Repairs | Broke Weirdo's Garage
Repair Archive

Keeping The Wagon Alive

Every repair, diagnosis, upgrade, mistake, and lesson learned while bringing a 1985 Chrysler Town & Country Turbo back to life.

New Here?

If you're just joining the project, these pages will get you caught up quickly.

Start Here

The fastest way to understand the project.

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Journey So Far

The timeline from my first wagon to this one.

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Everything We've Done

A complete list of repairs and progress.

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Buyer’s Guide

Thinking About Buying One?

Before you dive into the repair archive, start with the guide I wish I had before this wagon found its way back into my life. It covers rust, cooling issues, vacuum lines, electrical quirks, interior parts, and the little old-car surprises that tend to show up after you get it home.

It is part buyer’s guide, part reality check, and part love letter to these wonderfully weird turbo woodgrain wagons.

Engine

Making It Run Better

PCV Valve Refresh

A simple maintenance item that was long overdue.

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Throttle Body Cleaning

Trying to solve rough running and hard starting.

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Spark Plug Inspection

Reading plugs to understand what the engine was trying to tell me.

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Boost Leak Treasure Hunt

Searching for lost boost and mystery vacuum leaks.

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Vacuum Line Spaghetti

The never-ending adventure of Chrysler vacuum hoses.

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Head Gasket Saga

The repair I hope I don't need, but probably do.

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Cooling System

Trying To Keep It Cool

Thermostat Replacement

The first suspect in the overheating investigation.

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Cooling System Overhaul

A broader look at getting temperatures under control.

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Fuel Smell After Shutdown

Tracking down a smell that definitely shouldn't be there.

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Electrical

The Electrons Have Opinions

Dash Lights & LEDs

Trying to bring the instrument cluster back from the dead.

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Dimmer Switch Cleaning

One tiny part causing big dashboard problems.

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Instrument Cluster Adventure

Half the lights worked. Then things got interesting.

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Power Door Lock Revival

Forty-year-old locks rediscovering their purpose.

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Keyless Entry Install

Adding modern convenience to an old wagon.

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Interior

Making It Nicer Inside

Sagging Headliner

Because gravity eventually wins.

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Interior LED Conversion

Brighter lighting without losing the wagon's character.

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Speaker Grille Restoration

Small details make a huge difference.

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Touching Up The Dash

A little bit of luxury returns.

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Exterior

Looking Better Than Yesterday

Paint Mistake

Learning what not to do with a spray can.

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Rattle Can Paint Prep

The preparation matters more than the paint.

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Can The Wagon Be Cold Again?

The long road toward functional air conditioning.

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Suspension & Chassis

Making It Less Boat-Like

The Coil Spring Situation

Investigating ride height, sag, and old suspension parts.

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Rear Shock Research

Finding affordable suspension upgrades.

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Beyond The Repairs

Research Library

Fixing the wagon is only half the project. The other half is figuring out how Chrysler built, marketed, sold, and supported these cars when they were new.

Turbo Mopar Resources

Forums, archives, technical references, and communities dedicated to keeping these cars alive.

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Chrysler Brochures & Ads

Original brochures, advertisements, showroom materials, and factory marketing.

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Parts Sources

The places that still help keep these old wagons on the road.

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Project Resources

Need The Full Story?

Buyer’s Guide

Thinking about buying one of these wagons? Start with what I’ve learned so far.

Read The Guide →

Start Here

The best place for new visitors to begin.

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Journey So Far

The complete timeline of how this wagon found its way back into my life.

Read More →

Everything We've Done

A complete project tracker showing repairs, progress, and what's next.

View Tracker →

Start With The Big Picture

The wagon is not finished. Before you jump into individual repairs, the Buyer’s Guide and the Story will give you the full picture of what this project is, why it matters, and what I’ve learned so far.