Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Can anyone please advise at what mileage to change the timing belt pf 2001 Grand Caravan Sport?
Thanks.
Also my Son says that it looks like my rear brakes are also disc and not drum. Would these need to be replaced at the same time too?
Thanks for any insight folks. :surprise:
Best Regards,
Shipo
I am not sure what is in the Mitsubishi 3.0 V-6, or if they still even offered that in 2001. Most likely you have either the 3.3 or 3.8.
Maybe you are thinking about the serpentine belt rather than timing belt, which drives all the accessories. That I changed first time at about 60K miles as it was starting to chirp at low engine speeds, but it was still working OK. If it starts chirping at you, it is telling you to change it!
A bit of trivia:
When we ordered our 1998 GC Sport, we were told that the only engine available for that model was the 3.3 (confirmed by the Dodge web site), however, since Chrysler was running short of 3.3s, they had made an unpublished modification to the "29N" option that included the 3.8, which we managed to get in our GC. I kept checking, and for the duration of the 1998 model year, the 29N option continued to show the 3.3 as the only available mill. Starting with the 1999 model year, 29N was configurable with the 3.8, however, that changed mid model year if I recall correctly, and it wasn't until 2002 or 2003 before I saw the 3.8 become available on the "Sport" model again (I never checked in 2000 and 2001 so it may have been available then too).
Best Regards,
Shipo
Errr, really? I just went out and checked the difference between our 1998 and our 2003, and yes, the intake plenum is quite different, but I don't see how that translates to easier access to the rear plugs. Well, maybe that is too strong, I cannot see the rear plugs on either, however, on the 2003 it should be easier to reach over the top of the engine and feel for them... maybe. I didn't actually try because both engines were hot.
Best Regards,
Shipo
i have enquired to a few auto part stores and none of them know if i have a relay or not, or where i might find it. they don't know if the temperature sensor for the guage (which works fine) doubles as sensor to turn the fans on and off. does anyone have any direct experience with this particular problem? thanx for your advice/knowledge.
Frank in Dallas
New battery
Car hasn't been started in over a month and it was fine the last time.
Now, when attempting to start, it simply churns away without ignition.
I checked around the wires to make sure no critters had gotten in and chewed them away or loose, but everything appears to be OK.
Sptayed quick start into the air cleaner but nothing.
There's no sign of any missing in the crank. It's as smoioth as can be, only it won't start.
My husband unbolted it, but he still couldn't see how to change it. Can anyone advise me?
Dusty
Any ideas?
Thanks for your consideration,
Jeannine Fallon
Corporate Communications
Edmunds.com
Hope that helps.
Since I bought the Van I have this problem. No one can find the problem. The engine will start, will run idle and acceleration is good. The problem start when the veh reach a constant speed "on highway" The engine will start to stutter for few second. It feel like pushing on the break, then il will do it again and again in different interval. If I pull a trailer or if the Van is full of people it won't do it. What can be the problem ?
Thanks
What? At 90K miles you never changed the oil filter? For sure it can help, change that oil filter and your engine will be happier. It doesn't mean that it will solve your problem, but replace that filter as quick as possible, maybe it is clogged. You should replace the filter at each oil change.
Thanks in advance, any help is greatly appreciated
No such thing as a dumb question :-) You might want to post your question in the Aftermarket Sound Systems & OEM Upgrades Forum, where there are a lot of experts who can probably give you the answer you're looking for.
ClaireS
MODERATOR
Need help getting around? claires@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Tell everyone about your buying experience: Write a Dealer Review
You can usually get the whole unit bought and installed for about $200-$250 including a radio/CD player that runs $100-$125. The low end Pioneer unit put into our 1996 Caravan works just fine, though the buttons are smaller than the OEM unit. and the display sometimes is to faint in bright sunlight, but hey it is a 9 year old vehicle, so I don't expect it to be pristine anymore.
If you feel adventurous and want to do it yourself, Crutchfield has an on line store with lots of information, though their prices can be beat elsewhere.
PROBLEM 2: The rear wiper motor blows the fuse after just a few sec./minutes of operation.
Anyone had these problems on similar vehicles? Any thoughts on how I should precede?
Jim
Problem 2: This one I don't know specifically. I would think a regular diagnostic tree would turn something up in that particular circuit.
