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Welcome to the club. I have been talking about it for 4 months now. I too have a 2001 T&C FWD which has the same problem. Also my transmission clunks moving into 2nd gear depending on how fast I accelerate. I knew the vibration/resonance was NOT just an AWD problem. Have you talked to the dealer?
Yes we took it to the dealer. They drove it the first time and said there was no problem so my wife took it back and drove it for them at the right speed and rpm and they told her the tires were out of balance. I knew about the problem when we bought the van and its not really a big deal for us because we never drive at that speed but I do hope Chrysler finds a fix. I had the roof rack bars replaced to fix the wind noise but outside of that the van has been great.
I am about to have the power steering rack replaced like FLY6869 just mentioned. I wonder if this is a common problem? Hmmmm.
Does anyone else have a problem with the engine reving when you are sitting in idle? I had a 96 voyager and never had this problem. The engine will go from a normal idle, to a louder reving sound. The dealer said this is normal. Is this what someone was talking about with the fans?
Thanks for your help,
Bev
What's with all of the steering rack replacements I'm seeing? Are you seeing leaks? Does the van not turn?
Reading the article indicates to me that DC would have been smarter to go back 50 years and use the old "folding into the floor" 3rd seat (now called Magic Seat by Honda) than to offer comfort features such as Triple Zone Temperature Control, Quality Stereo, Trip Computer, etc.
Why are so many reviewers overwhelmed by the "Magic Seat" while ignoring the increased noise levels inherent with that design?
Whining about noise sounds like sour grapes to me. Personally, I'd prefer the magic seat in my (very quiet) T&C LX, extra noise and all. I agree with the reviewers that Chrysler should have done the same type of seat, even if it impacted some of the other features in the van.
I have the non-split bench. I purchased my T&C over the Ody based on price, availability and convenience of dealer's location and my perception that both were of equal reliability. The Magic seat was a definate Plus (a very strong plus) for the Honda.
Another major plus for the Ody (which was the one which almost got me to buy it) was the fact that there are 2 choices. LX and EX. LX was barely in my price range and EX was not. There are something like 20 Chryslers in all(all DC vans, not just T&C). Each with options and packages. It took me weeks to figure them all out.
It's not surprising that reviewers don't take the time to really figure out what's what and then go back and hardball negotiate. I'm glad Chrysler gets banged for this in reviews. Hopefully the new EX indicates that they are listening.
Why did DC put the cheap rub strip on the 2001 GC Sport that is similar to the one of the bottom of the line base 2000 Caravan?
Why did DC cheapen the entire Dodge line one step? (SE became base, Sport became former SE, LE was eliminated).
Personally I feel DC wasted money on the last 2 re-designs as the seats in my daughter's 1988 Voyager were more comfortable than my 1999 GC SE. The 1988 also had more comfortable place to rest the feet of driver and front passenger. I prefer the less severe slope of windshield as it is VERY difficult to clean the inside of it. With the flip-flop wipers, the windshield is not cleaned as well by the wipers as in pre 1996.
Frankly, I was disappointed in the comfort of the seats, leg and foot room of our 1999 GC once it became obvious it was NOT as comfortable as earlier DC minivans I had ridden in. The Sienna is much more comfortable in any seat than our GC. I feel DC would have been smarter to save the millions on the 2001 re-design, made minor improvements on the 1996-2000 to include the Magic Seat, and kept the prices lower.
Why not copy good features of Honda? Until Honda and Toyota made their minivan more like the original Chrysler minivans, they sold very few.
The new EX has some nice features but we do NOT want the power sliding door, power liftgate, powered center console, 4 wheel disc brakes. Just offer the 3.8L, Trip Computer, more comfortable pre-1996 seats in the SE model as options.
I am having a problem with my steering. It is making a rubbing noise when I turn the wheel and plus I hear little clunks or clicks when turning and sometimes just when I'm braking over going over small bumps. Is this typical of a rack and pinion problem? One other comment.. I have a 2001 T&C Ltd. I noticed that where the ceiling upholestry meets the front window that there is not rubber border or anthing. It just seems to rub up agains the window. This seems odd to me as when you clean the inside of the front window you almost always get close enough to rub the material. In time it is sure to leave a mark. Is this the finish on other T&Cs? The reason I ask is that I had a flip down TV installed and I know they had to take apart a lot of the interior.
