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I have asked the dealership here to look at it a number of times, and, of course, they can never reproduce the problems so they send me on my way, usually with an explanation that these things happen in the city or in deep canyons. So, this week I took video of the spinning map display and pictures of the wide-open desert surrounding me (no canyon, no city) and took them into the dealership. That got their attention, so they checked for software updates, etc. and "talked to engineering on the East coast".
After all that the dealership said that Chrysler will not replace the part because that's how it's supposed to work. The explanation being that the spinning map is a recalibration cycle done by the system when it loses contact with the satellite. If so, the system sure loses contact with the satellite a lot!
That option cost a lot of money, and it does not work very well at all! Has anyone seen this behavior in the navigation system? Could the problems be due to geography (I'm in Idaho)? Does anyone have a contact higher up in Chrysler that I could communicate this issue to?
Instead of the storage nook under the dash cup holders, it's got a plastic cover for a computer that's taking up that space. Is that the computer for the Sirius Satellite radio?
Also, has anyone found any cheap floot consoles to put in between the driver and passenger seats?
thanx
I also noticed an issue going from P->D or sometimes from P->N where it feels like the car is in second gear and the torque converter (T/C) is slipping close to stall speed. I was concerned the forward clutch was slipping. I have been monitoring the ATF which does not appear or smell burnt so maybe the issue is within the T/C.
In the past, I noticed a buzzing noise from other Chrysler vehicles when they come to a stop. I noticed it in my car in the Taco Bell drive through the other day with the sound reflecting off the wall of the building. I also noticed it when coming to a stop during a 2->1 downshift with the window down. If you drive away in L and maintain first gear, it doesn't make the sound coming to a stop. I guess it is a solenoid in the trans (valve body), but man, its pretty freakin' loud.
Just drove to Orlando, FL from Detroit in this van two weeks ago. It rocks as a long distance traveler. After 2615 miles, it was averaging 23.7 mpg. Not bad at 4200 lbs + three adults, baby, luggage, front and rear A/C running and the cruise set at 70-78 mph. The Stow-N-Go and overall packaging of the vehicle is great! The base Caravan I rented last year with the 3.3L only got 22 mpg. Yes, rental fleets do enhance consumer sales, I would have never considered a Caravan until I rented that stripped down model. The only complaint I have is the build quality - which is surprisingly worse than that of my Ford Rouge Plant built 2004 Mustang GT Conv.
I have never done a trip like this without a map. The nav system in this van, while being of prehistoric design, works sweet. The only real issues - NavTec needs to update the map listing for a Taco Bell in Columbia, SC - the nav system took me to one that has been closed for several years. And my hotel in Chattanooga, TN was on the east side of I-75, but the nav system had me driving in circles on the west side. Finding the next Subway off of the freeway at 78 mph was super easy. Getting through the points of interest to add to the address book is also very easy...site-seeing in Lexington, KY, SeaWorld, Animal Kingdom, the timeshare condo...
Road noise is excellent in the back seat. With my head over the rear wheelwells, I can't believe how little noise comes through. Wind noise is about average. Makes my 2005 F-150 seem like a Town Car.
The 62-watt 6-speaker audio system SUCKS! At max volume and the windows down, good luck hearing anything on the freeway. With the 6-disc DVD changer and nav system, the only way to upgrade power is to add a speaker level input amp(s). Definitely going to make sure the next van has the premium system.
I need to find a rear sway bar for this thing too. Maybe the T&C Touring suspension or towing package(?) one is readily available.
PS - I'm an automatic transmission engineer for a major tier one supplier from Detroit. This is my first non-Ford vehicle. It will almost definitely be replaced with a 2009MY Grand Caravan, 3/16/09 when my current lease ends. The new ones looks sweet. Too bad you can't Swivel-N-Stow. But they did add power opening sliding door windows. Very nice.
I have a 2005 T & C touring. I am looking for the in cabin air filter. I read online about it being on the passenger side below the glove box but not sure if it is different model year. I have looked under there and tried to find it but no luck. Does the 2005 have one?? Thanks
C.B.
