!994 Plymouth Voyager

[1994plymouthvoyager]

I have a 1994 Plymouth Voyager. It has been back firing lately. Could this be the timing? Just today it ran out of gas and now, it won't go more than 60 km/hr. It starts fine, idles fine and runs ok up to 60 km/hr. but just won't go over 60. It has been running ok lately, but even at 80-100 km/hr it will "chug"/"sputter" and or back fire. Any thoughts? Does it need a good tune up, spark plugs, wires etc.?

[barrie1]

Welcome 1994plymouthvoyager to the forem. I would have your timing checked as it sounds like it may have gone out of whack to act like that. I am wondering on the timing belt as it may have jumped a tooth possibly which would acct for the sick behavior of it.  Which V6 engine is it Please as some were better designs then others in this series? 

[rrocket]

^^^^Barrie offers good advice.  But even easier...check the distributor cap and rotor.  If it has never been changed...it's due.  A bad distributor/rotor can cause problems like you describe.  Better yet, it's a cheap fix too.

[barrie1]

I had one of them here in my shop about a year ago with a similar problem and is why I know it was the timing chain that had jumped as we tore it down and replaced it here. Did the same thing when started and would not hardly pull its own weight at all. I agree with rrocket tho on the cap and rotor as they are a possiblitiy as well. 

[Honda Owner]

If it is a 3.0 V-6 it is almost certainly a head gasket. Whatever is wrong with it, it is not worth spending money on.

[Squishy]

Head gasket causing a backfire?  Is that even possible?

I would check timing, distributor/rotor, wires, spark plugs, anything you can think of that would cause a misfire or otherwise dump unburnt fuel out the exhaust.

[barrie1]

If its a head gasket it should start showing signs of moisture in the oil on the dip stick I would think, The white miley looking substance that can form when oil and heated oil mix together. Its actually sulphric acid and can burn holes in your cloths so keep it off of you. That should tell you for sure if its head gasket leak. 

[Honda Owner]

Well, Barrie, the Mitsubishi 3.0 litre V-6 is a total POS anyway. Chrysler lowballed them on the engines and Mitsu responded by building them with a $1.49 day gasket set. Interestingly, in the Japanese made captive stuff we sold we never had any problems with the same engine.

[barrie1]

I agree as the 3.0 was not their pride and joy at all but the vehicles were cheap to buy and own while they lasted. Their newer 3.3 and 3.8's are much better designed for sure. 

[Honda Owner]

Their newer 3.3 and 3.8's are much better designed for sure.

The 3.0 was not a Chrysler engine. Chrysler did not produce a V-6 and the original Caravans were underpowered. Thus, Chrysler went to Mitusbishi for their 3.0 V-6, which were shipped complete to the North American plants. These motors were expensive and this led Chrysler to develop the 3.3 an iron block and head motor. They are indestructible. In all the time I was at Chrysler, I only saw one fail, from not having a single oil change in 30,000 km.

[barrie1]

I agree with the quality that was built into them was very good for sure. I have driven them quite a bit for the Baliff and found them to do a nice job actually. I worked as a Car hunter for a while which was quite interesting in its day.