Hi scott. I am a retired mechanic if you tackle your tune up take pictures what your about to remove so you can see how there put back your van is easy to do just take your time and you will do it.
My dad repaired my washing machine - a 50 cent capacitor was broken - but it was easy to fix. Thanks to the photos we were able to put everything back together again.
Its better to number each part you disconect with the same number on the side so you know exactly whete it goes back together. Pictures will just confuse you even more
Me and my wife Lori. Met Scott by accident yesterday on the beach in N. Calf. Great experience, we have been subsrcribers for about 5 yrs. Really nice guy. Thank you Scott for taking the time to chat. Good luck to you and maybe we will cross paths again. Ed
"Long snoot attachment" cracked me up. "I am capable of tackling this myself and so are you" -- um, you seem to have more confidence in me than I do 😏. I admire your ability to get yourself through these things without being overwhelmed.
Scott, you're one cool cumber. I'd be freaking out if my only home/vehicle even got the most minor issue as I raced to repair it. I said a prayer for you. God bless.
One of my favorite and most used auto maintenance/repair "tools" is a box of nitrile gloves I bought during the pandemic. Not only do they help keep my hands clean but I'm also less concerned about sticking my hands into oily, grimy places when necessary. And since most of the pros use them, the gloves make me feel more competent. 😄😆
That is a new goal for me is to learn how to do more maintenance around the house and my car myself. Thanks for inspiring me to learn new things and to get outside of my comfort zone
Thanks for the reminder Scott. My PMC is at 110,000 miles and slightly overdue. The engine is running well, I just did a 3000 mile round trip to Florida with it. Cheers, Doug
Appreciated this update! So far, I've always taken my vehicles in for repair. But then again, it took me until I was about 40 to actually own a vehicle full-time. Not sure my hand strength is up to much repair or maintenance beyond air in my tires and fluid levels before a trip. What got the biggest smile from me: a snout for a vacuum (or, as I'm now thinking of it, a snooted vac). Tks.
You are like Huck Finn out here on his raft. That is why I appreciate you! I predict a 6 hour job or less. I like the air can after the vaccuum before unscrewing the plugs.
Hello Scott. You have inspired me to look and see if I can replace my spark plugs. I’ve attended you tube university for several years. The fees at the dealership are insane.
Hello Scott, they make these cars so you cant do routine maintenance on your own. Oil changes have become expensive too. Glad you were able to figure out what tools you needed to work on your van and do common tune ups yourself. When you live in your van and have to turn it over to a dealer to do maintenance their service advisors come up with add ons that they tell you shoukd be done at the same time. They work on commission. So the more they can build into the work order the more they make themselves. Guard your self from that. I can nearly smell the coffee. Enjoy. ❤
Jeanie, some maintenance is more difficult than others. But I stand by my opinion here in that there are a lot great detailed videos here on TH-cam that can give us all the information we need to tackle these jobs ourselves
FYI. There are a lot of great service centers out there too. I few bad ones but quite a few very good ones that if you get to know them can help keep you up and running. I put 330k on my Promaster and never was stranded because I stayed on top of the maintenance with the help of good service center pros.
Run some Lucas injector cleaner with a full tank of gas. Dirty injectors sometimes is the issue. I usually do this with the oil change interval, as my vehicles get higher miles on them.
FYI Scott Platinum plugs come pre-gapped as you stated. If you were to try to Gap a platinum plug you would damage the Platinum coating on the tip of the plug and it would not work as it should.
This is the 6th time I am watching this video. You really are smart and know what all these parts😊❤ are. I wanted this life so much but I am breaking down over all these repairs. I spent a fortune at least it's a LOT for me on well everything. Last thing was $400 on power steering pump. So after 2 weeks I go back to the wheel not turning. I just can't make myself go back. It's so bad that I can't sleep thinking about breaking down. So I just stay in one place ALL DAY. At least I got shelter, right. I wish I was smart like you. Luv your videos They give me hope. THX Scott for that. God bless😊😊❤❤ A
I’m so sorry to hear that you are having so many problems with your vehicle. You’re correct, you do have shelter. Please don’t get overwhelmed. One step at a time.
I almost had a nervous breakdown replacing a light switch in my old house; no way am ever going to attempt to fix anything on my vehicle! 😅 I did learn how to fix the switch from TH-cam, though (and from the nice man at the hardware store).
Wow ! That’s crazy ! Everything is getting so expensive I’ve used utube several times for stuf it’s amazing ! My husband passed away 5 years ago and he was an expert on a lot of stuf ! I miss all the man stuf he used to do ! lol ! Boy it rains a lot in Seattle huh everyday almost !
I don’t know if this would help anybody but many communities have tool libraries. For many you pay a small annual fee then you have access to all of their tools just like you would take them out just like you would’ve book and return them. I have not had to use one so I don’t know if there’s like a residency requirement, but if you’re looking to do, anything and you don’t want to purchase the tool this might be an option.
We're going to need the update when you get done. I would love to change my own oil but I always get the tires rotated at the same time and that would be really rough.
I have used TH-cam to do so many things. I've changed CV joints, repaired my washer and dryer, built popsicle stick houses, learned how to cook, how to change an alternator and learned how to do many things in my van. If you think of it it's on here lol. $500 to replace spark plugs is ridiculous.
