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That's why I love so much my 1988 Volvo. No computers ! No "modules" ! Nothing to break ! It just keeps driving forever ... 17 years and counting ... tomorrow I drive it again !!!
By the way, new Volvos are full of electronic garbage. I guess they have the most of it, that's why they are at the bottom of the reliability list.
I chose the Pacifica because it was the only one available without the biggest electronic danger of all times, named "Stability Control". Imagine when instead of stupidly deciding to move your chair, a sick computer will stupidly decide to suddenly brake your front left wheel, and steer you into the incoming truck, in a fraction of a second ! That will happen to somebody. It's just a question of time. Those wires and "modules" need time to rust, crack and malfunction. The Firestone scandal was piece of cake in comparison with the future "Stability Control" scandal. I wonder who will be the manufacturer who will pay the legal bills ...
But the famous "reliability queen" Toyota Sienna is VSC equipped.
Go in the
"Toyota Sienna Owners: Problems & Solutions (2004+)"
and read the post
#1295 of 1745 vsc problem by arosati Feb 16, 2005 (10:27 am)
I wonder when manufacturers will understand that giving electronics the right to brake, steer, cut engine power, move chairs etc etc could become deadly for us and an immense liability for them ???
################################################
I paste the Toyota Sienna post here:
I have a 2004 sienna and I'd like to know if anyone has seen a problem similar to this. While driving approx 40mph on a straight and dry road the trac and vsc light went on. this was immediately followed by a rapid beeper going off in the dash. What followed next was dangerous - the steering wheel pulled sharply to the left( i believe the front left brake was being applied) the accelerator was disabled.(no physical damage to people or property) After the car slowed to 5mph the lights and beeping and braking all stopped - when you speed up to 5mph it all happens again. - sounds like fun? The car was nice enough to repeat this event to the toyota service manager. They found a toyota tsb telling of a 'steering angle sensor' problem that when occurs continually activates the vsc.
The car thinks its skidding through a sharp turn and is correcting - when its actually going straight. This tsb only affects 'early model year' siennas and sequoias -- These cars share some of the same vsc parts. They claim the steering sensor has been re engineered to return an error code that would disable the system when the part malfunctions rather than the incorrect steering angle. - There were no fault codes gathered in the onboard computer. The service manager also mentioned (unofficially) that the only way he knew of to the disable the vsc (not traction control) was to pull and short the wires going to the brake fluid sensor - the vsc turns itself off when you are low on brake fluid. The car is still at the dealer Id like to have any feedback before I have to pick it up tomorrow. thanks
Also it's a FWD or an AWD ?
I would say yours is made after September 28, 2004, but I could be wrong. It's because probably your lower control arms were OK. I have the clunking sound too and I am trying to get clues about it. My dealer replaced the sway bar links, but the clunk is still there.
This is what scares me, and that's why I don't have the courage to go back to the dealership. Why in the world they replaced your lower control arms if obviously your clunking is transmission related ?!? Obviously it didn't fix the noise !!!
It's interesting I got a call from the cute customer service lady. She says I am due for maintenance. Well ... I need to drink something to get some courage ... if I have a suspension noise perhaps they will replace my transmission ? Just kidding.
Perhaps next year ...
We just took a test drive and noticed that the DVD player was labeled:
DVD Audio/Video.
We are wondering if this player actually plays DVD-Audio discs ?
Thanks in advance
Question - does anyone know if an update is available for the GPS CD?
I have a 2005 with the dvd system. YES the DVD changer will store up to 5 audio CD's or 5 DVD's or any combination of 5.My wife and I took a couple hour drive up north and I tried out the DVD system and the CD's. I was able to swap between the DVD and the audio CD just by pushing the button that matches the disk you want to view/hear .
AS an aside Sitting in the second row watching a DVD as you cruise down the highway was GREAT! It was as comfortable as my living room.
I hope this helps answer your question.
Good Luck
These DVD-Audio discs are to CDs what CDs were to cassette taps or Records.
Crystal clear sound that really makes you feel like your next to the band members. Full surround sound.
We have a player in our house and once you've heard these discs you'd wish you could replace all your CDs.
I was just wondering if anyone has tried one out in the DVD-player. These type of discs wont play in your normal CD player or even in your regular DVD player. But they will play CDs and DVDs.
Anyone tried them ? {This would probably seal the deal for us.}
What plastic dashboard part comes off, in what order? Do you need special tools? I don't want to break the plastic parts trying to get to the radio.
IIHS Insurance institute for highway safety offset crash - best pick
Has the best rollover rating from NHTSA
Has the best frontal crash test rating - 5 Stars
Has the best side impact rating - 5 Stars
I know that this is probably a dumb idea so I thought I'd post it here to see who might give a reply. I just purchased a 2006 Pacifica FWD with heated leather and the 6 disc CD/DVD player as the only options. We couldn't find one in town with the few options we wanted (side air bags, auto hatchback, rear park sensor) that was not fully loaded and priced out of our range. So its been bugging me ever since I did all this research but couldn't find the car we wanted and had to settle on this one.
