Scott in GB
09-13-2002, 09:48 AM
Hello All! I'm new here, so hopefully this is the right place for this.
I just got back from the dealer for the 9th time in the last 14 months for mechanical problems. To me this is a bit excessive. My wife and I are extremely unhappy with our van, and we are not sure what to do about it.
Here's the history:
Bought the van new in July of last year from a dealer an hour away. It is a 2001 Grand Caravan Sport - 3.3L V6.
One week after picking it up half the electrical system shuts down after my wife parked it at work. It still was driveable, but we were uncomfortable with all the different things that were not working. I checked for fuses and didn't find a bad one.
The dealer came and picked it up and left a loaner. Turned out to be a blown fuse, one I didn't find (large 30A fuse). I was embarassed that they went through all of the trouble for a blown fuse.
A couple of days later the same thing happens. This time I use a spare fuse, but I call back the dealer because there must be a cause for this. They pick up the van again. This time they do not find anything.
The fuse blows a third time a couple days later. Same deal - no answer. Some inline fuses were added to narrow down future issues. A week go by and it blows again. This time they give us a brand new EX van off the lot while they take the van for days.
Prior to them picking it up for the fourth time we noticed a small oil leak, and had them look at that also.
Since it was the fourth time Chrysler got involved, and they were going to keep the van until they fixed it. Turns out that whenever my wife applied the parking brake it pinched a set of wires that had a bare spot. They could not find an oil leak.
Two months pass, and we notice the oil leak getting worse. Since our original dealer couldn't find the problem, we decided to try a local dealer. They replaced the oil pan gasket.
Another couple of months go by and I notice it is leaking oil again. Return it to the second dealer. They can't find the issue, but add a dye to the oil to try and find the problem if it crops up again.
Another couple of months go by and the oil leak starts up again. This is the fourth time on the oil leak, so they spend all day on the van and finally find that the crank case is leaking. They replace the gasket and all has been well.
Well, a month or so ago my brakes started pulsing when I braked hard, or braking at hwy speeds. I bring the darn thing in again. They call me up later in the day and tell me that the brake rotors are bad, and that the warranty on those is until 15000 miles. I had 17000 miles on the van at the time. I rant at the service writer, and tell him to forget it - I would just get it fixed elsewhere.
The service manager called back an hour later and said they would goodwill the repair, but I would have to bring it back because they no longer had time that day. So the following week that is fixed.
This brings me to my latest problem. There was a high pitched whine when the air conditioner was on, and a clicking sound from the engine. I bring it in yesterday and they replace the air conditioner compressor, and find that the exhaust manifold is loose!
To top off this latest visit, they forgot to give it an oil change and tire rotation (I had marked it on the early bird drop off sheet).
I asked to see the service manager again. He no longer had the manpower to do the oil change and tire rotation. They are going to pick it up from my wife's work next week to do that work (free of charge).
I also asked him about this gem of a van we have. He said it did not qualify for lemon laws, so there was not much to be done. He said he would show the district manager the file, but doubted anything would come of it. He gave us the 800 # for customer service and suggested we call it.
That's where we stand now. I am fed up with the vehicle and would love to ditch it. Unforunately it is probably now worth less than what we owe on it. What really worries us is that we already have 20000+ miles on the van. By late spring we will be out of a warranty.
Any suggestions on how to proceed?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Scott
I just got back from the dealer for the 9th time in the last 14 months for mechanical problems. To me this is a bit excessive. My wife and I are extremely unhappy with our van, and we are not sure what to do about it.
Here's the history:
Bought the van new in July of last year from a dealer an hour away. It is a 2001 Grand Caravan Sport - 3.3L V6.
One week after picking it up half the electrical system shuts down after my wife parked it at work. It still was driveable, but we were uncomfortable with all the different things that were not working. I checked for fuses and didn't find a bad one.
The dealer came and picked it up and left a loaner. Turned out to be a blown fuse, one I didn't find (large 30A fuse). I was embarassed that they went through all of the trouble for a blown fuse.
A couple of days later the same thing happens. This time I use a spare fuse, but I call back the dealer because there must be a cause for this. They pick up the van again. This time they do not find anything.
The fuse blows a third time a couple days later. Same deal - no answer. Some inline fuses were added to narrow down future issues. A week go by and it blows again. This time they give us a brand new EX van off the lot while they take the van for days.
Prior to them picking it up for the fourth time we noticed a small oil leak, and had them look at that also.
Since it was the fourth time Chrysler got involved, and they were going to keep the van until they fixed it. Turns out that whenever my wife applied the parking brake it pinched a set of wires that had a bare spot. They could not find an oil leak.
Two months pass, and we notice the oil leak getting worse. Since our original dealer couldn't find the problem, we decided to try a local dealer. They replaced the oil pan gasket.
Another couple of months go by and I notice it is leaking oil again. Return it to the second dealer. They can't find the issue, but add a dye to the oil to try and find the problem if it crops up again.
Another couple of months go by and the oil leak starts up again. This is the fourth time on the oil leak, so they spend all day on the van and finally find that the crank case is leaking. They replace the gasket and all has been well.
Well, a month or so ago my brakes started pulsing when I braked hard, or braking at hwy speeds. I bring the darn thing in again. They call me up later in the day and tell me that the brake rotors are bad, and that the warranty on those is until 15000 miles. I had 17000 miles on the van at the time. I rant at the service writer, and tell him to forget it - I would just get it fixed elsewhere.
The service manager called back an hour later and said they would goodwill the repair, but I would have to bring it back because they no longer had time that day. So the following week that is fixed.
This brings me to my latest problem. There was a high pitched whine when the air conditioner was on, and a clicking sound from the engine. I bring it in yesterday and they replace the air conditioner compressor, and find that the exhaust manifold is loose!
To top off this latest visit, they forgot to give it an oil change and tire rotation (I had marked it on the early bird drop off sheet).
I asked to see the service manager again. He no longer had the manpower to do the oil change and tire rotation. They are going to pick it up from my wife's work next week to do that work (free of charge).
I also asked him about this gem of a van we have. He said it did not qualify for lemon laws, so there was not much to be done. He said he would show the district manager the file, but doubted anything would come of it. He gave us the 800 # for customer service and suggested we call it.
That's where we stand now. I am fed up with the vehicle and would love to ditch it. Unforunately it is probably now worth less than what we owe on it. What really worries us is that we already have 20000+ miles on the van. By late spring we will be out of a warranty.
Any suggestions on how to proceed?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Scott