Scott, it's too late now, but for future reference, white out pens are perfect for writing on dark objects under the hood like spark plug wires, and that sort of thing.
I’d check the gap on the plugs that you remove and also note their appearance and condition. Top Don makes a true automotive scanner with bi-directional control (not a code reader) that goes for $100. I’d at a minimum check my short and long term fuel trims. Also I’m not sure whether your engine is a MAP or MAF engine. If MAF I’d hit it with some MAF cleaner in a spray can that you can get from auto zone or most any auto parts stores. Also make sure your air filter is not in need of replacement. Of course I’m not a big fan of Fiat-Dodge-Chrysler, I would own and drive one but only at gunpoint.
I usually like to be within walking distance to an auto store when I'm on the road and I have to work on my vehicle, just in case Murphy's Law shows up unannounced and uninvited. And I would recommend using anti seize lubricant on the spark plug threads. Also, I like to change both air and fuel filters when doing a tune-up. Hope all goes well !!
You may want to replace the ignition coils as set of 4 is just under $150 if you are going to replace the plugs. You have to remove the coils to get to the plugs. The rubber on them dries out and cracks causing rough idle. Real easy job just bolts if I remember holding coils in then a spark plug socket to get the plug out.
:) GO Scott! well done and KUDOS for doing so, as so much more complicated, and they don't want us to be able to fix out own cars. Coffee ALWAYS HELPS :) I had to shudder at Dealers' ( STEALERSHIPS!) pricing and COSTS! OMG :( Take care and ALL the BEST! :)
✨️🙋♀️☕️...having seen other videos of yours where you get items in repair I have full confidence in your getting this all in proper order. ...and a mini vacuum to boot! Think you will find it perhaps more useful than thought. A mini one like that where you have any carpet in particular as well as seating areas, think you might find helpful. I know you will let us know how all this sparks plug venture works out. Looking forward Blessings to you ☕️🙋♀️✨️
Hello there scott great information I'm sure you did a good job on the van. I sometimes worry about you in your travels want that van to keep on moving up the road!! Be safe sir
Good outcome Scott. I went one place years ago and a tuneup place spit out a page from a printer for $600 so-called fixes. Turns out I replace a $35 coil pack that was causing a miss, in fact I could see the spark arc. Car ran perfect after I replace. People out here tat work on cars want doctor's pay for their work.
Yes, I love that most things I want to fix or make or build and there will be a few videos to choose from. Good for you - yes, $40 is a lot but also a LOT less than the $500!!! And no one cares about doing it as carefully as you do.
Just thievery at these dealerships! Glad you said no and saved your coins! With them getting those plugs wholesale with labor time and operational expenses, the profit is way excessive on this job.
Take out old sparkplugs. put antisieze lubricant on the threads of the new spark plugs and install them. That way the plugs will be way easier to remove for next time and they won’t get stuck.
I love those vacs. $25 isn't bad if it has good power and engineering. Sometime things are engineered poorly. I better have some coffee and refritos with some fried peppers, onions, garlic and spices. I better have that coffee first. Wow. I am surprised about the plugs. You must have some miles on that van. I'm 2017 ram model and 35k miles. Once the transmission froze up on me in 2 days of zero degree weather, but I didn't drive it bc of it. Good luck on the repairs!
I paid 700 for a tuneup on my sienna a few weeks ago. I couldn't believe the cost but I had to pay it. They said they had to basically take the engine apart to replace 2 of them. An engine coil was the issue and it was replaced too but it was too expensive for me. Good luck and happy trails!
When I can't do an oil change myself, I go to the Dodge dealership and bring my own oil. They charge me $61 Canadian and they supply the oil filter. I buy synthetic oil when it's on sale.
Not sure what year his van is, but if it has a substantial amount of miles and is a 2010 or older, it could potential be more harmful. That can possibly cause blockages to occur and don't want that.
@@kevmodee1866 What? for real? Coolant flush is a must. You might be thinking about transmission fluid 'FLUSH', which is NOT recommended. Transmission fluid is supposed to just drained and refilled, never fully flushed.
Coolant flush and transmission flush should be done at the dealer for the Promaster. Especially the transmission fluid change and filter. The new models require the engine temp to be at certain level while adding fluid. It is done with laptop hooked into the OB2 port. The flush they also do with it running using equipment hookup and push through the heater core and Transmission cooler. Best to pay and get it done right.
The price of auto maintenance went up during the pandemic and it hasn't gone down. An oil change for my Mini was $100 in 2021 and went up to $200 a year later. Last year I had a coupon to keep the price down to $99 but not this year.
Seattle has a shop rental company named Repair Revolution. They have a full set of tools that are included with the bay rental. If you don’t mind driving to SoDo, you could do your own oil changes
Hey Scott, I hope you are doing well! Walmart in Eureka can be a challenge on the best of days; they seem to suffer from short staffing all the time. Harbor Freight in Arcata often does not have items in stock due to the small size of the store so I'm glad you were able to get what you needed. Crescent City has a larger Harbor Freight and a much larger and better staffed Walmart. Also, if you ever need a mechanic in Eureka, I know you use the dealership, but give Leon's Car Care Center on Broadway a consideration. Leon's has been servicing my vehicles since I moved here in 2007 and I always feel well taken care of and they work hard to work with budget considerations!