I'd appreciate any feedback.
Thanks!.
I don't know if the OEM tow package includes wiring for elextric brakes. My guess is not.
Leather Interior Group $2,100
Package includes >>
Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats-First and Second Rows Heated Front Seats
Overhead Console w/Trip Computer & E-info center
Air Conditioning with 3-Zone Automatic Temp Control
Air Filtering
Power 8-Way Driver and 6-Way Front Passenger Seats
Vehicle Information Center
By the way my T & C has 60000 miles on it and has performed outstanding. The only issues I had were with sway bar links and a wiring harness that broke. Both were fixed under warranty with no problems. The engine worried me from day one because it uses some oil between changes, but so far the engine has performed flawlessly. I just make sure to check the level between changes.
Recently, on vacation we rented a T and C base model with the 3.3 Liter engine. The car had 4000 miles on it and felt like it wouldn't last 20000 miles. What a huge difference. I was so glad to get my touring back when we got home.
What do you guys think about the 4.0 L engine with the 6 speed transmission? Hopefully, it will be a reliable set up. I may be looking at a Pacifica next.
We did not know what happend. We got a ride from our friends who lived by there. Towed it back to the dealership and they said the gas gade got stuck. They also said other ones had the same problem and it was not recalled. He said he will never by a Chrysler minivan again. Now he's looking a Buick Enclave. ( I said look at the new Highlander)Has this ever happened to any one else?
Independent shop replaced the second pair at about 54k. Now they've gone out again. Alignment was checked with new tires at 45k. Dealer says 40k is normal replacement interval.
My gm got it's first set at 225k, only because I hit a curb.
Is this a weak link? :confuse:
Thanks for a little, but not enough.
Can anyone explain what the little 'ON/OFF' button does that's located immediately to the left hand side of the power sliding doors and power liftgate buttons in the overhead console?
This button appears to have NO function in either my 2006 or my In-laws 2005 Grand Caravan. I thought that it would be a lockout on the power doors, like the lockout buttons that are usually found next to a vehicle's drivers power window block. But.... that isn't what this button appears to be for.
The manuals in BOTH vehicles fail to mention this button, nor it's function.... although it's shown in two diagrams of the overhead console. WTH???? A search of the forums here came up empty, so I guess I'm the first person to wonder what this thing's for.
Thanks in advance for any feedback any of you have.
-SM
I find it humorous that it would fail to be labeled (or documented in the owner manual), but then again, this is a Chrysler product....
C.B.
I didn't think to check to see if the rear B-pillar door buttons were disabled! I forgot about those! I'm sure that you've nailed it.
Thanks again.
-SM
We did not know what happend. We got a ride from our friends who lived by there. Towed it back to the dealership and they said the gas gade got stuck. They also said other ones had the same problem and it was not recalled. He said he will never by a Chrysler minivan again. Now he's looking a Buick Enclave. ( I said look at the new Highlander)Has this ever happened to any one else?
My wife had a 1994 Camry, and got stranded on the highway. Come to find out, she ran out of gas, even though the gas hand showed a half tank, it got stuck. That was a 2 yr old Camry with 25000 miles on it. I haven't bought a Toyota since, either (NOT).
Our automatic door locking which is supposed to occur at a certain speed ( about 17 mph or 25 kph) has stopped working so we have to remember to do it ourselves as we set off.
Has anyone else had this problem? Where is the likely location of the failed component?
DougW
BTW, I have NOT yet received a letter from Toyota extending the warranty for the defective part that will break and either or both Sienna front doors will not remain open. :lemon:
are not harmful, such as a loose gas cap.
Has anybody any ideas, or should we just get on with it and go to the local dealer and put our trust in them ?
Thanks.....DougW
Thanks
jimmy
Interesting, but as you might expect, the computer analyzer message is all in English rather than Spanish, adding to our reassurance. DougW
Any comments ? DougW
C.B.
C.B.