The Journey So Far.
How a 1985 Chrysler Town & Country wagon found its way back into my life, became part of the family, and turned me into the owner of a small diagnostic laboratory.
This one started with a Marketplace listing and a joke.
Most project-car stories start with a plan. This one did not.
What follows is the story of how a 1985 Chrysler Town & Country wagon found its way back into my life and how it is slowly becoming the wagon I have always wanted it to be.
This is the bigger story. For the individual jobs, mistakes, and small victories, visit Everything I’ve Done.
Before the Wagon
When I was sixteen, I owned a Chrysler Town & Country wagon. It was not fancy, fast, or cool by normal standards.
But it was mine.
In 2000, it was stolen from my driveway and never recovered. I never stopped looking for another one.
The Marketplace Listing
One day I spotted a 1985 Chrysler Town & Country wagon for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
The same year. The same body style. The same fake woodgrain. The same ridiculous charm.
I joked that if I had an extra $3,400 lying around, I would buy it immediately. My friends decided they wanted to help make that happen.
Norma
While learning about the wagon’s history, I found out it had belonged to a woman named Norma.
That also happens to be my grandmother’s name.
Coincidence? Probably. Still, it felt like one more reason this was the right wagon.
The First Drive
I do not remember every detail of the first drive. I remember how it felt.
Excitement. Disbelief. A huge grin that probably looked ridiculous.
The paint was rough and parts were piled in the back. None of that mattered. I had a wagon again.
Settling In
The first stretch was mostly cleaning, exploring, learning the car, and making plans. I drove it whenever I could.
People waved. People smiled. People shared stories about wagons they used to own. The wagon has a talent for starting conversations.
The Work Begins
A hard-starting issue appeared. Then stalling. Then overheating. The wagon stopped being something I could simply drive and became something I needed to understand.
That is when Broke Weirdo’s Garage really became a repair diary instead of only a celebration of fake woodgrain.
Small jobs turned into actual progress.
Not every chapter has been about the engine. Some jobs worked immediately. Others created a useful clue, an extra problem, or a sequel.
Small Wins
The sagging headliner improved with twist pins, a paint pen brought some chrome back to the dash, and lubrication revived the factory power door locks.
Browse the repair archive →Dash Adventures
I removed the instrument cluster, found a disconnected harness, ordered white LEDs, and discovered that putting old plastic back together deserves its own level of patience.
Read the cluster adventure →Learning the Engine
I worked through the PCV system, throttle body, vacuum lines, boost leaks, cooling system, and anything else that might explain the hard starting and stalling.
Read the 2.2 Turbo guide →The overheating investigation finally pointed at cylinder #1.
Replacing the thermostat went smoothly, but it did not stop the overheating or stalling. When I pulled the spark plugs, all four were very sooty. Plug #1 also had clear liquid on its firing tip.
The follow-up compression test made that clue much more important. Cylinder #1 repeatedly measured 61 psi. Cylinders #2, #3, and #4 each measured 140 psi. Coolant also surged from the open radiator neck while the engine was cranking.
| Cylinder | Compression | What I Saw |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | 61 psi | Repeated result; plug tip had clear liquid |
| #2 | 140 psi | Matched cylinders #3 and #4 |
| #3 | 140 psi | Matched cylinders #2 and #4 |
| #4 | 140 psi | Matched cylinders #2 and #3 |
The wagon is parked while I find the exact problem.
The story is still moving.
The wagon is not finished, and the latest problem is not solved. That is exactly why I am documenting it. Every test, mistake, and small success becomes the next part of the story.