Thought of something else. My ignition switch sometimes doesn't work properly.I did look it up on TH-cam. It looks fairly simple to replace. I'm scared to try it myself but my Son said he might try it.
Hey Scott this is David A. From the Desert $500 sounds really high just for 4 spark plugs Usually that would cover the air and Fuel filter if it has a fuel filter that isn’t in the tank. If you can look for a TH-cam video of it being done on a vehicle like yours it would sure help. Usually the cover sent to hard to get off just be careful there’s a lot of plastic there. if it has the coil intergraded with plug wire turn the coil right to left as you pull it up. So it doesn’t tear the boot. Taking the plug out should be just like you’ve done before. Use your vacuumed to vacuum any dirt before you take the plug out and again after. Put the plug in with it in the socket by hand finger tight if it won’t go in by hand until it touches bottom don’t force it, then use the torque wrench. Tighten it.
Thank you. The price didn’t include any filter replacement. I’ll look into the fuel filter. I already replaced the plugs and it ended up being much quicker and easier than I expected.
I'm certain the cost of labor goes up right when I walk in the shop door 😏and I needed a mechanic to change my van spark plugs, engine space very tight grasshopper😁 plus I didn't want to break all my fingernails off.😌 So what I've been doing on this van for 8 years is I buy the parts 4 warranty reasons and then I go to the shop and just pay for the labor so this last round of changing the spark plugs I decided since you have to get all in there mise well replace the belts and the hoses so might as well get the radiator fluid while there and then of course the spark plugs and wires and I paid them $250 cash out the door for labor and sat in the van on the lift up high😎. I'm thinking you can do better. I was wondering if you can still rent the tools at AutoZone? I'm tired of people stealing my tools and taking up my time while they are on the payroll 😏 hope you have a good spot to do the wk , thats why I have to go to a shop these days, lost most my old time machanics , I just did tires , what a hassel , being a full timer , it could be worse ! Too many rip offs ! going by the cook book , Please 😂 Scotty the mechanic on TH-cam is great when in doubt❤
You can jet wash your engine bay to keep it clean. Far more effective than vacuuming. Worth checking/replacing the air filter while you're doing the plugs as you are going to remove the box that holds the air filter. The only risk when changing plugs is if one breaks in the head. It then needs drilling out and that can be a very difficult/expensive job. Some of that dealers $500 would be to cover worst case scenarios like that. I doubt that will be an issue for your van. It's not that old. Might be worth spraying some wd40 (or any penetration oil) down in to the spark plug threads the day before you pull them.
The plugs are not too big a deal on the small Promaster. There was a couple comments suggesting you try the coolant fluid/filter change. I DO NOT recommend you do that on your own Scott, Especially the Transmission service. Those are dealership only items IMHO.I dealt with Promaster service centers around the U.S. and know the coolant and the Transmission require specific procedure and software to get it done correctly. It cost money.YES. But a mistake on either could end up costing much more trying to save a couple bucks.There is also two different coolants used on the serivce and the coolant is a Chrysler product as is the Transmission fluid and filter.
Not many people know how difficult these engines are to work on. Although I believe most newer vehicles have computers that need to be accessed by diagnostic machines, not just these engines. I think that is why it’s important to go ahead and do the simple jobs ourselves. Because a lot of work will be nearly impossible for anyone without all the specialized equipment
@@StaticCamperVan Yes.I agree. I did take care of the small stuff. But i strongly suggest Transmission service and coolant service get handled by the dealership. Not that dealerships always get it right. But they do have the software and knowledge of procedure to get it done.My main concern was always safety and not getting stranded by the side of the road.I did have positive dealer experiences but they are not cheap.
Gosh, Scott. I remember when oil changes were 15-20 dollars. I was pretty frustrated when my last oil change at The Tire Store cost $35.00. ... Tis a gift to know how to give yourself a tune-up ... it's time for me to do that too, but I'll be dishing out the cash ... no way I'm even gonna try to do it myself ... just wondering, are you going to/did you change the spark plug wires too? ... my old mechanic always changed the wires while he was in there taking stuff apart, but my brother told me once that changing the wires isn't always necessary. I like that cute little vacuum. I'm putting it on my list ... I figure you've already done the job by now, if you've had a break in the weather, that is ... couldn't believe it when I opened the window shade yesterday morning to a porch covered in snow again ... smh ... have an ez week up there!
Everything is more expensive sadly. $35 for an oil change is a great price! I’ll only be doing spark plugs for now. The other parts can be done quickly later. Oh, you got snow, too!?
In a town I use to live in there was a structure that had stalls You could rent the stall and service your vehicle. Wondering if they may have a place such as that where you are now! Just saying in case you eere intered.
@@StaticCamperVan you’re very welcome. I’m sorry it’s not more but I’m on social security disability. I really like your channel. I will be watching your videos at night before bed and I’ll be craving a cup of coffee knowing I can’t drink it before bed or I’ll never sleep lol
In some ways the world is not wasted on the young. They can do these things. Me, well, I'd do the plugs too probably. But at my age I'd rather pay somebody.
i think dealers have a higher chance of ripping you of just because people think the dealer is trustworthy but they get caught all the time charging people for nitrogen tire fill up
Yes, $500 to me is over the top, but that's the grift right now almost across the board though shade tree mechanics or the back country towns would have charged less than $300
Dealerships have overhead costs.That Promaster is a commercial vehicle. Chrysler does offer service packages and oil change specials. I was using the packages and specials to save on costs.
