2000 Dodge Caravan Vehicle bucks/makes growling noise

IGGYSBIRDS

MEMBER
2000 DODGE CARAVAN
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
15,200 MILES

My husband drove my van about 100 miles last weekend, before that had no problems. On the way back, almost home it started to "buck/jerk" a couple times. Then stopped doing that and instead made a growling noise from the front end. He got it home shut it off. Let it set a few minutes and restarted it. Made no noise drove around town, after 5-10 minutes started making growling noise again. Shut off, parked for a week. Started van up drove all over town kept driving, speeding up slowing down, makes no noise. Drove today heard a very quiet but not constant growling noise after 2-3 miles. Check engine light not on. Any ideas?

5 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,192 POSTS

When you hear the noise, is there anything you can do to make it change? For example, turning, braking, accellerating?

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Friday, October 29th, 2010 AT 9:26 AM

IGGYSBIRDS

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3 POSTS

When it does start (which again isn't every time and seems to be only after it is heated up) we have parked it letting it just sit there running, tried accelerating, going around curves corners etc at lower and higher speeds and the noise stays the same, although I did notice if going up an incline it does seem like it gets a bit worse. The only time it did the "bucking/bogging" it was going up a hill the growling noise though is whether it is on flat ground, hill or anything.

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Friday, October 29th, 2010 AT 2:19 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,192 POSTS

Have you checked for vacuum leaks?

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Monday, November 1st, 2010 AT 11:34 AM

IGGYSBIRDS

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Besides the 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan I have a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan and a 1996 Chevy Blazer. Both have had vacuum leaks and both had the OBD/Check engine lights on with the vacuum leaks. (Blazer also had other problems but I just had the 2007 in today they are fixing it under warranty) Am I wrong in thinking the light should be on if there is a vacuum leak? I have also seen the bogging/heard the noises they have both made with the leaks and they are in no way similar to what the 2000 is doing. I would be happy to check for that (or have a friend do it) but did not think it would be this much different then the "signs" from both of the other vehicles. Please tell me if I am wrong in this assumption though. Or if you have any other possible ideas.

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Monday, November 1st, 2010 AT 7:54 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,192 POSTS

Actually, not all vacuum leaks cause a check engine light. However, often times they will due to an engine misfire, sensor malfunction. I would start there. It could cause the symptoms you described. The noise you describe has me a little confused. Is more of a bearing noise, hissing. When you say growling, it sounds like a bearing issue such as a waterpump bearing, alt. A bad alt could allow the voltage to drop and causing a misfire.