Everything I've Done To The Wagon.
Every repair, every mistake, every mystery, and every small victory from trying to bring a 1985 Chrysler Town & Country turbo wagon back to life. This is the complete story so far.
Start with the bigger picture.
This page is the running list of what I have done so far. If you are thinking about buying a 1985 Chrysler Town & Country wagon yourself, I would start with the Buyer’s Guide first.
That page covers the stuff I wish I had known earlier: rust, cooling issues, vacuum lines, old interior parts, electrical surprises, and the little things that add up when a forty-year-old wagon comes back into your life.
This is not the highlight reel.
A lot of restoration websites make it look like progress happens overnight. This is not one of those websites, and I am definitely not that kind of mechanic.
The wagon is not finished, not restored, and currently believes transportation is optional.
That's okay. The goal isn't perfection. The goal is getting one more thing working than yesterday.
Current condition: complicated.
The mechanical stuff that decides whether this is a car or yard art.
Low-Compression Engine Diagnosis
The complete video update brings the symptoms, spark-plug evidence, 61 PSI compression result, coolant movement, and project pause together.
Documented Repair PausedPCV Valve Refresh
A simple maintenance item that was long overdue.
Complete EngineSpark Plug Inspection
All four plugs were very sooty, and the firing tip of plug #1 had clear liquid on it.
Complete Engine2.2 Turbo Compression Test
Cylinder #1 repeatedly measured 61 psi. Cylinders #2, #3, and #4 each measured 140 psi.
Complete DiagnosisThrottle Body Cleaning
Trying to solve rough running and hard starting.
Complete TroubleshootingVacuum Line Spaghetti
The never-ending adventure of Chrysler vacuum hoses.
Ongoing EngineBoost Leak Treasure Hunt
Searching for lost boost and mystery vacuum leaks.
Ongoing TurboFuel Smell After Shutdown
Tracking down a smell that definitely should not be there.
Active FuelHead Gasket Saga
The evidence now points toward a head-gasket or cylinder-head problem, but the exact leak path is not confirmed yet.
Paused EngineTrying to keep the wagon cool.
Thermostat Replacement
The replacement went smoothly, but it did not solve the overheating or stalling.
Complete CoolingCooling System Overhaul
The wet #1 plug, coolant surge, and low compression have turned this into a deeper engine diagnosis.
Still Diagnosing CoolingThe electrons have opinions.
Dash Lights & LEDs
Trying to bring the instrument cluster back from the dead.
Active DashInstrument Cluster Adventure
Half the dash lights worked. Then things got interesting.
Published InteriorDimmer Switch Cleaning
One tiny part causing surprisingly large dashboard problems.
Published ElectricalPower Door Lock Revival
Forty-year-old locks rediscovering their purpose.
Complete ElectricalKeyless Entry Install
I considered adding modern convenience, then decided not to introduce new problems after the power locks started working again.
Paused ElectricalThe inside is becoming its own side quest.
Sagging Headliner Fix
An $8 solution that actually worked and made the wagon feel better immediately.
Complete Cheap FixInterior LED Conversion
White replacement LEDs are ready for the dash so the original colored filters can do their job.
Coming Soon InteriorSpeaker Grille Restoration
Small details make a huge difference, especially inside an old wagon.
Coming Soon InteriorDash Chrome Touch-Up
Bringing back a little luxury to the interior
Complete Cheap FixLooking better than yesterday.
Paint Mistake Recovery
The bad orange peel paint job came with the wagon. The sanding, primer burn-through, and mystery roof bondo are now my problem.
Published ExteriorRattle Can Paint Prep
Learning that preparation matters more than paint.
Ongoing PaintCan The Wagon Be Cold Again?
The long road toward functional air conditioning.
Researching ComfortMaking it less boat-like.
Coil Spring Situation
I tried installing coil spring spacers. The wagon disagreed. The next attempt involves removing the tires and trying again.
Published SuspensionRear Shock Research
Finding affordable suspension parts without accidentally making the wagon worse.
Coming Soon ResearchWhat has happened so far.
The mysteries currently occupying my brain.
Hard Starting
Repeated key cycling often helped it start, but the low compression in cylinder #1 means the mechanical problem has to be sorted before chasing every fuel-system theory.
PausedCylinder #1 Compression Loss
One cylinder measured 61 psi beside three matching 140 psi readings. That confirms a major problem, but not which part has failed.
Confirmed ProblemCooling System / Overheating
Clear liquid on plug #1 and coolant surging from the radiator neck make a head-gasket or cylinder-head problem the leading explanation.
PausedFuel Smell After Shutdown
Not the kind of old-car smell I want to ignore.
PausedSpeedometer Accuracy
The speedometer was already questionable, and the instrument cluster adventure made that side quest more complicated.
On HoldInstrument Cluster Lighting
Some dash lights were out, one wiring harness was disconnected, and white replacement LEDs are ready for the next attempt.
On HoldGear Indicator Alignment
The gear indicator started catching after the cluster went back in. Old plastic gets respect, so I stopped before breaking it.
On HoldThe list grows faster than I can complete it.
Interior
Interior LED conversion, speaker grille restoration, and sun visor restoration are waiting until the engine has a realistic repair plan.
Mechanical
First comes a repair plan with my dad, a safe workspace, a realistic budget, and the leak-down test when I am ready to continue.
Comfort
Air conditioning revival, better speakers, and a cargo-area power outlet are still on the list. They are just nowhere near the front of it right now.
The real project car experience.
One of the reasons I wanted to build Broke Weirdo's Garage was to document the real experience of owning an old project car. Not the highlight reel.
The victories. The mistakes. The moments where you spend three hours diagnosing a problem and somehow create two new ones. Or discover the previous repair is now the thing that needs repairing.
This wagon and I are still getting to know each other. This page will keep growing as the story continues.
The wagon is waiting. I am not done.
The newest milestone is not a repair. It is finally knowing which cylinder has the problem and being honest about what it will take to continue.