This should make you feel better. This is a story about a $1000 spark plug change. There was a guy who lived in my storage facilty. His girlfriend was the manager so he got away with it. He had a shop set up to work on cars, complete with all the tools he needed. One day he approached me and said he can change my plugs. So I let him. He worked all day and as it got dark was still not done. So I had to sleep on the concrete floor of my unit. Next morning, still not done. So I called it off and he didn't charge me. But I had to have it towed down the road and the other place charged me over 1000 bucks to undo his damage.
Ive seen your coolant bootle looks rusty, not a good indication. Maybe replacing the cooler every 6 months or so, will help avoiding a radiator replacement in the short.
The transmission is wearing out. I don’t know if replacing it is a good decision since the engine can’t be fixed. For now I’m keeping my driving to a minimum to give me more time to save for the inevitable
@@StaticCamperVan Understand. It sounds like a van replacement is in your near future. Replacing a vehicle can be stressful, and I'm sure you're very attached to your Promaster City. But I'm confident that you'll come out of it with a great new vehicle. I really appreciate your channel, and I have a lot of respect for the way you express yourself and go about your daily life. Wishing you all the best.
Hey Scott Found your channel about a month ago and am loving the content A theme throughout your videos is you are constantly chasing the sun to top up your batteries Have you considered using an ev charging station to top up your batteries when absolutely needed I’m in the uk where solar is useless at least 4 months of the year and I found that buying an adapter to convert from ev type 2 to a standard ac power socket has changed my life. My whole van is running off a 1500w portable power station which only takes 1.5 hours to charge from 0 to 100 and cost less than a dollar to charge at the ev charging station Keep up the good work an thanks for my latest g§up§§l§ty pleasure, yellow bird sauce Mark
Thanks Mark. Solar is only one small part of why I travel a little. I have a couple of videos that go more in depth but my power needs are so minimal that it makes the most sense to get all my power from the sun.
![ไลฟ์สุ่ม iPhone 295 บาท... โกงมั้ย?[ โกงมั้ยครับ ep.97 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gdstHEE4UUE/mqdefault.jpg)
Hi scott. I am a retired mechanic if you tackle your tune up take pictures what your about to remove so you can see how there put back your van is easy to do just take your time and you will do it.
Great idea
My dad repaired my washing machine - a 50 cent capacitor was broken - but it was easy to fix. Thanks to the photos we were able to put everything back together again.
Its better to number each part you disconect with the same number on the side so you know exactly whete it goes back together. Pictures will just confuse you even more
Thanks for the info
$500 to replace 4 spark plugs? That is why nobody trust the dealerships anymore! You are doing the right thing Scott.👍
And I thought 200 was alot !
Me and my wife Lori. Met Scott by accident yesterday on the beach in N. Calf. Great experience, we have been subsrcribers for about 5 yrs. Really nice guy. Thank you Scott for taking the time to chat. Good luck to you and maybe we will cross paths again. Ed
Thanks Ed, it was great meeting you! I enjoyed getting to chat with you.
"Long snoot attachment" cracked me up. "I am capable of tackling this myself and so are you" -- um, you seem to have more confidence in me than I do 😏. I admire your ability to get yourself through these things without being overwhelmed.
Reason No. 1 to live in a van: the sound of rain on the roof. What a lullaby. 😊
Scott, you're one cool cumber. I'd be freaking out if my only home/vehicle even got the most minor issue as I raced to repair it. I said a prayer for you. God bless.
One of my favorite and most used auto maintenance/repair "tools" is a box of nitrile gloves I bought during the pandemic. Not only do they help keep my hands clean but I'm also less concerned about sticking my hands into oily, grimy places when necessary. And since most of the pros use them, the gloves make me feel more competent. 😄😆
That is a new goal for me is to learn how to do more maintenance around the house and my car myself. Thanks for inspiring me to learn new things and to get outside of my comfort zone
Yep, I love TH-cam classes!!😂 I spend enough $$ at the mechanic. I do whatever work I can do, on my own, and it's very satisfying!!
Good luck Scott, I know you can do it 👏🏻
Scott, it is stressful to do car repairs to begin with but YOU CAN DO IT. I got faith in you. ❤😊
Thanks for the reminder Scott.
My PMC is at 110,000 miles and slightly overdue. The engine is running well, I just did a 3000 mile round trip to Florida with it.
Cheers,
Doug
Great to hear!
Hello scott....wow!!! Its such a greedy world and growing more greedy every day!!!
I'm glad that you're able to take care of that yourself...
❤️
Appreciated this update! So far, I've always taken my vehicles in for repair. But then again, it took me until I was about 40 to actually own a vehicle full-time. Not sure my hand strength is up to much repair or maintenance beyond air in my tires and fluid levels before a trip. What got the biggest smile from me: a snout for a vacuum (or, as I'm now thinking of it, a snooted vac). Tks.
You are like Huck Finn out here on his raft. That is why I appreciate you! I predict a 6 hour job or less. I like the air can after the vaccuum before unscrewing the plugs.
