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Your dealer is uninformed, and knows how to contact Chrysler and find out for him or her self. Insist they call Chrysler to find out forsure
If the folks who received the letter about the 10 yr / 150,000 extended warranty could post the letter or give more details on the letter I would really appreciate it.
If I could post the date of the letter; who (person who signed /department ) sent the letter; if there is a reference number (e.g. TSB#, etc); who should be contacted if the Pacifica has the rusted sub frame.
I would appreciate anyinfo. Thanks.
Thank you and god bless. Gene
Will let you know how I make out.
kcram - Pickups/Wagons Host
I pulled info on my vin, it has a build date of September 27, 2003. The Chrysler rep I spoke to could not tell me how just certain Pacificas were chosen to be covered under the warranty. Interesting.
Hope everyone has a good weekend.
May I suggest calling 800 992 1997. Chrysler help line and go to the problem area. Your dealer should be willing to help. If you seem to get the idea you are being pushed aside, talk to the service manager. Tell him / her you want toe zone rep to be notified. If for any reason the service manager will not call the zone rep. go to the dealers manager or owner. Tell him the problem and ask for his assistance. I am sure that will help. A word of caution... be cool and polite these people are bullied all day and that will get you no where! Be as pleasant as you can. Be sure to call the phone # above after you do all of the above first.
I have yet to tell someone this who followed this advice that dod not resolve their problem. The key to all this is butter your bread as you go. Be polite, give some kind remarks to anyone you can this wins them over often. Do NOT THREATEN A LAW INVOLVEMENT. Chrysler has enough Llawers that can keep an issue in court for the rest of your life. You don't have the money to fight that long.. Be wise and practicle and win. Hope this helps.
Summary where I am at with my vehicle:
(1) 04 Pacifica - VIN not covered under warranty,
(2) Mechanic told me not to drive Pacfica due to rusted sub frame.
(3) Took Pacifica to dealer - service manager - rust not too bad; sub frame was damaged in "impact"; car was never in accident. Said sub frame does not to be replaced, could be fixed by welding.
(4) Have an appointmenr with a different mechanic. I do plan to get pictures of the sub frame at this appointment.
Any suggestions on info I should get from this mechanic to work with Chrysler?
IMO, the least productive and swift paths to resolution include petitions, NHTSA campaigns, and class-action lawsuits. Sure, you may get action, but probably long after you've already fixed it yourself or disposed of the vehicle, at which point you're probably looking at a $500 coupon off the price of a vehicle purchase from that manufacturer, or something similarly useless to you.
If you've got a good dealership (don't blame them - no one there caused the issue), all the better to have help getting resolution from the manufacturer, but definitely working with the manufacturer is more likely to yield timely and pertinent results.
I love your post. I'd like to copy it and credit you in the future!
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But do it any way you want, I have posted this several times over the years and I have watched people with problems go to the Lemon law, and got very little. I have see people threaten Chrysler, and get no results. But good luck, I have said my last about how to get effective results.
Thanks.... and I agree with you... threatening lawyers and sueing is not the way to handle it.
Today, driving on the Henry Hudson parkway in NYC going north and going real slow over the crappy road there, I heard my front end clunk but this was different. Got home no problems but car felt funny. Weather is crappy today so I didn't notice until I went back to car get something an hoot looked like it was pried open slightly. Big gap on passenger side fender. Popped hood and saw strut poked itself through the strut mount! Here's the pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimsfastls1
Anybody have a copy of that letter? Is that regarding all suspension issues? Just curious. I don't think this affects me, but seeing this failure, I think I know where that clunking was from. I think the bearing was seized. Too wet out now, and only have a 1 car garage. Will pull strut tomorrow. 48,000 miles in city traffic. Probably time for new struts anyway.
I do believe Fiat is doing a better job of helping with problems than the other two companies that robbed the Chrysler name of money and a solid name.
Please let us know how things turn out
farout
I just bough a 2004 Pac, And same problem, it has been more time with the mechanic that me with the doctor. Lol. Well
We replace Inner and outer tie rods both sides, New breaks, New weels, aligment, Balance, Lower control arms both sides. but no luck.
Do you have any updates?
Thanks for the info.
mine went away when I had my motor mounts done....but I only did one of the three....pac ran great...no more clunking....a year later it's returning....slowly....I know I need to get all the mounts replaced. Also the strut mounts....they cause a lot of rattling and if they break loose you'll end up with the strut poking through the hood of your vehicle. Good luck! We all need it with these cars....LOL!
Wife asked me on Mother's day when she was getting her car back (she was using another car of ours so she wasn't w/o a car)
So here's the full set of pics I took. Did not replace with OEM because OEM unit failed where the holes are (see pics). There are 3 holes outside the circumference of the hole for the strut bolt and I feel this contributed to the failure. The aftermarket part did not have holes, so I went with that based on my observations (again see pics). I am usually a 100% OEM guy. I would like to think the engineers had a reason for those holes, but I feel they contributed to the failure.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimsfastls1/sets/72157626568942019/
Car rides just great. Right side banging noise gone when making right turn and going up over a bump or small curb.
I still hear some kind of chassis noise going over bumps. This I don't believe is anywhere in the steering/suspension. Did a hard stop once and now I heard this bang on the drivers side. I assume it probably has something to do with that strut mount as well. I will be replacing it as I don't trust it now.
I hope these pics help you guys.
There's a way to do it as well with a jack under the control arm, bu I used the compressors.
After you have the strut mount and spring all bolted up nice, you can remove the strut spring compressors and install the entire assembly back into the car.
Just hoping you don't mind sending one more e-mail? I'm just one of many that Chrysler doesn't seem to mind ignoring about any issue you bring to them. I will try your advice also and call the toll free number.
I just experienced the same problem that you did and live in the US. You can first call chrysler @ 800-992-1997 to see if there is the extended warranty for a "front engine cradle" (same as the subframe for me) for your model. If yes, keep calling different dealers in your area that are familiar with this and have repaired similar. I called the dealer where I bought the car - they knew nothing. Called another in the area and they will be repairing with only costs of $90 for an alignment. Repair savings of over $3500!
I will now have to abandon a car w/less than 75000 miles on it, and I will not indeed go down quietly. I will be posting my story on boards such as this and firing off letters. Those advocating a more temperate approach are blowing smoke up your [non-permissible content removed]- Chrysler could care less about owning up to obvious defects w/lemons such as the Pacifica as they've already washed their hands of this car. As the saying goes, if Chrysler gives you lemons, don't make lemonade, smoosh it in their faces- it won't get you anywhere, but it will make you feel better : ) :lemon:
Thank you.
thanks so much!