tank of gas and good battery.cranks pretty well
but just will not fie especially in damp conditions. and now will not
start at all

"mo" > wrote in message
ps.com...
> help for a layman my 94 caravan wont start. seems like a spark
> problem. have a full tank of gas and good battery.cranks pretty well
> but just will not fie especially in damp conditions. and now will not
> start at all

Okay.

Sort it out logically...Separate the systems, and pinpoint the problem.


Pull one of the spark plug cables and either use a spark plug tester or
similar
to be sure you have a hot spark. If you DONT, work backward and find out
why. I am not going to speak specifically to a Dodge Caravan, but spark can
be lost by an ignition module, a crappo distributor cap, bad ignition wires,
etc ad nauseum..

If you DO have a hot spark, then be sure that your fuel is coming to the
engine and being injected or carburetted into the engine. Give a snoot of
starter fluid into the intake and see if the engine tries to fire.. If it
tries, then
you may have gasoline, but you dont have fuel metered into the system.

If none of the above, tell us exactly what you have observed and we can
help you further.

> help for a layman my 94 caravan wont start. seems like a spark
> problem. have a full tank of gas and good battery.cranks pretty well
> but just will not fie especially in damp conditions. and now will not
> start at all

Ok... first start checking to see if it has spark... if yes.... then see
if the fuel pump is working... if yes...then maybe you need to change the
air filter.... if no to spark... see if you have spark out of coil... if
yes.. then you have a problem between coil and cylinders...if no, then you
probably need to replace the coil, but unlikely....to see if the fuel pump
works, turn on ignition key to see if you hear a noise coming from the rear
of the vehicle... if yes.. then fuel pump works.. if no, then you need a
fuel pump.....
If you are having trouble starting when its damp out only... then you
most likely need to replace the wires and or distributor cap.... if you are
going to replace the cap, you might as well replace the rotor too...and come
to think of it, when was the last time you did a tune up?? if its been a
while, maybe a complete tune up is in order here...

good Luck..

Fwed

>>help for a layman my 94 caravan wont start. seems like a spark
problem. have a full tank of gas and good battery.cranks pretty well
but just will not fie especially in damp conditions. and now will not
start at all <<

How many miles on it? At that age it's probably over 100K miles and
both the plugs and the wires are most likely shot.

On Wed, 4 Jan 2006, mo wrote:

> help for a layman my 94 caravan wont start. seems like a spark problem.
> have a full tank of gas and good battery.cranks pretty well but just
> will not fie especially in damp conditions. and now will not start at
> all

Which engine?

it was the dist cap. thanks a lot. also changed wires and rotor and
plugs. much appreciated

it was the dist cap changed everything. thanks a lot much appreciated