You will do just fine, Scott. Enjoy the diversion and new challenges that we all face daily. TC.
You got this Scott, just take your time. As suggested in another comment, take pics in case you need reminding of where things go.
You'll be right mate. The more you learn about your car the better. It's not a hard job, just take your time. 👍
Good info on the spark plug specs.
Hello Scott. You have inspired me to look and see if I can replace my spark plugs. I’ve attended you tube university for several years. The fees at the dealership are insane.
Exactly what I wanted to hear! You can do it!
Interesting Zen moment with the spark plugs and the rain at Walmart.
Hello Scott, they make these cars so you cant do routine maintenance on your own. Oil changes have become expensive too. Glad you were able to figure out what tools you needed to work on your van and do common tune ups yourself. When you live in your van and have to turn it over to a dealer to do maintenance their service advisors come up with add ons that they tell you shoukd be done at the same time. They work on commission. So the more they can build into the work order the more they make themselves. Guard your self from that. I can nearly smell the coffee. Enjoy. ❤
Jeanie, some maintenance is more difficult than others. But I stand by my opinion here in that there are a lot great detailed videos here on TH-cam that can give us all the information we need to tackle these jobs ourselves
FYI. There are a lot of great service centers out there too. I few bad ones but quite a few very good ones that if you get to know them can help keep you up and running. I put 330k on my Promaster and never was stranded because I stayed on top of the maintenance with the help of good service center pros.
I would recommend dielectric grease on the plug tips.
For $10 you can be confident this is worth it.
Run some Lucas injector cleaner with a full tank of gas. Dirty injectors sometimes is the issue.
I usually do this with the oil change interval, as my vehicles get higher miles on them.
That's interesting. And there's so much heat and dust out there people take the wear and tear for granted.
FYI Scott Platinum plugs come pre-gapped as you stated. If you were to try to Gap a platinum plug you would damage the Platinum coating on the tip of the plug and it would not work as it should.
This is the 6th time I am watching this video. You really are smart and know what all these parts😊❤ are. I wanted this life so much but I am breaking down over all these repairs. I spent a fortune at least it's a LOT for me on well everything. Last thing was
$400 on power steering pump. So after 2 weeks I go back to the wheel not turning. I just can't make myself go back. It's so bad that I can't sleep thinking about breaking down. So I just stay in one place ALL DAY. At least I got shelter, right. I wish I was smart like you. Luv your videos They give me hope. THX Scott for that. God bless😊😊❤❤
A
I’m so sorry to hear that you are having so many problems with your vehicle. You’re correct, you do have shelter. Please don’t get overwhelmed. One step at a time.
I almost had a nervous breakdown replacing a light switch in my old house; no way am ever going to attempt to fix anything on my vehicle! 😅 I did learn how to fix the switch from TH-cam, though (and from the nice man at the hardware store).
Well you had a right to be nervous. Electrocution isn’t fun!
I have a vacuum just like that one. I use it to suck up flies, lady bugs and other insects in my home. Love it.
Another good use for a vacuum 👍🏼
Hope the spark plug change goes well. I haven't been to Walmart in quite a while. I had no idea they were doing renovations! Yikes!
I normally avoid Walmart but it was my only option.
@StaticCamperVan I totally understand! When it's my only option, I go. Not my favorite place. 😉
Wow ! That’s crazy ! Everything is getting so expensive I’ve used utube several times for stuf it’s amazing ! My husband passed away 5 years ago and he was an expert on a lot of stuf ! I miss all the man stuf he used to do ! lol ! Boy it rains a lot in Seattle huh everyday almost !
You could start out easy and replace the air filter if you haven't already. MPG, idle quality and power is greatly affected with a dirty air filter.
Air filter was replaced less than 700 miles ago
I don’t know if this would help anybody but many communities have tool libraries. For many you pay a small annual fee then you have access to all of their tools just like you would take them out just like you would’ve book and return them. I have not had to use one so I don’t know if there’s like a residency requirement, but if you’re looking to do, anything and you don’t want to purchase the tool this might be an option.
We're going to need the update when you get done. I would love to change my own oil but I always get the tires rotated at the same time and that would be really rough.
There will be a members only vlog up tomorrow. I will post a link on the Community Tab when the video is finished uploading tomorrow
I have used TH-cam to do so many things. I've changed CV joints, repaired my washer and dryer, built popsicle stick houses, learned how to cook, how to change an alternator and learned how to do many things in my van. If you think of it it's on here lol. $500 to replace spark plugs is ridiculous.
Scott, it's too late now, but for future reference, white out pens are perfect for writing on dark objects under the hood like spark plug wires, and that sort of thing.
Might as well learn how to check your belts while you're at it and many more to come I'm sure, I love learning and fixing what I can! Thank you!
I’d check the gap on the plugs that you remove and also note their appearance and condition. Top Don makes a true automotive scanner with bi-directional control (not a code reader) that goes for $100. I’d at a minimum check my short and long term fuel trims. Also I’m not sure whether your engine is a MAP or MAF engine. If MAF I’d hit it with some MAF cleaner in a spray can that you can get from auto zone or most any auto parts stores. Also make sure your air filter is not in need of replacement. Of course I’m not a big fan of Fiat-Dodge-Chrysler, I would own and drive one but only at gunpoint.