Thx
--rolfe.
Am I missing something here? Other than the 3yr/36,000 mile what are they referring too?
If you have a question, comment or feedback for the Editorial Staff, please visit the Letters to the Editors page.
Steve
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I have a similar problem with my steering. If you turn it slowly, there's a squeeking noise coming from somewhere underneath the van. I took it in today and they said they think it's the outer control arms. They said the joints are factory sealed and if the seal is bad, there's no lubricant and that causes the steering to squeek. They have to order the parts, 2 weeks, we'll know once that's all done.
Steve
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Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
If you research enough, you will find that the GC sport is almost identical to the T&C LX, the GC ES is almost identical to the T&C LXI. The T&C limited and GC SE are unique.
The only difference I found between the GC sport and T&C LX was the T&C has rear disk brakes & the GC has drums.
Try pricing the resale value of a 2000 GC and 2000 T&C and see which one comes out better.
If you go to www.chrysler.com and www.4adodge.com, you can configure each vehicle and really see exactly what's in them at a greater level of detail than you can at Edmunds or other places. Of course, those sites don't show much useful pricing info.
However, I personally think the Town & Country is the more attractive of the 2.
Confirmed with the dealer today that the rebate is now $2000 and it is good thru 7/3/01. Good luck.
The slightly extra cost wasn't a factor when spread over the 10 years that we expect to own the vehicle. Likewise, the alleged additional resale value didn't much matter to us either.
I only wish we were able to get the 17-inch wheels like on the GC.
Now they are going to replace the power steering rack. I'll let you know if that works.
Bev
http://www.detnews.com/2001/autos/0104/28/-217367.htm
Minivan Grand Total
Honda: 350,000
DC: 9,000,000
FWIW, Chrysler is supposed to be more upscale than Dodge (which, in turn, is supposed to be sportier).
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Considering that Honda just got into the mainstream-minivan market less than three years ago, your statement doesn't mean much.
Is it supposed to be a measure of expertise for Daimler relative to Honda? If so, consider the opposite - Honda sells more cars in two model lines (Civic and Accord) than DaimlerChrysler sells Dodge and Chrysler cars (not trucks - cars) put together. And in that market, they still have fewer units recalled than DaimlerChrysler does.
American automobile genius caught the Japanese manufacturers empty handed. The original Japanese attempts at minivans were a sales disaster. The Japanese designed minivans did NOT sell well in the USA until they COPIED the size and some of the nice comfort items of the American built minivans.
How many more years before Honda/Toyota/Nissan/Mitsubishi, etc. copy the ability to set the minivan driver and front passenger heated/air conditioned air temperature independently?
The 3.8 is much quicken than the 3.3 I had in my 1992 AWD. I was very surprised.
I am glad I put the leather in the interior. It is very slick. My dealer, I just realized, forgot to order the heat warmers. I will put in a call tomorrow to see if there is anything that can be done.
I wish I had ordered the power lift gate. I think it is set up for the power and the non-power is not as good as my old one.
The stereo is good. However, loading CDs in the 4 changer is awkward at best. You can't have anything in the cup holders.
Get the removable counsel. Storage would be limited without it.
The handling is wonderful compared to my old van. It still isn't my wife's Lexus but I sure have enjoyed driving it so far.
I do hear a sound at 2100 rpms. It is bad so far but....
I will touch base again with an update. Thanks to all of you whose posts helped me make my decision.
Interesting spin. Actually, what happened was that Chrysler took a FWD station wagon (Reliant/Aries K) and modified it to be a minivan. Subsequently, all their competitors modified their existing RWD cargo vans into minivans. The RWD, truck-based minivans offered inferior performance to the FWD, car-based Chrysler minivans (unless towing was required), so Chrysler just flat-out dominated the market for the first 10 years. The only exception was the GM FWD plastic-bodied dustbuster minivans introduced in '89, which failed due to overall poor design.
Finally, in '93 Nissan/Ford came out with the FWD, car-based Quest/Villager. Very popular at first, but small size and lack of safety features hurt its sales. However every minivan introduced since then (except the re-introduced Eurovan) has been built on an FWD car platform.
