01 AWD Differential Exploded... Again.

[Pillow]

Hi there,

Look time lurker, I just do not post much at all.

We have had a 2001 GC ES AWD for about a year now and have been pretty darn pleased with it... EXCEPT it has run through 3 transfer cases / center differentials!

The GC is in the shop again and my wife has lost faith in its reliability. Usually it takes a week to fix. Luckily we purchased the extended warrantee so it is a no charge thing. Fiar Oaks Chrysler has been great to us about it so no complaints there.

Both of the previous replacement diffs have been new, not rebuilt. Last time they even threw in a new tranny and front drive shafts!

Does anyone else have serious issues with this? I cannot find much in the archives about complaints from other forum members. Also all the service techs at the dealer claim this to be an unusual problem.

I remember a while back someone mentioned removing the rear axle shaft, but I am not sure if this would save the differential anyway. Plus then you loose the AWD! :(

We are stumped! Any words of wisdom?

Thanks,
Adrian

[john wein]

I purchased a 2001 Grand Caravan ES with the AWD and was thrilled to get such a loaded van with the AWD. Not long after purchase the rear passenger CV went. 8 months later it went again. Now I have a loud banging noise in the driveshaft and I suspect the PTO unit or the rear overrunning clutch is the fault. I am considering removing the drive shaft to disable the AWD as well as pull the rear CV axles!! AWD is a nice option but not with the problems we have been experiencing!!! Good luck to you! P.S. My van was purchased used in 2006, so nothing is covered. :VHOT:

[Pillow]

Shoot I totally forgot to follow up on this thread...

It was the horrible tires that came on it that played havoc on the differential. Firestone sucks!!!

After putting on premium Yokohama (I forget the model, but from Tire Rack) tires it was much improved ride and no more drivetrain issues at all. basically the Firestones were not holding air and burning up the differential. AWD vehicles are very testy on tires matching and air pressure.

Also the Yokohamas are a better tire than the EOM Turanza EL42s. Not knocking the EL42s because they better than most EOM tires.

John, I am a little confused on the rear CVs... It is a solid axle rear end and should not have rear CVs at all. Actually the rear axle should be bullet proof and require little to no maintenance expect oil changes.

My advice is to keep the AWD in tact as it is a much better system than the electronic traction control on the later 2wd vans.

[john wein]

Mr. Pillow, thank you for responding so quickly. Yes the AWD does have CV axles in the rear PN04641896AA, unfortunately no parts store such as Autozone or NAPA, stock them so they must be purchased from a dealer. Instead of $60-70 they are $319. Thankfully they are easier than the front to install. I do like the advantages of the AWD but as you were, I am spending to much down time with this system. I'll probably give it one more shot. Thanks again!!

[B1G BLEU]

Pillow, that's great you narrowed it down to the tires! I had an 01 T+C AWD, the Toyo dealer I bought it used from blew up the TC on the inspection dyno, then my regular shop did it again a yr later. Other than that, it was great in the rain/snow.