Is it rough on a a vehicle to...?

Question

My mom has a 1996 Plymoth Voyager v6 automatic van with only 70k original miles on it and it has been checked out by several mechanics and even the dealership and no one can find or figure out an exact problem or give us any explanation (they keep saying it has something to do with the 4th cylinder, but never told us exactly what or why and I can't tell you how much money my mom has spent on trying to fix it) and what happens is that the van starts to vibrate and then will (if you don't put it in neutral) stall out and it will not start again until the engine is cool or the van has rested a few hours <they have replaced the fuel filter and checked a number of other things and have done a complete diagnostics on it from top to bottom>.

Now, the question I have is, is it hurting or in any way bad on the van to approach a stop by dropping it into neutral before applying the brakes to come to a complete stop? I don't normally drive a vehicle this way, but am only doing this because I don't want my mom and I to be stuck in the middle of traffic and not have a way to get the van off the roadway to a safe place. It also seems to get the vibration to stop and if it feels like it is going to stall, I put my foot on the brake and tap the gas pedal to get the engine to go faster.

We can't afford to replace the van, so please DON'T suggest it <and please don't be rude with your comments like how people say Ford is Find On Roadside Dead, etc or whatever it is that they say about Plymoths.>

Thanks for your answers.

Answer 1

There are three things I can think of that would cause your problem, one a broken flex plate that the transmission convert is mounted to, 2 the #4 cylinder is scored but a compression test would show that up, and 3 the third member bearings in the transmission are bad, it is giving you a warning before it goes you need to find a mechanic that can find it.  

Answer 2

Tell the guys to check the ignition module,I&#039;ve run into this problem. when the area under hood cools and the engine kicks right back in. the problem here is you can&#039;t fix it, if it&#039;s not broken. you have to catch it while it&#039;s &#039;acting up&#039;. I use &quot; Electric Circuit cleaner&quot; !When you spray it  on the unit it get the module cold as h**l and if the vehicle starts , YOU GET 10 POINTS FOR THE BEST ANSWER! [hint] Now you know that it is the module.

                                 &quot;BRILLIANT&quot;!!!!

Answer 3

I think it is the thermostat which is not working.When the engine gets heated, it starts to vibrate and stall.Also get the radiator coolant drained out and put again.I think this should solve your problem.Best wishes

Answer 4

No, it does not hurt to put in N as U described. if you have been to that many sources.you must have a better idea of what they told you..please post it. so we may help.better

Answer 5

what the garage gave you is stories...

the shaking when coming to a stop in D is down to the car trying to accelerate when you brake , that&#039;s down to the electric engine timing the neutral revs.

PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL IS FINE , and it stops the shaking because it dis engages the engine from the wheels , therefore stopping the attempt to &quot;fight back&quot;

have a great day.

yoel.

Answer 6

Sounds like your dealer does not have a clue, the only thing I can think of by them referencing cyl number 4 that it might have low compression or something, that might account for a rough idle but not for the stalling out and inability to restart for hours. Google Chrysler Corporation and send an email to customer service and see if they have any ideas, who knows they may have had to deal with the same problem before and know the solution, they might even feel obligated to fix it for you since you have spent large amounts of money at the dealer and had no satisfactory resolution to the problem.

Slipping the trans into neutral just before stopping and taping the gas pedal should not hurt it in the near future. But regardless if you get creamed at an intersection because the engine died what difference would it make if you caused a little damage to the transmission.

Answer 7

No, it&#039;s not bad, just be very careful that you don&#039;t hit reverse, that could cause a heap of problems for the tranny.