Q: After changing leaky valve cover gaskets and oil, I'm getting a rattle under cover and oil light and buzzer is now on 2000 Chrysler Town and Country

asked by on April 10, 2017

I bought a 2000 Town & Country 3.8 liter. Of course it had a few problems. I had to change out the valve cover gasket in the front cause it was leaking badly, and changed the oil. It took awhile till the next day. That night it rained a little. Van was under my carport but I saw it got a few rain drops on head. Friend told me I'll need to spray it with a drying spray to keep valves from, I think he said unseating. Anyway I just dried it. Finished repair and test drove it was fine. Then another drive up town it began to rattle under the front cover and the red oil dash light came on and what I guess is a warning buzzer.
What do I do?

My car has 279000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Hello. If you are getting this light and noise then you have low oil pressure. I would drain the oil and change the filter as it is possible that you got a bad oil filter. If the problem persists then you may have a bad oil pump. This needs to be checked so that you do not have any engine damage.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Tapping noise at high rpm only.
Hello, thanks for writing in about your Ford E-150. The noise may be the engine is pinging from pre-ignition. This can be due to ignition timing that is too far advanced. Another possibility is that the EGR valve is not...
How can you tell if your alternator is working properly?
Hi, thanks for writing in. Usually this is identifiable by the charging system gauge in your car, which should typically read, at idle, 13.8 to 14.3 volts with no lights or accessories on (although some may charge at a slightly...
My car won't shift into high gear after a series of thumping while accelerating hard check engine light blinks then stops later.
Hi there. Since the check engine light is coming on I would usually start by scanning the computer for codes. When the light comes on the computer should store the code to let the technician know what it saw. If...
My car's reverse is acting as if it is in neutral.
Hi and thanks for your question. The issue is not the transmission but rather the transfer case. The low to high speed shift module on the transfer case is losing power. Check the harness to the shift module motor on...
Engine shakes after 10psi.
Check for problem codes anyway, even if the Check Engine light is not illuminated. There may be a transient code for a misfire (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/engine-is-misfiring-inspection). I would suspect that either the plugs (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/spark-plugs-replacement) or coils (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/ignition-coil-replacement) are failing under load, and...
Parasitic battery drain
When trying to locate the draw on a battery, I would normally use a process of elimination to locate where the draw(s) is coming from. With everything off, and measuring the draw, I would begin pulling individual fuses or relays....
Regarding valve cover gaskets
The valve cover gaskets will be the same for the GS or GSI. As long as the engine is a 1.6 liter engine you will not have any problem.
Error code p144c
Hello, thank you for writing in. The code you are receiving pertains to the EVAP canister purge valve. This valve is one of the components that the computer tests immediately upon start up, and then continuously during operation. With that...
Car is smoking under the hood.
Hi there. The best way to know for sure where the leak is coming from and what is causing the smoke under the hood is to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location to complete a smoke from...

Related articles

Do Cars Need Oil Changes More or Less Often As They Age?
Car engines wear out as miles add up. Older engines and engines with high mileage have lower tolerances, making more frequent oil changes necessary.
How to Buy a Good Quality Valve Cover Gasket
When When you open the hood of your car to take a look at your engine, you'll find it is kept safe with a valve cover. What keeps this valve cover in place and not moving around is the valve...
How to Buy a Good Quality Oil Pan Gasket
When When your garage floor looks like an oil slick, there’s a good possibility that you will be shopping for a new oil pan gasket in the near future. While oil leaks can also be caused by a loose oil...