The Promaster City Wagon for all it faults is an incredible van design plus 28 mpg plus hwy.
I always work on my cars at Auto Zone,,in case I need a tool or any parts,,
I usually like to be within walking distance to an auto store when I'm on the road and I have to work on my vehicle, just in case Murphy's Law shows up unannounced and uninvited. And I would recommend using anti seize lubricant on the spark plug threads. Also, I like to change both air and fuel filters when doing a tune-up. Hope all goes well !!
You may want to replace the ignition coils as set of 4 is just under $150 if you are going to replace the plugs. You have to remove the coils to get to the plugs. The rubber on them dries out and cracks causing rough idle. Real easy job just bolts if I remember holding coils in then a spark plug socket to get the plug out.
Yes, those coils are a common issue on Chryslers
Cheaper than a new van😊
:) GO Scott! well done and KUDOS for doing so, as so much more complicated, and they don't want us to be able to fix out own cars. Coffee ALWAYS HELPS :) I had to shudder at Dealers' ( STEALERSHIPS!) pricing and COSTS! OMG :( Take care and ALL the BEST! :)
Good luck! Spark plugs can make things run a lot better. I guess we'll find out next week.
Looking forward to the tuneup part 2😂
❤❤❤❤❤❤
✨️🙋♀️☕️...having seen other videos of yours where you get items in repair I have full confidence in your getting this all in proper order.
...and a mini vacuum to boot! Think you will find it perhaps more useful than thought. A mini one like that where you have any carpet in particular as well as seating areas, think you might find helpful.
I know you will let us know how all this sparks plug venture works out.
Looking forward
Blessings to you
☕️🙋♀️✨️
You’re probably right about the vacuum. Every once in a while I spill ground coffee and wished I had a vacuum.
Hello there scott great information I'm sure you did a good job on the van. I sometimes worry about you in your travels want that van to keep on moving up the road!! Be safe sir
Good outcome Scott. I went one place years ago and a tuneup place spit out a page from a printer for $600 so-called fixes. Turns out I replace a $35 coil pack that was causing a miss, in fact I could see the spark arc. Car ran perfect after I replace. People out here tat work on cars want doctor's pay for their work.
Yikes! I had two bad coils with this van. It took three different shops to figure out the problem.
@@StaticCamperVan In the case of my car with a V6 it affected two spark plus because I had three coil packs, two spark plugs per pack.
Yes, I love that most things I want to fix or make or build and there will be a few videos to choose from. Good for you - yes, $40 is a lot but also a LOT less than the $500!!! And no one cares about doing it as carefully as you do.
Just thievery at these dealerships! Glad you said no and saved your coins! With them getting those plugs wholesale with labor time and operational expenses, the profit is way excessive on this job.
I just replaced two air filters in the car. Both cost about $35 and took 2 minutes to do. The shop wanted $150. lol That is crazy.
It seems that all shops charge their hour rate even if the job only takes a few minutes
Rain sounds great!🦋💕🙏🏻🕊😇🧂
You're smart to use that torque wrench.
I use my vacuum to get rid of flying insects. lol
#vanlife
Take out old sparkplugs. put antisieze lubricant on the threads of the new spark plugs and install them. That way the plugs will be way easier to remove for next time and they won’t get stuck.
Most major auto parts stores will let you barrow tools or rent them for very low price.
I had to get front brakes in Santa Rosa. 1500 4 years ago. Here in pa it would have been half that or less.
"...when my house got broke into..." Do tell!
Best of luck, I’m sure you’ll do just fine!
I love those vacs. $25 isn't bad if it has good power and engineering. Sometime things are engineered poorly. I better have some coffee and refritos with some fried peppers, onions, garlic and spices. I better have that coffee first. Wow. I am surprised about the plugs. You must have some miles on that van. I'm 2017 ram model and 35k miles. Once the transmission froze up on me in 2 days of zero degree weather, but I didn't drive it bc of it. Good luck on the repairs!
Zero is too cold!
@@StaticCamperVan Thirteen below is too cold, lol. This is VT.
I was eyeing a used van with 300,000 mile on it then I watched your video. Reconsidering the van. Repairs🤦🏾♀️
High mileage could mean more maintenance. But we are smart and resourceful!
I paid 700 for a tuneup on my sienna a few weeks ago. I couldn't believe the cost but I had to pay it. They said they had to basically take the engine apart to replace 2 of them. An engine coil was the issue and it was replaced too but it was too expensive for me. Good luck and happy trails!
That dealer quote is whats called highway robbery yes you can do this as I am a retired mechanic.
You need to do a follow up video. That was outrageous price.
Everything is getting more expensive. I’ll have a follow up video in a couple days but only for channel members
@@StaticCamperVan it just so happens I joined your patron!
@douglashoward5738 Thanks Douglas!
When I can't do an oil change myself, I go to the Dodge dealership and bring my own oil. They charge me $61 Canadian and they supply the oil filter. I buy synthetic oil when it's on sale.
Gotta do a coolant flush too
Not sure what year his van is, but if it has a substantial amount of miles and is a 2010 or older, it could potential be more harmful. That can possibly cause blockages to occur and don't want that.
@@kevmodee1866 What? for real? Coolant flush is a must.
You might be thinking about transmission fluid 'FLUSH', which is NOT recommended.
