I just want to say I would have really appreciated everything you did this day all being in one video because it's being really difficult to try and find all the videos to try and get this job done right
Hey just wanted to say thanks for putting up this video. I have to do a bunch of work on the rear side of my 3.3L in a 2004 Grand Caravan (valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, cables, PCV valve). Getting the wiper assembly and cowl out of the way will make it much easier. It's great to watch you do it first and see that it is something I could handle as well. Keep making good videos, and thanks again.
Great info, thank you. It's quite similar on my 98 Town and Country 3.8. I feel like I'm pretty much an expert on removing this damn thing, lol. The more I work on cars, the more likely I am to remove stuff like this than try to work around it. I see a lot of videos where people seem to be reluctant to take off the passenger wheel for example. I am quick to take it off because it almost always makes alternators or belts easier.
Thanks for this video! I have a 2007 grand caravan. Rear valve cover gasket is leaking. Aside from PCV valve & spark plugs/wires what else is back there (that may need routine maintenance)? If I’m going to remove the cowl I’d like to do anything in that rear compartment that might need replacing later.
With the cowl out, were you able to see where the power steering lines connect to the steering rack? Just asking because I got to do the power steering lines on my 05 caravan, and looking to see if I can access from the top. Thanks
THANKS, Great video! BTW The WIRE HARNESS for wipers does not have to be pulled through the cowl. just leave it after you disconnect... FYI some of these vans have 4 10mm nuts and 4 support brackets... (I have a 2005 DGC SXT). You actually have 2 extra bolts sticking up which would have lined up with 2 more brackets. Everything else was the same. Also everybody BE CAREFUL if you pound on the 15mm bolts to get the wipers off! I gummed up the threads so that the nuts would not spin on again (NBD, just lightly file the top of the bolt, and that will fix it).
Regarding fouling the threads, that's why you hit the nuts instead of the studs on the wiper transmission. It's a LOT easier to find a replacement nut if you screw those up. Happy wrenching!
This has been very helpful. Have a pretty big mouse nest up under the cowl, getting that out requires doing everything you show here to gain access to it. Water drains are not wanting to disconnect, and being old and plastic I'm not wanting to force anything and crack them. Any tips? That is the last thing keeping the cowl/wiper motor from coming out. Thanks!
You are correct, they are very brittle. I'd suggest hitting the top of them with some PB blaster and just slowly loosen them if you can. Or, Perhaps take a heat gun and supply just a little heat to see if you can break the seal.
@@bryzgarage5028 Thanks, turns out the drain pipe lip that goes over the plastic part of the cowl tray was still very supple, broke the seal on them and got the tray out. Cleaning is in progress. I know the mice are getting in there through those drain tubes. Going to figure out something to block them like mesh but of course don't want to restrict water. Am also going to spray everything with diluted peppermint oil, but have to be careful not to overdo it such that I can't run the heater. Any advice on blocking the mice, am planning on putting whatever I do at the union between the tray and the tubes going down to the ground.
All back together, thanks again for the video, was extremely helpful. I didn't have the materials on hand to do it, but I am going to put metal mesh (screen door or similar) over the six cutouts on the firewall that let fresh air into the HVAC ductwork and was also how mice were getting into the cabin. Will have to take stuff apart again to do that, but now I know how and everything is relatively clean. Tip - I used a gear puller and a deep well socket to leverage the wiper arms off their posts. Worked great, it did slightly mar the sides of the wiper arm base but I didn't care about that. Could put rubber shims around the puller fingers for anybody who is concerned. If I ever have to replace the arms or the wiper motor/assembly and feel lucky at the salvage yard, that will definitely be in my tool bag!
Any idea how to remove the second from the left on the back bank, top side of the valve cover and the second from the right, on the top side of the front bank valve cover bolt that is obstructed by the intake manifold!
@@bryzgarage5028 Thanks for responding, but I think I may have a solution to my problem of removing the valve cover bolts that are obstructed by the intake manifold, without removing the intake manifold! I have ordered a set of Metric Swivel End Ratcheting Combination Wrenches, which includes a 8mm. I think this might work.
@@bryzgarage5028 - Thanks for responding I'm ordering swivel head box end ratchets that I think will let me remove the valve cover bolts. I'll get back with you if it works, or not! What should have been maybe a half hour job, has been delayed for weeks because of the valve cover bolts being obstructed by the intake manifold! I had to order wrenches I didn't have and have to wait for them to arrive!
