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also have a 99 with a 3.8 and 4spd and 36k+.. it has been perfect..
i know 2 people that have had tranny problems with DC vans, but know many others that have not..and I cannot figure out why.. seems random.. somebody knows the %..
Also copy the April '02 p.81 Reliability History which shows for the '96 T&C transmission problem rate >14.9%(black circle). The average (p.77) for '96 transmission problem rate is 2.0-5.0%(red half circle). If Consumer Reports has documented this problem surely Chrysler knows and any denial can be called dishonest.
I am with you, we gave Chrysler a try and will never go back. Right now our AC is out and the left rear vent window will no longer close via the power button. You have to manually go back and turn the mechanism.
The problems just keep adding up on our '96. But, like I have said before, it is paid for and cheaper to repair than to replace.
I have gathered also that these minivans have AC problems?
I am in the market for a used minivan. Am I right that post 1997 minvans are better?
The 7 yr. 100,000 mile offer ends May 31st.
I have checked through web sites and in person at a local dealership. The best price that I could get is $24,052.00 for a new EX-add sliding left power door.
I have been putting this purchase off and looking for alternative solutions for about a month.The reason for waiting is the trade in offer that I received.
Checking 4 sites, including Edmond's, NADA, and Kelley, I came up with trade-in value of $8,900 up to $10,800 with NADA being the highest.
The best offer that I could get on the deal was $7,200. This would be a loss of over $12K in a 3 year period of ownership.
I have checked into everything from used cars to buying a wreck at auction and having it repaired. I opted to try and sell my vehicle privately-but now my time is running out on the warranty offer, and I could use some input from other owners.
I understand that this warranty has a one-time deductible of $100.00. After that, there should be no other out-of-pocket expense for repairs or labor for anything related to the power train.
I travel alone several times a year, so do need a good, reliable vehicle.
Thanks for any experience that you all can share with me.
I, also, am used to buying used vehicles, and getting many years of service out of them. Unfortunately this vehicle has become a mountain of problems. It is a Ford Explorer. I have gone into detail of my troubles in the "Perpetual Ford Explorer Woes" town hall message board.
It is currently at the transmission shop. When I get it out, I need to return to the a/c shop, as I have been twice and spent $180 and the a/c is still not operating properly.
The suspension is terrible. Many times that I have had it in for service I have asked my mechanic to check-but he never heard the noises that I did-would be hard to miss now.
Also, though I have done the recall work on the engine-actually had it done way before the recall ever came out-the engine has a history of failure. This vehicle was 2 years old at purchase and had 46,000 miles on it. I have never spent that amount of money on any vehicle in my life and expected much more out of it.
The last car that I bought before it was a '88 Mazda 929, bought in '92 for $8,000 (also at that time the most that I had ever spent on a car!). That car now has 184,000 miles on it, and is how I am getting around while my "new" car is in and out of various shops. It is not in the best of shape, as my son had it for 2 years and the old car was lucky to see an oil change! It has seen better days, but hey, it's running!!!!!
If I go for another used vehicle, I am considering a Toyota. The man at the junkyard(oh, yes, I have been to the junkyard as well-ha!) told me that he gets alot of calls for the engine in my Explorer. When I asked him what he thought about a Toyota engine he remarked, "YA CAN'T KILL ONE OF 'EM".
Nothing would make me happier than to find another used car that would be as good as the Mazda has been. The Ford, I guess, has me running scared of buying used!!!
I just thought the warranty offered by Chrysler sounds very good, and there is no cost for it.
I am still mulling over my options, and do appreciate your input.
I just drove through a few dealerships(it is well after closing time!) and didn't see alot that interested me. I thought maybe the Rav 4-but didn't really like the look.
Yes, the Chrysler is very attractive and comfortable. I rented one for a week last month, and it felt as if I was sitting in the living room! A very nice, quiet ride.
Just have to convince myself to let go of that rusty money-LOL!
The second transmission failure happened when towing a boat for the first time. I was using the transmission according to the advice of the dealer's service manager (talked to him 3 days before the trip). Transmission failed while climbing a hill. I had 2 transport trucks on my tail and 2 more coming toward me in the other lane. There was just enough of a shoulder on the road to pull over - not even enough time to put on the turn indicators!
The only other major problems I had with the van was the air conditioner (gave up trying to make it work) and the coolant lines to the rear heaters failed every 2 years due to rust (had them disconnected). Otherwise, it was a good van.
I am fixing up the Explorer as much as I can and will try to sell it myself. Just got it back from transmission shop and was told it(the transmission) was perfect inside. Had servos replaced and TPS sensor. Still have to get a/c checked as I just spent $180 a month ago, and again it is clicking on and off.
The deal on the EX was an advertised price. They were used over a weekend Golf Tournament which Chrysler sponsors. The ones that I looked at still had less than 200 miles on them.
