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
Regarding your message #744 from 08/01, did you ever find/fix the problem? I have a 99 GC with basically the same electrical instrument panel problem. It usually happens after 1hr of constant driving. First the P-R-N-D-L indicators all light together. Then the Odometer blinks and goes off. Then the fuel gauge and the hot/cold gauge start moving like wipers, and then die. Finally the tach and speedo move in unison like wipers until they die. Sometimes hitting a pot hole will bring them back to life .. but not often. Stopping and restarting does no good. Only letting the van sit overnight "cures" it.
Problem began at 18K miles. The dealer took the dash apart and replaced everything but the proverbial kitchen sink. Didn't help. When I went back they "threw up their hands". Went to a pvt garage and they took the dash apart and inspected/tightened grounds, etc. Fix lasted for two years. Then it started again. Back to the garage. Same fix ... lasted one year. Then back to the garage ... fix lasted one day.
I really like driving this van, but I'm getting discouraged. Any and all suggestions appreciated.
Have you tried checking and reseating the electrical connectors at the Power Control Module (PCM)?
Regards,
Dusty
Thank you for your reply. I will ask my mechanic if he has indeed checked the connectors.
I appreciate your help.
Unfortunately, either the input or the output speed sensor on the transaxle is failing, and the replacement parts are not as reliable as the originals. Since the failure is intermittant, the power module will not record a trouble code;
only a dealership with a Chrysler DRBII or better can read the fault history in the tranmission controll module to verify which speed sensor is getting goofy. But the sensors are @ $20.00 each & it's probably worth it to just swap two new ones in( they just screw in, but you may loose some fluid if you try this at home, etc.....)
printed circuit board and make a new ground wire.
Attach it to any bolt on the firewall or better yet link it to the ground wire on the back of the radio if the radio has always worked ok.
good luck.
message so I'm not sure which car or van you have,,,,some have a seperate module on the printed circuit board which only controls the tach and speedometer. It could simply be failing or loose.....a bad ground or power source would affect all gauges and or lights at the same time,,,,,,,,,,bill m
Welcome to Town Hall Bill! It's nice to have an experienced parts/service manager participating.
Steve, Host
Thank you for your reply. My original message is #2313.
The tach and speedo do not go on/off together. There is always a progression. The shift indicator glows ... then the odometer goes black (even though it still records mileage). Then the temp and fuel gauges fail at the same time. Then the speedo fails. Finally the tach fails.
The sequence of events never varies. Hitting a bump sometimes restores the panel ... but not all the time. Restarting never helps.
PS: Van is a 99 GCaravan with 3.3L engine.
If the sway bar links continue to fail, then you may have another problem in the front end that is causing the failure. I'm not that familiar with Chrsyler front ends, maybe DustyK can offer some suggestions.
I have to agree with WIJOCO as to labor, cost and warranty status. It sounds like you may have gotten back to the dealer a little too late.
My company has about 3300 Dodge Caravans and I'm not familiar with sway-bar links being a common failure on them. I'm sure we've had some not go the distance.
By the way, my wife's Avalon just loves sway bar links. And they're $109 a piece, too. Three sets since the car was new in '99, and only Toyota makes them!
Bests,
Dusty
2250 of 2325 Spark Plug Replacement on `98 Gr. Voyager 3.3L/ by jft26 May 13, 2004 (1:14 pm)
Bookmark | Reply
I currently have 104K miles on my minivan. I would like to replace the Platinum Spark Plugs. Is there a trick to getting at the spark plugs on the side of the engine hugging the firewall? Thanks
Please let me know how everything goes.
Tip: When putting everything back, check the automatic tensioner as well and replace if necessary.
Good Luck.
I have read other bulletin boards on other vans and it seems that Toyota and Honda have similar track records to the vans produced by DC...and Ford seems by far the worst to own. They seem to have a high failure rate of transmissions and steering systems as well as the electrical systems associated with the auto door locks. I know several people that own Ford vans and other vehicles whose doors lock themselves or continue to cycle until the battery is dead.
I wish that some of the Dodge service technicians and managers were a little brighter, but on the whole, my experience with this vehicle has been one of excellence considering the ride comfort, dependability and overall handling. Two other people where I work (ironacilly) own nearly identical 2000 white GC Sport vans. Mine is the low milage vehicle of the lot. They each have over 100K on theirs and report no problems and similar admiration of the vehicles.
Best regards,
Dusty
Also has anyone noticed that the Engine / Trany make a noise like an electric motor after about an hour of driving?
I had the dealer check it once and they said it was a normal sound.
Thanks
I cannot comment on your other "electric motor" sound.
Thanks
dustyk Oct 11, 2003 9:31pm
Steve, Host
http://www.wheels-and-rims.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/car-wheel.html?p_- prodid=11516&sid=8LpJDk0-y7txCLQ-00104543616.98
I want to put on the 17 inch rims that come on the 2000 ES, like the following:
http://www.wheels-and-rims.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/car-wheel.html?p_- prodid=11520&sid=8LpJDk0-y7txCLQ-00104543616.98
Will I run into any problems? Does the ES have a more sporty suspension to handle 17 inch rims or does it matter?
Thanks!
BRAD
Regards,
Dusty
For the 2000 model year air conditioning condenser, evaporators, and pumps were often troublesome. I don't know what the failure rate was, but 30% is not far off.
Power window regulators and switches were also a problem.
In the above cases later replacement parts were of much better quality, so repeats should be greatly reduced. As far as fuel injectors, I've not seen any that produced a problem.
With respect to automatic transmissions, I think there's more myth to the belief that the problem was as big as some make it out to be. After '98, the "T" series automatics got many revisions and upgrades to address any weaknesses. And many Chrysler transmissions have had problems or failed because of the incorrect ATF being used.
There are many Chrysler mini-vans on the road with mileage like yours that have never had a problem with the transmission. The girl scout leader that just dropped off my daughter a few hours ago has over 160,000 miles on their '99 and have never touched the transmission.
There have been some minor mechanical things as well as computer shift programing changes to address very minor issues in '98-01s (the "bump shift" complaint is one of them). But these are very easy to identify and correct.
Best regards,
Dusty
Thanks so much for your comments. I have been meticulous with the maintenance on this car because I plan to drive it for a few more years. I've even considered replacing it with another Caravan in a few years (my husband wants me to get a Honda Element). I breed and show CFA registered Manx cats and my Caravan has all of the room that I need for carrying cats, food, litter, etc. I buy my supplies once a month because the closest place to get them is 2 hours away. I can carry 200 pounds of litter, 60 pounds of food, and whatever else I need over some pretty steep mountains without a bit of trouble. We took my husband's PT Cruiser to the last show and I swore I'd never do that again! One of the cats got carsick and I just didn't have enough room to clean her up. What a mess!!
Roslyn
Jaskie
Dusty has written many times that use of the wrong fluid is the cause of transmission failure. Additives to the wrong fluid will NOT change it into a synthetic fluid.
Faulty air bags prompt Chrysler minivan recall (Houston Chronicle)
Steve, Host