Treat those cowls with respect boys. I got an 05 and it had sat and the edge at the top of that cowl, where it is like a 90 degree angle, was cracked all to bits. I'm guessing from untended massive snow loads over two winters while it sat. The problem is...they are expensive to replace. Junk yard please save me!
I watched this and others videos and was prepared to remove the cowling and wiper tray to change the valve cover gaskets, but the whole project came to a scratching halt because I was unable to remove the wiper blades! The wiper blades DOES NOT COME OFF LIKE THIS! I don't care how much you spray them and beat on them, they are like they are welded on! All of the videos I watched, show them spraying and a couple taps and they pull off, this is deceptive, perhaps unintentional. These people apparently had already removed them then re-installed them to show how easy they come off! Be prepared to have you project stopped and you are going to find it rather difficult to find a small puller to remove the wiper blades! I had to rent a a 2 ton 2/3 Jaw Pu 47011 for $30. plus tax, amounting to $32.10 to get them off! Since I brought my tools with me, I was able to remove the wiper arms there at the store!
Lol. I did not prep mine before hand. Mine came off when I tapped them with a hammer several times. Some may be harder to get off than others depending on your environment (i.e. rust belt, more humid part of the country).....But If simply removing the wipers was difficult for you, I'd take it to a professional and pay the money. No shame in that.
@@bryzgarage5028 - That was not the real problem, I will make sure it is much easier next time, the real problem was I was unable to remove the back side valve cover bolt, top side, second from the left and on the front valve cover, top side, the second from the right because the intake manifold obstructs a straight line into them. I tried standard socket, deep well socket with wobbly and swivel extension and even a coil extension to get around the intake manifold obstruction. Nothing I have or can buy will get around this obstruction, so I guess I will have to take it to the shop after all! Have you changed valve cover gaskets on yours? If so, how did you remove the valve cover bolts described above?
I just want to say I would have really appreciated everything you did this day all being in one video because it's being really difficult to try and find all the videos to try and get this job done right
Nice, "clean" - and INFORMATIVE! I'm disabled with VERY limited mobility and I need to remove this same part to get access to my O2 sensor. THNX!
Hey just wanted to say thanks for putting up this video. I have to do a bunch of work on the rear side of my 3.3L in a 2004 Grand Caravan (valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, cables, PCV valve). Getting the wiper assembly and cowl out of the way will make it much easier. It's great to watch you do it first and see that it is something I could handle as well. Keep making good videos, and thanks again.
My pleasure and thank you for the support!!!
This is a very methodical video. You did an amazing job. Did you use dielectric grease?
Thank you and yes I did.
Great info, thank you. It's quite similar on my 98 Town and Country 3.8. I feel like I'm pretty much an expert on removing this damn thing, lol. The more I work on cars, the more likely I am to remove stuff like this than try to work around it. I see a lot of videos where people seem to be reluctant to take off the passenger wheel for example. I am quick to take it off because it almost always makes alternators or belts easier.
Great video! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for this video! I have a 2007 grand caravan. Rear valve cover gasket is leaking. Aside from PCV valve & spark plugs/wires what else is back there (that may need routine maintenance)? If I’m going to remove the cowl I’d like to do anything in that rear compartment that might need replacing later.
With the cowl out, were you able to see where the power steering lines connect to the steering rack? Just asking because I got to do the power steering lines on my 05 caravan, and looking to see if I can access from the top. Thanks
THANKS, Great video! BTW The WIRE HARNESS for wipers does not have to be pulled through the cowl. just leave it after you disconnect... FYI some of these vans have 4 10mm nuts and 4 support brackets... (I have a 2005 DGC SXT). You actually have 2 extra bolts sticking up which would have lined up with 2 more brackets. Everything else was the same. Also everybody BE CAREFUL if you pound on the 15mm bolts to get the wipers off! I gummed up the threads so that the nuts would not spin on again (NBD, just lightly file the top of the bolt, and that will fix it).
Thanx, appreciate the info
Regarding fouling the threads, that's why you hit the nuts instead of the studs on the wiper transmission. It's a LOT easier to find a replacement nut if you screw those up. Happy wrenching!
This has been very helpful. Have a pretty big mouse nest up under the cowl, getting that out requires doing everything you show here to gain access to it. Water drains are not wanting to disconnect, and being old and plastic I'm not wanting to force anything and crack them. Any tips? That is the last thing keeping the cowl/wiper motor from coming out. Thanks!
