are the Latin word for "death"?  I  wouldn't bail out too quickly on this Caravan just yet.  I believe there is  still hope.  I am assuming that you have the 3.3 liter v-6 that most of  those had.  The gas smell is most likely coming from leaky seals in the  fuel rail.  The bad news is that you will need to replace the entire rail  (available only from Chrysler) and your husband may be able to do it under the  oak tree provided he is not a smoker.  Your second problem, the "low fuel"  warning light and accompanying bell are due to a defective sending unit in the  tank itself.  That is a problem best left to a professional mechanic unless  you want

PS  What are some good questions I should ask any  potential garage or mechanic in order to screen out the bad ones?

Dear Clueless,
   
One good question I find helpful to  know the answer to is this:  "How long do you work on tough problems before  you get out your biggest hammer?"  Furthermore, "Just how big is your  biggest hammer?"  Seriously, though, there are things you need to know  about any shop, independent or dealership.  The first thing you need to  know is how experienced they are on the problem you are having with your  car.  As cars age the dealership is often the worst place to take problems  because their mechanics are trained in the latest models, not how to patch up  old jalopies.  Secondly, it is important to know how they are going to  compute the charges for the services they are going to perform.  If some  busy guy wipes his hands on a grease rag while mumbling something from under the  hood of another car about "a couple hundred bucks" you may rest assured  that the bill will be substantially different when you return to pick it up, but if the shop seems diligent to quote your repair with a  written estimate then that is a positive sign.  Also, don't be afraid to  ask to see credentials.  Our industry has been offering certification for  well over 30 years and, believe it or not, cars are becoming MORE sophisticated not less.  You will want your Honda serviced by a competent  certified professional who can keep it running like the manufacturer  intended.  I hope this helps.

JB Griffin is an ASE Certified Master Technician.  He owns and  operates JB's Japanese and American Auto Repair in Evensville, Tennessee.  You may e-mail your car questions to jeepster1515@yahoo.com (mailto:Jeepster1515@yahoo.com). Be sure  to watch him on WDEF News Channel 12 each Thursday morning at 7:30 AM.  You  can have your questions answered live!  Listen to The Saturday Morning  Garage on Saturday mornings from 7-9 on WGOW 102.3 FM where you will have the  opportunity to have more of your questions answered by JB, Steve Ray and Don  Britton.