Car-Bique Caravan Christmas

Miller Motorsports · Post by **Miller Motorsports** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:03 pm

Dashing through the snow in a Dodge Caravan... How does that tune go? Oh ya' it is a Beat up chevrolet. I drove home from work at 445 this morning and my van was acting up... I had wierd voltage surges and lights where turning on and off on their own... Was this the recycled return of 1959 Chrysler Imperial known as Christine? Was this the Tim Allen inspired "Improved way of clearing ice from the windshield?" Well I do not really know but this was the last ride for my 1990 Dodge Caravan we have travelled 389000 faithful kilometres with. I was truly amaised how fast this went up. I have had people tease me about the mag wheels on the "soccer mom minivan" but I guess it turns out to be a "hot ride" after all. Well I am looking for a new ride if anyone has something up for grabs? Happy Holidays to all and drive safe from the Miller Family from Beaverton, On.

Attachments:

Post by **ICCSF 108** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:28 pm

Must have been a bad week for both of us, Wed morning somewhere between 1:00 & 3:00 Am one of the dogs was barking trying to tell me to get up, BUT I didn't, (probably a good thing I didn't) anyway around 9:00 am I was going to go get gas for my Deere 317 lawn tractor so I could plow snow, I through the gas cans in the back of my pickup & noticed that something looked different?? Some Richard Headed A*&$%@e had stole my tailgate.. good thing I have $ 0 deductable on my Comp. Ins. I told the Cop doing the report that he was lucky, he was only investigating a theft instead of a Homicide...

Kenny

Post by **Matt** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:32 pm

Glad you're OK!

Miller Motorsports · Post by **Miller Motorsports** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 4:05 pm

I am well but Ol' Bessie Sue has been a trusty family steed for a long time I am kind of upset it is gone 'cause it has been one of the best vehicles I have had for years...

Caleb55 · Post by **Caleb55** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 4:31 pm

Any idea what caused it?

Miller Motorsports · Post by **Miller Motorsports** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 4:57 pm

I have been chasing gremlins since this summer. One of them involved the windshield washer, wiper at the back came on spontaniously and would not shut off. I pulled the fuse and never looked back. Recently the van had a small draw like 4 milliamps so if I left it a while it would kill the battery. Yesterday I had to boost it 'cause it was dead overnight. I took it to work and left it when I came home with it this morning the power was surging. The ammetre was cavitating between 8 and 18 volts. I changed the battery termanils earlier so I thought it was a connection. When I pulled off highway 12 it smelled like hot wax. A country mile later when I pulled in my driveway it was turning on lights and turn signals by itself. When I opened the door it was dripping fire from the underside of the dash beside the E-Brake cable. I grabbed some snow but I was in over my head 'cause it did nothing to stop the flames. By the time I called the volunteer fire dept. here it was a rolling boil of flames. I pictured my propane torch and air compressor and spare tires in the back and took off. I do not wanna' test the propane bottle urban myths about levelling a whole block. I assume that the dash switches for the power hatch or the windshield wiper was faulty. The fire chief said it was electrical in nature but could not pinpoint the location exactly. I will tell you that the propane cyl went off like the biggest fourth of july kabboom show I have ever seen. Note to self watch these items closely I never thought the thing would go up like that.

Never assume anything with propane!

Attachments:

Mr. Deere · Post by **Mr. Deere** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:03 pm

Mopar at its Finest. :lol22:

JoeRainville · Post by **JoeRainville** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:20 pm

MMS, I heard Chrysler was having a "Fire Sale" but I don't think that is what they had in mind. With the state of automotive sales, I would bet you could pick up a new one cheap. Glad you weren't hurt.

Kenny, was that tailgate off the Diesel 2500 you bought a few years ago? Man, I would be steamed! If you got up, I would think it would sound something like "Bam! Bam, Bam!...Freeze!"

-Joe

JDT · Post by **JDT** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:22 pm

Serveral area Dodge dealers are selling inventory at 50% off of sticker.

If you CAN get financing this is a great deal.

Miller Motorsports · Post by **Miller Motorsports** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 8:24 pm

I cannot afford to pay attention that guy in the red suit you know satan clause or santa clause has me tapped out.... 4 kids in my house...Jim

Liquifire 4/6 · Post by **Liquifire 4/6** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 8:42 pm

It's just a good thing that you weren't hurt, Jim. Kinda makes a person think twice about parking a vehicle in an attached garage. Back in 1989, I had bought a brand new Ford Bronco II. I kept it a little less than a year because I had lots of probs with the electric engage 4WD system.....and furthermore, it was a handful to keep it upright on the road in a good crosswind. It sat on the dealers lot for a couple months and then a guy I know from a neighboring town purchased it. He only had a few weeks when it caught fire in his driveway one afternoon and burnt to the ground. I was sure happy that I had traded it in because I always kept in my shop and would have lost more than the Bronco if it had decided to spontaneously combust in there.

Miller Motorsports · Post by **Miller Motorsports** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:52 pm

Yes it is what it is I now have to start over breaking in a new beater... My aunt had her 84 Turismo do the same thing in her garage and levelled the house.. Some poop about a defective block heater they said... Who plugs in a vehicle inside their garage? My aunt told them that she had never plugged it in and that was the explaination for the issue. I have no idea really what causes these issues with car fires but you just deal with it as it comes. Best of all my insurance won't pay as the vehicle was 15 years old and I had not sent in the four sides pictures of it the safety was not sufficent proof the vehicle was in good condition... Gotta love the big P insurance... Jim