You are correct, they are very brittle. I'd suggest hitting the top of them with some PB blaster and just slowly loosen them if you can.
Or, Perhaps take a heat gun and supply just a little heat to see if you can break the seal.
@@bryzgarage5028 Thanks, turns out the drain pipe lip that goes over the plastic part of the cowl tray was still very supple, broke the seal on them and got the tray out. Cleaning is in progress. I know the mice are getting in there through those drain tubes. Going to figure out something to block them like mesh but of course don't want to restrict water. Am also going to spray everything with diluted peppermint oil, but have to be careful not to overdo it such that I can't run the heater. Any advice on blocking the mice, am planning on putting whatever I do at the union between the tray and the tubes going down to the ground.
All back together, thanks again for the video, was extremely helpful. I didn't have the materials on hand to do it, but I am going to put metal mesh (screen door or similar) over the six cutouts on the firewall that let fresh air into the HVAC ductwork and was also how mice were getting into the cabin. Will have to take stuff apart again to do that, but now I know how and everything is relatively clean. Tip - I used a gear puller and a deep well socket to leverage the wiper arms off their posts. Worked great, it did slightly mar the sides of the wiper arm base but I didn't care about that. Could put rubber shims around the puller fingers for anybody who is concerned. If I ever have to replace the arms or the wiper motor/assembly and feel lucky at the salvage yard, that will definitely be in my tool bag!
Whats the purposr of the square holes on the cowl?
Any idea how to remove the second from the left on the back bank, top side of the valve cover and the second from the right, on the top side of the front bank valve cover bolt that is obstructed by the intake manifold!
Not sure without seeing it. Send me a pic of it so I can understand a bit better please. Email is paintescape@msn.com
@@bryzgarage5028 Thanks for responding, but I think I may have a solution to my problem of removing the valve cover bolts that are obstructed by the intake manifold, without removing the intake manifold! I have ordered a set of Metric Swivel End Ratcheting Combination Wrenches, which includes a 8mm. I think this might work.
@@bryzgarage5028 - Thanks for responding I'm ordering swivel head box end ratchets that I think will let me remove the valve cover bolts. I'll get back with you if it works, or not! What should have been maybe a half hour job, has been delayed for weeks because of the valve cover bolts being obstructed by the intake manifold! I had to order wrenches I didn't have and have to wait for them to arrive!
Treat those cowls with respect boys. I got an 05 and it had sat and the edge at the top of that cowl, where it is like a 90 degree angle, was cracked all to bits. I'm guessing from untended massive snow loads over two winters while it sat. The problem is...they are expensive to replace. Junk yard please save me!
I watched this and others videos and was prepared to remove the cowling and wiper tray to change the valve cover gaskets, but the whole project came to a scratching halt because I was unable to remove the wiper blades!
The wiper blades DOES NOT COME OFF LIKE THIS! I don't care how much you spray them and beat on them, they are like they are welded on! All of the videos I watched, show them spraying and a couple taps and they pull off, this is deceptive, perhaps unintentional. These people apparently had already removed them then re-installed them to show how easy they come off! Be prepared to have you project stopped and you are going to find it rather difficult to find a small puller to remove the wiper blades!
I had to rent a a 2 ton 2/3 Jaw Pu 47011 for $30. plus tax, amounting to $32.10 to get them off! Since I brought my tools with me, I was able to remove the wiper arms there at the store!
Lol. I did not prep mine before hand. Mine came off when I tapped them with a hammer several times. Some may be harder to get off than others depending on your environment (i.e. rust belt, more humid part of the country).....But If simply removing the wipers was difficult for you, I'd take it to a professional and pay the money. No shame in that.
@@bryzgarage5028 - That was not the real problem, I will make sure it is much easier next time, the real problem was I was unable to remove the back side valve cover bolt, top side, second from the left and on the front valve cover, top side, the second from the right because the intake manifold obstructs a straight line into them. I tried standard socket, deep well socket with wobbly and swivel extension and even a coil extension to get around the intake manifold obstruction. Nothing I have or can buy will get around this obstruction, so I guess I will have to take it to the shop after all!
Have you changed valve cover gaskets on yours? If so, how did you remove the valve cover bolts described above?
I used a bearing puller on the rear window wiper blade, should work for the front wipers, I hope.