Transmission fluid is supposed to just drained and refilled, never fully flushed.
Coolant flush and transmission flush should be done at the dealer for the Promaster. Especially the transmission fluid change and filter. The new models require the engine temp to be at certain level while adding fluid. It is done with laptop hooked into the OB2 port. The flush they also do with it running using equipment hookup and push through the heater core and Transmission cooler. Best to pay and get it done right.
THANKYOU YOU ARE FANTASTIC
The price of auto maintenance went up during the pandemic and it hasn't gone down.
An oil change for my Mini was $100 in 2021 and went up to $200 a year later. Last year I had a coupon to keep the price down to $99 but not this year.
Seattle has a shop rental company named Repair Revolution. They have a full set of tools that are included with the bay rental. If you don’t mind driving to SoDo, you could do your own oil changes
Hey Scott, I hope you are doing well! Walmart in Eureka can be a challenge on the best of days; they seem to suffer from short staffing all the time. Harbor Freight in Arcata often does not have items in stock due to the small size of the store so I'm glad you were able to get what you needed. Crescent City has a larger Harbor Freight and a much larger and better staffed Walmart. Also, if you ever need a mechanic in Eureka, I know you use the dealership, but give Leon's Car Care Center on Broadway a consideration. Leon's has been servicing my vehicles since I moved here in 2007 and I always feel well taken care of and they work hard to work with budget considerations!
Good to know about Loen’s. Thank you.
In the past I have driven out to Crescent City for parts.
some places allow you to rent or borrow tools as well.. (something to ask next time you need a specialty tool?? Maybe?)
Thought of something else. My ignition switch sometimes doesn't work properly.I did look it up on TH-cam. It looks fairly simple to replace. I'm scared to try it myself but my Son said he might try it.
Hey Scott this is David A. From the Desert $500 sounds really high just for 4 spark plugs Usually that would cover the air and Fuel filter if it has a fuel filter that isn’t in the tank. If you can look for a TH-cam video of it being done on a vehicle like yours it would sure help. Usually the cover sent to hard to get off just be careful there’s a lot of plastic there. if it has the coil intergraded with plug wire turn the coil right to left as you pull it up. So it doesn’t tear the boot. Taking the plug out should be just like you’ve done before. Use your vacuumed to vacuum any dirt before you take the plug out and again after. Put the plug in with it in the socket by hand finger tight if it won’t go in by hand until it touches bottom don’t force it, then use the torque wrench. Tighten it.
Thank you. The price didn’t include any filter replacement. I’ll look into the fuel filter. I already replaced the plugs and it ended up being much quicker and easier than I expected.
I'm certain the cost of labor goes up right when I walk in the shop door 😏and I needed a mechanic to change my van spark plugs, engine space very tight grasshopper😁 plus I didn't want to break all my fingernails off.😌 So what I've been doing on this van for 8 years is I buy the parts 4 warranty reasons and then I go to the shop and just pay for the labor so this last round of changing the spark plugs I decided since you have to get all in there mise well replace the belts and the hoses so might as well get the radiator fluid while there and then of course the spark plugs and wires and I paid them $250 cash out the door for labor and sat in the van on the lift up high😎. I'm thinking you can do better. I was wondering if you can still rent the tools at AutoZone? I'm tired of people stealing my tools and taking up my time while they are on the payroll 😏 hope you have a good spot to do the wk , thats why I have to go to a shop these days, lost most my old time machanics , I just did tires , what a hassel , being a full timer , it could be worse ! Too many rip offs ! going by the cook book , Please 😂 Scotty the mechanic on TH-cam is great when in doubt❤
Most auto parts stores rent or loan tools. There are also shops that rent floor space that includes a full set of tools as well as access to a lift
That's good to know , thank you . I have a slanted engine and live in my pod , waiting for , what's next ❤ Enjoy 🙏
You can jet wash your engine bay to keep it clean. Far more effective than vacuuming.
Worth checking/replacing the air filter while you're doing the plugs as you are going to remove the box that holds the air filter.
The only risk when changing plugs is if one breaks in the head. It then needs drilling out and that can be a very difficult/expensive job. Some of that dealers $500 would be to cover worst case scenarios like that.
I doubt that will be an issue for your van. It's not that old. Might be worth spraying some wd40 (or any penetration oil) down in to the spark plug threads the day before you pull them.
The plugs are not too big a deal on the small Promaster. There was a couple comments suggesting you try the coolant fluid/filter change. I DO NOT recommend you do that on your own Scott, Especially the Transmission service. Those are dealership only items IMHO.I dealt with Promaster service centers around the U.S. and know the coolant and the Transmission require specific procedure and software to get it done correctly. It cost money.YES. But a mistake on either could end up costing much more trying to save a couple bucks.There is also two different coolants used on the serivce and the coolant is a Chrysler product as is the Transmission fluid and filter.
Not many people know how difficult these engines are to work on. Although I believe most newer vehicles have computers that need to be accessed by diagnostic machines, not just these engines. I think that is why it’s important to go ahead and do the simple jobs ourselves. Because a lot of work will be nearly impossible for anyone without all the specialized equipment
@@StaticCamperVan Yes.I agree. I did take care of the small stuff. But i strongly suggest Transmission service and coolant service get handled by the dealership. Not that dealerships always get it right. But they do have the software and knowledge of procedure to get it done.My main concern was always safety and not getting stranded by the side of the road.I did have positive dealer experiences but they are not cheap.
