I have a 99 dodge 6 cyl caravan...just got a tune-up and it started surging and would die but starts right back up. It also would die when you turned the wheel all the way to the right or left.

My car never did this until the tune-up. Now they are trying to tell me its a dirty valve...hmmmm! Hope you can help...Thanks.

Answer: They may be talking about a dirty throttle valve or throttle body. It would not make sense that it started acting up right after a tune up.

A dirty throttle can cause a hard starting condition, rough or unstable idle as well as stalling out when coming to a stop. Get some carb cleaner from the local parts store, remove the air intake and open the throttle and spray in there real good. Also, spray some on a rag and wipe the inside of the throttle clean then take it for a ride.

Your Dodge may run poorly until all the cleaner has been burned off.

If that does not fix your problem, then your engine could have a vacuum leak. The symptoms you describe could be caused by this as well. If that is the case, then most likely the mechanic that did the tune up left a vacuum hose or line loose or even might have knocked something off. They should fix that for free.

Noise After Catalytic Converter Replaced

Just had a new catalytic converter installed in my 2000 Dodge Caravan and also 6 new platinum plus plugs 2 days ago and now it makes noise when I first drive it. It stops after a minute or so. What could be causing this.

Answer: Well, that depends on what kind of noise you have and where it is coming from. If it seems to be coming from under the van, it may just be that the new converter is making a little clicking noise when it starts to get hot. This will stop after a few weeks.

If it is some other kind of noise from under the hood, then we really need to know what the noise is- tick, whine, knock, squeal, etc. Take it back to the mechanic that installed the new parts and have him look and listen to it.