Craig (owner of a '94 and '01 T&C)
I would actually prefer a rear wheel drive minivan with a pickup front end and the van from driver's seat rear ward. I liked the higher seating of our 91 Astro, the more powerful 4.3L V6, the larger fuel tank, the same interior space in a vehicle 2 feet less length, and the panel doors.
However, the Dual Zone Temp (now 2001 Triple Zone improvement), Overhead console with compass/outside temp/Trip Computer, outstanding HVAC are big advantages of our Grand Caravan.
I hope other manufacturer's copy Chrysler's PT Cruiser and produce more comfortable sedans like the PT Cruiser. ECHO is a step in the right direction but with an interior too cheap.
I drove an Astro (rental) for a week in 1998. Good power, really, really nice 3 piece rear door that I wish my T&C had. However, the way the engine compartment extended into the drivers compartment was awful. As a passenger, I had to pick which leg I extended as there was not enough room for both of my feet (with shoes on) in the passenger footwell.
However it was this first minivan experience which made me realize that my next vehicle was going to be a minivan.
My next van rental was a Windstar in 1999. Very, very nice.
While the Astro is somewhat unsuccessful as a passenger van, notice how GM has locked up the commercial minivan market. Although I have driven a 1st generation caravan cargo van long ago, I haven't seen a Chrysler minivan in years.
As for the Japanese, they are doing what they have always done. They start out with vehicles that are too small and bare-bones, and then grow them in size and features over time until they hit on what the US market wants. When the minivan first came out in 1984, they were still focused in getting the cars right. Now, look at the Ody, Sienna and MPV.
By the late 80's early 90's they had the cars figured out to the point they were mainstrean and started with van. The Mazda MPV, that funny looking Toyota and eventually the 1st gen Honda. Toyota is doing the same thing right now with large pickup trucks. First the T100 and now the Tundra.
This vehicle is just fabulous even when compared to any '96-'00 T&C model! What an improvement from from our '98 GC LE FWD!!! Also considered GC ES 29S pacakge but found stretching a bit for T&C is fully worth the extra money.
We also got the Mopar Video System. Very happy with it and feel it was a wise decision as well, albeit pricey. Paid CAD 2,093 (approx. USD 1,350) + tax including insatllation.
I too am convinced 2100 rpm resonance noise is not exclusive to AWD models. I must admit though, had I not read about it on this forum, I wouldn't have noticed it.
A good thing about Canadian models is that you do not have to pay for some options like heated front seats, Inferno Red paint and 5-year/100,000 km (60,000 mile) power train warranty. We also get day-time running lights, which DC have switched to head lamps as opposed to park/signal lights on '96-'00 modles - a nice idea.
Once again, thanks very much for all the info and advice.
Where did you buy your T&C and what did you pay?
Paul
Total Price (before taxes): $46,453 (29X Pkg, Trailer Tow, 4-disc CD, Freight, A/C Tax - $44,360 + Mopar Video - $2,093).
Lease rate: 3.8% Reidual: 45% Only $600 of video system is residualized.
I personally think the price should be at least $700 less. CarCostCanada.com quoted $42,669 as the dealer cost price. Dealer denied this saying it is $43,389. (before $350 ad participation fee). I beleive $720 difference is their hold back, which they never admit.
When & where did you buy/lease yours and what did you pay? Just curious...
What's amazing is that no other manufacturer, American, Japanese, or European, copied the FWD formula for nearly 10 years. Let's face it, except for the configuration the first generation (84-95) Chrysler minivans were nothing special. However, the competitor's auto execs consistently delegated the creation of their own minivans to their Truck/Van divisions, which explains the Aerostar, Astro/Safari, Toyota LE van and Previa, Mazda MPV (1st generation), Eurovan, and that funny thing from Mitsubishi that lasted maybe 2 weeks in the US. And except for the Windstar and 2nd generation Odyssey, when the Chrysler competitors did start building car-based FWD minivans they built them too small (i.e. Both generations of GM dustbuster minivans, both generations of Quest/Villager, 1st generation Odyssey, Sienna, 2nd generation MPV).