If you were in Tucson I’d loan you the tools or do the job with/for you. 😃
Gosh, Scott. I remember when oil changes were 15-20 dollars. I was pretty frustrated when my last oil change at The Tire Store cost $35.00. ... Tis a gift to know how to give yourself a tune-up ... it's time for me to do that too, but I'll be dishing out the cash ... no way I'm even gonna try to do it myself ... just wondering, are you going to/did you change the spark plug wires too? ... my old mechanic always changed the wires while he was in there taking stuff apart, but my brother told me once that changing the wires isn't always necessary. I like that cute little vacuum. I'm putting it on my list ... I figure you've already done the job by now, if you've had a break in the weather, that is ... couldn't believe it when I opened the window shade yesterday morning to a porch covered in snow again ... smh ... have an ez week up there!
Everything is more expensive sadly. $35 for an oil change is a great price! I’ll only be doing spark plugs for now. The other parts can be done quickly later. Oh, you got snow, too!?
never were yer Rolex when u get a qoute for replacement sparkplugs at $125 a pop done in 45 minutes or less lol
Yeh Scott, you were justified in turning that down. $500.00 for what they were going to do is highway robbery. 👍😉😃
Part of me wants to go vehicle free...👍😎🇨🇦💫🔧
It would be more economical
This why I started working on my own cars who can justify $500 for a plug change it’s literally 20 minutes work
In a town I use to live in there was a structure that had stalls You could rent the stall and service your vehicle. Wondering if they may have a place such as that where you are now! Just saying in case you eere intered.
Thanks!
Thank you so much Brenda
@@StaticCamperVan you’re very welcome. I’m sorry it’s not more but I’m on social security disability. I really like your channel. I will be watching your videos at night before bed and I’ll be craving a cup of coffee knowing I can’t drink it before bed or I’ll never sleep lol
@Wendmera2379 here’s a cup a decaf for you ☕️
@@StaticCamperVan cheers
My vehicles one 140k miles other 168k miles and 270k miles all still has original plugs.
To better mo rainy days ahead do you can do con calma🙏🏼
You could get endurance insurance, they will fix your van
🦋
In some ways the world is not wasted on the young. They can do these things. Me, well, I'd do the plugs too probably. But at my age I'd rather pay somebody.
i think dealers have a higher chance of ripping you of just because people think the dealer is trustworthy but they get caught all the time charging people for nitrogen tire fill up
13:39😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Yes, $500 to me is over the top, but that's the grift right now almost across the board though shade tree mechanics or the back country towns would have charged less than $300
Dealerships have overhead costs.That Promaster is a commercial vehicle. Chrysler does offer service packages and oil change specials. I was using the packages and specials to save on costs.
I agree. 500 is excessive
This should make you feel better. This is a story about a $1000 spark plug change. There was a guy who lived in my storage facilty. His girlfriend was the manager so he got away with it. He had a shop set up to work on cars, complete with all the tools he needed. One day he approached me and said he can change my plugs. So I let him. He worked all day and as it got dark was still not done. So I had to sleep on the concrete floor of my unit. Next morning, still not done. So I called it off and he didn't charge me. But I had to have it towed down the road and the other place charged me over 1000 bucks to undo his damage.
Ive seen your coolant bootle looks rusty, not a good indication. Maybe replacing the cooler every 6 months or so, will help avoiding a radiator replacement in the short.
Not sure what bottle you are looking at. My coolant doesn’t have any rust
HOW DID YOU MAKE OUT WITH THE CHANGING THE PLUGS
It was much easier than expected
Also replaced my spark plugs thanks to youtube 😂
Inquiring minds need to know haha😅
How is your van's transmission doing? Will it need to be replaced?
The transmission is wearing out. I don’t know if replacing it is a good decision since the engine can’t be fixed.
For now I’m keeping my driving to a minimum to give me more time to save for the inevitable
@@StaticCamperVan Understand. It sounds like a van replacement is in your near future. Replacing a vehicle can be stressful, and I'm sure you're very attached to your Promaster City. But I'm confident that you'll come out of it with a great new vehicle. I really appreciate your channel, and I have a lot of respect for the way you express yourself and go about your daily life. Wishing you all the best.
Did you change the spark plugs already? Did you make a video
Yes, the plugs have been replaced. I did make a video but it is for channel members only.
😊
Hey Scott
Found your channel about a month ago and am loving the content
A theme throughout your videos is you are constantly chasing the sun to top up your batteries
Have you considered using an ev charging station to top up your batteries when absolutely needed
I’m in the uk where solar is useless at least 4 months of the year and I found that buying an adapter to convert from ev type 2 to a standard ac power socket has changed my life. My whole van is running off a 1500w portable power station which only takes 1.5 hours to charge from 0 to 100 and cost less than a dollar to charge at the ev charging station
Keep up the good work an thanks for my latest g§up§§l§ty pleasure, yellow bird sauce
Mark
Thanks Mark. Solar is only one small part of why I travel a little. I have a couple of videos that go more in depth but my power needs are so minimal that it makes the most sense to get all my power from the sun.