Thanks again,
Oliver
Thanks,
Jim
I purchased by pre-owned 03 Dodge GC Sport last year. After a week of ownership, I started having brake problems, so I took it in. They turned the rotors, replaced the pads and checked the lines. Six months later, they did it again, because the vibration was back...all was fine and dandy until about a month and a half ago.
I was driving to the store when I heard a *crunch* followed by *click click click* any time I applied my breaks... additionally, my pedal would go all the way to the floor. Lucky for me, I was very close to the dealership, so I pulled in.
After some testing, they said it was some sort of probem with the ABS Sensor on the front driver side wheel, so I had it fixed.
Tonight, I was on my way home, and the ABS light came on again. This time, there is no crunch or clicking...just the light...my brakes also appeared to be working fine.
I've had a lot of problems with the dealership regarding my breaks... :lemon: and finally got the BBB involved around Christmas time.
I know there are no recalls, I'm just wondering if I'm alone here...is there an ABS problem with the 03 DGC Sport?
What can I tell my dealership when I go in? I kinda feel like this should have been addressed the last time I was in there (six weeks ago) when they replaced some part of the ABS and charged me the deductible for my EW.
I guess I'm just looking for some advice...I'm ready to drive the darn thing thru their fancy schmancy plate glass window and walk away...
Thanks in advance
Brandy
One thing I have noticed from our 1998 GC Sport is that if the wheels are mounted with an impact wrench instead of a torque wrench (lacking a Dodge specified torque setting, I use the one from my 530i, which is 88.5 lb-ft), the brake rotors have a tendency to warp and cause the pedal to pulse under braking (the harder the braking, the more intense the pulsing). Since I've done all of the work on the 2003, I have no idea if it is as susceptible to the rotor warping as the 1998 seems to be (btw, this issue isn't just a DC issue, all cars are going to lighter rotors, and the problem is very wide spread). With that in mind, who has done the work on your GC? The dealer? An independent shop? Do you know if they used a pneumatic impact wrench to mount the wheels?
Best Regards,
Shipo
Best Regards,
Shipo
Yup. Buy one of these:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00944642000- -
The cost is $27, plus the cost of a 19mm socket (and an optional 6" extension) and retorque your wheels to 85 lb-ft.
Best Regards,
Shipo
For those who may not know, the star pattern can best be described this way:
If you number the top lugnut #1, and then continue numbering them in a clockwise fashion, you would then loosen 1,3,5,2,4 in that order, then retighten them in the same order.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Hoping you might be able to answer a question for me. I also have an 03 GC, but mine is a Sport. I'm trying to replace the front pads/rotors & I can't for the life of me get the old rotors to budge. The calipers, bracket & old pads are out of the way. I've soaked it with liquid wrench but nothing moves. I assume the nut in the center is holding the axle in place and does not allow the rotor to slide off. Looking at the new rotors, it appears that there is a center hub with a larger area behind the rotor that holds the wheel lugs? I've tried hitting the rotor with a rubber mallet, prying it off, etc. Hard to get much leverage. My question is.. is there a trick to this? I also have the 4-wheel disc brakes (with ABS). I have had some pedal pulsation & this really annoys me, and this is usually a couple hour job, but I'm at my wit's end. Plus, my wife is without her van so as you can imagine this doesn't help matters.
Thanks in advance for any advice you could pass along
Jason
To remove this annoyance, I used a small sharp cold chisel and a small hammer and simply split the outer washer-like portion of the retainer. Once split, I used a pair of pliers to rip it off of the stud.
If that is your problem, you should be good to go once the retainer is removed (it is unnecessary/undesirable to replace it). If you've already removed it, and still cannot get the rotor off, let me know as I'll have a few other questions to ask.
Best Regards,
Shipo
On a side note.. on other vehicles I've owned & maintained, I've always been able to find lots of useful info on the web. But it seems to be hard to find much info on the GC.. maybe it's a vehicle that owners don't do much of their own work? Anyways, I just found it interesting. I can't even find a Haynes repair manaul for the 01-up DCX minivans.
I really appreciate your help because I am very frustrated as rotors/pads is normally a pretty straightforward job.
Thanks again, Jason