So now I find a used 2005 AWD that has all the above desired options with just under 30K miles on e-bay thats 500 miles away. My dumb idea is to offer a trade for the used pacifica for my brand new 2006!?! I know I am probably an idiot for thinking about this but I am not very happy with the base model we purchased. Plus I know I'll probably take a bath by losing out the on the warranty and the residual value, but I really want those options.
Can someone please talk some logic to me? :confuse:
What you have is a case of buyer's remorse. Take a vacation, upgrade your other toys with all of the money you saved by passing on the ebay special........Who knows , that little cream puff may have been titled in New Orleans......
If all this fails, talk to your CPA, he/she will knock some sense into you, and your acute case of upgraditis will go away in time.............
http://www.autocity.com/galerias/ver_galeria.html?c=122#
1) Trim piece around the gear shift lever. While you don't technically need to remove this piece, I suggest you do so as it will make removal of the next two pieces much easier. Pry from the rear of the piece to pop it up. You do not have to completely remove it but just loosen if from the other pieces.
2) Trim piece to the left of the radio. Remove by prying first at the top of the piece about one third in from the far left. You'll need to get your pry tool in about two to three inches. Once the first fastner pops, move your tool to about one third in from the right side and pry until the second fastner pops. There is one more fastner about two thirds down the piece which you can pop by hand. Also, the trim piece around the ignition will pop off with the left side trim piece.
3) Trim piece to the right of the radio. Use same technique as left piece. There are only two fastners on this piece.
To reinstall reverse the above. Pay particular attention to getting the lower tab of the left and right pieces into the slots. You will see a piece of red felt behind the slots.
I also took my first test drive in a 300C this past weekend. Since this is Chrysler's luxury car, I expected more from the interior. My Pacifica has spoiled me. The 300C's AC is all controlled by knobs and doesn't seem to have any auto features. The Pacifica's instruments are also far superior. I still like the 300C. It will probably be my wife's choice for a new car to replace her '96 Infiniti. But I appreciated the comfort and luxury of my Pacifca even more when I got back into it for the drive home.
I want to like the 300, but that rear end doesn't do it for me at all. Just a bit too plain for my taste. They could have done better back there, IMO. I agree about the interior, the plastics are not horrible but certainly not inviting either. Those engineers should have spent a little more time in german cars for inspiration. You're absolutely right, try to make the 300 upscale and not have an auto climate control system?
Speaking of climate control. Have you noticed if the Pac's auto-climate control turns on the defrost automatically or does that have to be done manually? Quite a few times, I get in the car expecting the system to clear up the windshield, only to end up doing it manually. It never comes on. The AC turns on when needed when the temp is warm but no the defrost on humid days. I could swear my 99 Intrepid ACC handled this task
Maybe I'm wrong.
I read in the newspaper that Delphi (the biggest American parts manufacturer) just bankrupted because people don't buy SUVs anymore (gas price related).
Definitely a HEMI powered Pacifica would be very nice, but I don't think I would buy it. Just thinking ... isn't a V8 engine lack of respect for the planet ??
The irony is that when people buy American cars w. problems, they say they will never buy the car again. However, when a European car gives similar problems, you don't get the same angry response. There is an amazing percption of quality in non-amercan cars than american cars. Look at Land Rover and VW's reliabilty surveys. Owners have problems but they still love their cars because they drive so wonderfully and are so luxuriously appointed.. Interesting. That's what happens when you buy an american car w. a bad reputation, you don't enjoy it because you're waiting for something to happen cuz it's expected. But for now, I am going to enjoy this car.
The sound is gone. I am not sure about the leak yet, but they said it wasn't drain tubes (that TSB is about the A/C drain on the passenger side), but they sealed something on the cowel.
:shades:
In my case that replacement did not do it, it is still clunking. I am very confident that the sound is transaxle related. I'll wait to see if it gets any worse, before I take it back. I could live with the present noise, if it is what I think it is: a wide tolerance part in the transaxle.
An American Car Fan.(parts from everywhere)
Last week I was traveling south on I-95, and slowed with braking/stopping traffic ahead of me. My Pacifica safely came to full stop but the Windstar coming in behind me didn't. The jolt was hard enough to dislodge my 4 year olds empty car seat and jar my husband and me a bit.
When we got out of the car, I was expecting to see the rear gate smashed in. :sick: The first thing I saw was the Windstar with its front in completely wrecked. What I saw on the Pacifica astounded me... barely nothing. A few scuffs on the bumper with minimal separation between the plastic and fiber glass and the bumper is a little loose. In fact, I was leaning against the tail gate and the damage could not be seen. The trooper thought I was witness. (Well I was, I guess, but now how he thought)
The Pacifica truly proved its 5 star rating and if I had to buy another car tomorrow, it would be another Pac!
L
I was born in Houston, Tx. , I can assure you in the South , AWD is a joke and a marketing ploy.........It sounds good, so does a $3000 gas generator during our next Hurricane Rita (another media hype).................
Honestly, Pacifica is one of the greatest cars on the planet. :shades:
Thanks.
Thanks again.
From what I have read, the Pacifica is a great long distance vehicle, would you agree? Also, what is your approximate MPG?
Thanks for the feedback.