# Chirping 2006 Dodge Caravan **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** caravan, noises, dodge\ **Created:** [April 14, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/chirping-2006-dodge-caravan/29122 "2009-04-14T04:22:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![karenstabile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8797f3/32.png) [@karenstabile](https://community.cartalk.com/u/karenstabile)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/chirping-2006-dodge-caravan/29122/1 "2009-04-14T04:22:41Z")
My 2006 Dodge Caravan chirps (sounds like a chorus of crickets) when I accelerate. The tricky part of bringing it into the mechanic is that it stops making the sound sometimes, and then other times it only chirps when I slow down. Any ideas? Is it dangerous? Is it expensive to fix? ---
**Author:** ![galant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/77aa72/32.png) [@galant](https://community.cartalk.com/u/galant)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 4:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/chirping-2006-dodge-caravan/29122/2 "2009-04-14T04:33:36Z")
Is it like the valves are making the noise or it is more from the belt pulley area? The valves could be from a bad knock sensor. Have they checked the serpentine belt, pulley water pump etc.? What engine does the van have? ---
**Author:** ![karenstabile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8797f3/32.png) [@karenstabile](https://community.cartalk.com/u/karenstabile)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/chirping-2006-dodge-caravan/29122/3 "2009-04-14T04:47:41Z")
I haven’t checked anything yet, because the noise isn’t always consistent so it’s hard to describe to a mechanic. It sounds like a belt to me. The engine is a V6. A week ago I would have said it always happens as I’m accelerating. When I hit the breaks, but had not yet stopped, the sound would disappear. This week, it seems to be happening more often as I slow down. It is always in the process of accelerating or decelerating, but it will sometimes switch as to which one it is more prevalent with. ---
**Author:** ![MG-McAnick](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mg-mcanick/32/188_2.png) [@MG-McAnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MG-McAnick)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 10:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/chirping-2006-dodge-caravan/29122/4 "2009-04-14T10:29:36Z")
To test for a chirping serpentine belt, catch it when it’s in a chirpy mood and spray some household cleaner on the groovy side of the belt. I usually do it running, but you may not want to as the spray can go all over the place with the fan tossing it around. Besides, it’s a bit dangerous. It will distribute all over the belt as soon as you restart it. If it quits chirping, that’s it. It’s only a very temporary “fix”. Any cleaner will work, windex, pledge, 409… It’s just to wet things down a bit.