I mean, it's not that hard to figure out what makes a high-sales minivan: Large interior, great crash test results, reasonable reliability (Windstar need not apply), drives like a car (FWD), easily configurable interior. The Sienna actually sells well despite the small size, but Toyota will be the first to tell you that size is the only thing that kept it from dominating like the Odyssey does. Yet, although it is easy to understand what makes a high-sales minivan, only 3 large, FWD minivans are available: Windstar, Odyssey, and Dodge/Chrysler. Amazing.
I wish each company would copy and include the advantages of their competitor. It really benefitted Honda when they copied the size and some of the nice Chrysler featurers. Why didn't Honda include Dual (or Triple) Zone Temp, Quality stereo, Overhead console with compass/outside temp/Trip Computer? I personally think DC should have copied Honda in using the folding 3rd seat that was used in American station wagons for decades.
Remember the Previa was RWD and based on a cargo van that is not available in the states. The Sienna is FWD and based on the Camry. I don't think they actively downsized, I speculate that they just designed the best minivan they could, but underestimated the importance of size to their customers. (DC did the same thing in '96 ... the 2nd generation minivans had worse crash test results than the first generation ones, costing many sales. DC didn't recognize the importance of the crash test results, so it wasn't a priority in the minivan redesign.) No doubt the next Sienna is already in testing and addresses the major reason that people did NOT buy it ... size.
BTW, I hesitated to buy my '01 T&C due to the mediocre crash test results of the '96-'00 DC minivans. BUT, after various research and comparing what I could see of the body structures of the '00 and '01, I decided to take the risk. I'm betting that DC recognized that the crash test results cost them more sales than any other single factor, and that they'll have addressed that weakness in spades in this version.
"I wish each company would copy and include the advantages of their competitor." As far as Honda not including the DC luxury items like tri-zone AC, my personal speculation is that Honda plans an Acura version of the Odyssey, but not until after the new Odyssey plant is on-line. So, they have to save some luxury features for the most expensive line. As far as DC not having the fold-down seat, I'm sure the marketing accountants at DC projected number of sales lost due to lack of the magic seat, compared to number of sales (and profits) gained due to AWD, and voted for AWD. Given the number of AWD minivans gathering dust on lots, they may have made the wrong choice. Personally, though, I'll take the sliding third seat over the magic seat, although ideal would be sliding magic seat.
Finally, note that some cool ideas get copied immediately (i.e. dual A/C, dual sliding doors) and others languish around for years before becoming popular (i.e. power sliding door, introduced on '89 dustbuster minivans but not copied until '97 on Sienna; magic seats introduced on '95 Odysseys but not copied until '00 MPV and dustbusters).
Unfortunately, what Toyota did is hedge its bets - if the Sienna hadn't proven popular, it could easily gear up to produce more Camry sedans. It's a zero-sum game - if production of one goes up, the other goes down.
Both Toyota and Honda have clearly stolen sales from Chrysler - in minivans. However, neither has enough production capacity - just yet - to seriously challenge DaimlerChrysler. I suspect that within a couple of years, that will change - and that Chrysler will feel a squeeze at the low end of the market from the new Kia Sedona. Having dropped Plymouth, it is vulnerable at the lower price end of the spectrum.
You can still buy a base Voyager (Chrysler instead of Plymouth) or Caravan with the 4cyl engine in the $16-17K range. The Grand Voyager is gone, but the base Grand Caravan still exists.
Removing the Plymouth lineup did weaken the low end for DaimlerChrysler - Dodge hasn't picked up all the Plymouth Neon sales, nor will Dodge and Chrysler pick up all the minivan sales from Plymouth.
Kia will be very aggressive with the new Sedona minivan - on price, and though the company has the same reputation for poor quality that Chrysler has, it offers a far better warranty on its new vehicles.
DaimlerChrysler is the company that stands to lose the most from Hyundai/Kia's entry into the minivan market.
I got the LTD plus towing package from 4 CD changer. I traded in my 1998 Chyrsler Sport and paid a total difference of $28,500 tax in... drive away price. The van was on there lot last week advertised for 19,500 but they hadn't had a nibble on it for over 3 months. I thought a fair price would have been in the $17 to $18K range. So I figure my actual cost would have been somewhere around $46K taxes included.
What do you think of their service. Oh and what color did you buy? Have you talked to them about the 2100 rpm noise problem? What other problems have you noticed. BTW.. I live in the Yonge/Sheppard area.
http://www.automotive-review.com/grandcaravan.htm