I have purchased a '97 Camry, and will now probably hold off a year or two on the EX.
I really loved it-but the $$ and not having sold my vehicle.
I hope to use the Camry like the Mazda that I've had for so long. It has been very well cared for and still has the extended bumper to bumper warranty. It would be nice to have it for an everyday back and forth to work vehicle, and maybe get a T&C later as well.
I run alot of miles traveling to the coast and could keep miles on the minivan down by having the extra car. They will have the offer again, as they are one of the local dealerships that participate every year in the golf tournament.
The EX price was $24,052.00. That was including the left power sliding door. I see NOW their price is $24,220.00. I can only assume that the EX they have remaining has an extra option, perhaps the side air bags. Still, the best price that I could find, and better than any that I received using online sources.
Also, this was a local dealer (about 25 miles away) and they provide a vehicle to use anytime service work is performed-a definite plus for me as getting cars to and from garages and getting around in the meantime is always a MAJOR HASSLE!
I am still quite infactuated with the T&C-and still hope to get one-but perhaps it will now have to wait a year or so.
I just bought a 96 Grand Voyager in 3/02, with 84,200 miles on it. The van had transmission rebuild in 7/01, and at that time the car had 78,398 mileage on it. After 2 months of owning this vehicle and drove for less than 400 miles, the transmission went off. We are supposed to have a warranty with "recondition service warranty with 12 month or 15,000 miles" with the shop that fix the transmission (local shop, not the dealer). My problem is that I purchased this van in Illinois and therefore the transmission shop was back in Illinois. However, I have shipped this van to west coast in March due to job transfer and the van is now in California. I called the shop in Illinois and they said that they will honor the warranty if I ship the van back to Illinois.. but it's impossible. Shipping a car costs $1000 one way from California to Illinois! So I am stocked here in California with a van that I only drove for less than 500 miles (it has 84,666 miles on it now). The local transmission shop quoted that I will need $1600 - $2200 to fix the transmission. Anyone knows anyway that I can ask the Illinois's transmission shop to pay for at least part of the repairing costs? How much can I sell this van if I don't fix the transmission?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
As far as selling with a rotten tranny, good luck. These vans don't hold value well on the used market as it is and have the tranny reputation to deal with. I just traded a '96 Town & Country with 92,000 miles and could only get $4750 as my best trade. I would think trying to sell with a bad transmission would put you in the $1000 to $2000 range.
By the way, the transmission on our '96 T&C went out at 59,000 miles.
I wish you the best of luck!
Which way is it? Is a single occurrence proof or not?
Thanks In Advance
Steve
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SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
i heard it has lots of transmission problems. does it has good engine? please write me
http://carpoint.msn.com/vip/usedsingleyear.aspx?modelid=640&src=vip#Reliability
I don't think the 97's had as many problems as the 96's but then again I don't think the 96's were that bad either. The majority of the transmission problems were from the late 80's to early 90's. People still had some problems later but they are classified as "infrequent" by that point.
But, recently my transmission started to make noise when shifting from P to R (and back) and N to D (and back). Is this a sign of bad things to come? My sister's T&C transmission went out at 65K. My van was also manufactured early in the model year and I'm afraid the tranny might be a '97 part. My seat belts were. I think my brakes might have been as there is a TSB for master cylinder leakage for '97 Chrysler vans.
Also, my van has 59K and I'm afraid to wait too long as it's trade in value might decrease sharply. Is it time for a Toyota or Mazda?
My husband refuses to buy another Dodge.
in a new van that will last 7-10 years without a major repair. And, after reading the TSBs, I think there is much more that could go wrong in the near future than just the transmission.
The TSBs don't necessarily mean you will have a problem with a particular vehicle.
IMO older DC vans have such low value you might as well keep them as long as possible.
You are obviously a supporter of domestic vehicles. I have no desire to change your mind.
I agree that the Honda minivan is a shame to the Honda Nameplate & reputation. However, my research indicates that the Toyota and Mazda (which has Ford components) have better reliability records based on statisical research.
I don't like the GM Venture because it drives like a truck. I prefer the small minivans that drive like cars. Maybe all Dodges aren't bad. Perhaps mine is a lemon . . . the master cylinders failing at 12K and 13 months must have been a indicator of things to come. I was lucky not to have been in an accident.
Thanks for your comments.
IMO it is so small inside as to offer no advantage over sedan-- and third seat is too close to rear of vehicle.
I'll probably keep my Caravan Sport for awhile.
The brake fiasco put a crimp in our relationship but ...
It's just the right size, drives well, and has a better turning radius than many sedans. If I could only feel more confident that several major repairs weren't headed my way.
However, I haven't driven the latest Sienna. Oh well, if only BMW made a minivan, I had lots of money, and . . .
Has anyone notice any pattern?
My 01 T&C EX has 18k miles, had the AC compressor replaced under warranty, but no other problem.