Dodge vans suck!!!

[pinoy]

This is the 4th time I had a major problem with our van. B4 we went to walmart everything seemed OK, until it was time to go home. My kids and I bought something for their Mom for Mother's Day and I wanted to barbeque for a change. Guess what, it won't start, no clicking sound, my gauges were acting weird, etc. A good samaritan helped me tried to figure out the problem. Definitely not the battery because it was the first thing we checked.

Make the long story short, we ended up calling my wife (woke her up because she works night shift) to pick us up and left the van at walmart. For sure, I have to miss work tomorrow to take care of that piece of crap. That's gonna be our 1st and last Dodge van (vehicle). :|

 

[Evadman]

which gauges were acting wierd specificly, and what does "wierd" mean?

 

[Orsorum]

I've had a dodge can for 12 years and it hasn't given me any troubles.

 

[Zim Hosein]

A good samaritan helped me tried to figure out the problem.

What was the problem pinoy?

 

[amdskip]

What year is it? Our 88 caravan was awesome, 144k miles on it when we sold it and its still going strong.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Orsorum
I've had a dodge can for 12 years and it hasn't given me any troubles.

Dodge makes cans?

 

[Paulson]

We have a dodge intrepid with 200,239 miles on it and it's still kickin strong (everything is factory except for a fuel pressure valve)

 

[pinoy]

Originally posted by: Evadman
which gauges were acting wierd specificly, and what does "wierd" mean?

gauge shows my tank is empty.

RPM is maxed (the needle somewhat got stuck because the engine is off).

speedometer reaches 30mph every time I tried to crank it.

when I tried to unlock the doors (its got automatic door lock), it made a continuous clicking sound.

service engine light was on.

etc.

 

[pinoy]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

A good samaritan helped me tried to figure out the problem.

What was the problem pinoy?

I'm guessing its an electronic problem. With all these things I experienced, It's got to be it. But of course, I'm no mechanic.

 

[pinoy]

Originally posted by: amdskip
What year is it? Our 88 caravan was awesome, 144k miles on it when we sold it and its still going strong.

Its a 99 model, Grand Caravan. Its got 58,500 miles on it but already experienced transmission problem once and electronic problem twice. When the first 2 happend, it was under warranty so no biggie. the guy who helped me said he had the same van like mine and he made 14 trips to the shop until he finally gave up. Thinking of doing the same thing.:|

 

[thedarkwolf]

How did you check the battery? Still what it sounds like to me.

 

[SWScorch]

I'm not a Dodge fan at all, but my dad's Ram 2500 van has been pretty reliable and nice, and he just broke 100,000 a few months ago (a little over a year's worth of driving! )

 

You have a bad electrical connection either at the battery (most common), at the starter or at the engine ground(s), clean your battery terminals first, if it is a top post, you must clean the terminal and the cable until you see shiny lead, if it is a side post, you must clean all the corrosion off until you see shiny tin.
If this does not immediately fix the problem, carefully inspect the engine ground(s), follow the negative cable to the engine block, unbolt the cable and thoroughly clean the connection, also check the body ground(s). (just follow the negative battery cable to the body)

 

[Ornery]

Vans suck to work on, since it's so damn cramped in the engine compartment, but one's probably as good as another. If Roger's right, the repair won't cost you anything in parts. I was thinking it may be the ignition switch, which also shouldn't be too expensive.

What year is it, and how many miles? No vehicle is immune from problems, especially if there's quite a few miles on the odometer.

 

Generally when the ignition switch fails, it will pop one or more fuses on these vans and there will be no continuity to the dash at all, this is not to say this did not happen, I am just speaking from experiance.

 

[conjur]

A '99 and ~60k miles? Start saving for your transmission rebuild at about 90k-100k miles.

My '96 Sebring was the last Chrysler I'll own. Too many computer/tranny problems with them.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Always been a Ford guy myself (sorry Roger ), but even I have to admit that Chrysler has come a good ways from where they once were. Now that Daimler owns them, I see more improvements coming.

Still, I'd sooner get a Ford Club Wagon than any minivan.

ZV

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: Roger
You have a bad electrical connection either at the battery (most common), at the starter or at the engine ground(s), clean your battery terminals first, if it is a top post, you must clean the terminal and the cable until you see shiny lead, if it is a side post, you must clean all the corrosion off until you see shiny tin.
If this does not immediately fix the problem, carefully inspect the engine ground(s), follow the negative cable to the engine block, unbolt the cable and thoroughly clean the connection, also check the body ground(s). (just follow the negative battery cable to the body)

I had a similar problem to the above on a Toyota Camry. Gauges all outta wack, car wouldn't start, just a weird popping sound... fortunately I was home at the time.

I went and inspected the battery, was checking to make sure the positive cable was 'tight' as it had no corrosion at the post, just grabbing at straws basically. Coincidentally, As I grabbed the cable to test, the whole post basically snapped off. I'd never seen that before... it mustof developed a crack over time and was just barely making a connection before I touched it.

Oh well, good luck with the Dodge Van.

 

[CraigRT]

We have Dodge Caravans as fleet vans at work.. they usually get rid of them at about 300,000 kms, and with regular maintenance.. that's no problem!

 

[DorkBoy]

You must have the lemon.

I have a 99 Caravan with 85,000 and a 03 Caravan with 20,000 and they have never been in for any type of repiar at all.

Good luck.

 

[jemcam]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
How did you check the battery? Still what it sounds like to me.