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4276 messages,  Last post on Oct 23, 2006 at 1:11 AM

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#2715 of 4276 Re: jpelder [97vanowner] by badgerfan May 09, 2005 (6:14 am)
Replying to: 97vanowner (May 08, 2005 5:44 pm) I really find it hard to believe they cannot diagnose this, as the phantom wiper issue was fairly widespread in the generation of Daimler-Chrysler minivans introduced in 1996. The problem if I recall is in the column, either an intermittent short in the wiring or in the multifunction switch itself. I do not recall the exact solution, when ours was replaced on our 1996 caravan under warranty about eight years ago, but it definitely was not a body control module, and the dealer knew exactly what to do to fix it.   My advice, find a new dealer.
#2716 of 4276 Re: Phantom Wipers [97vanowner] by Sylvia STAFF May 09, 2005 (8:15 am)
Replying to: 97vanowner (May 08, 2005 5:38 pm) Please do NOT encourage other members to email you with the information. If it is in email then the next person with a similar problem doesn't benefit from the answer. Sharing in the discussion is what makes this a rich resource for you and others. Replies to this message: 97vanowner (May 10, 2005 6:06 pm)
#2717 of 4276 Is my van's engine finished if I drove it too long without oil? by qstrange May 09, 2005 (6:40 am)
I have a leak in my oil pan and ran out of oil. Didn't have the money to get oil right away and drove it around. the oil pressure went up and down then finally down. Just last night the gas would not work nor the brakes, but the car did not stall. After shutting it off, it would not start. I am wondering if I put oil in it now, will it run? or is it finished? Replies to this message: shipo (May 09, 2005 12:06 pm)
#2718 of 4276 Re: Is my van's engine finished if I drove it too long without oil? [qstrange] by shipo May 09, 2005 (12:06 pm)
Replying to: qstrange (May 09, 2005 6:40 am) What did the engine sound like when you turned it off? Did you hear any knocking/pounding? Was there any smoke issuing from under the hood? Did you smell any burnt smells? How much oil was left in the pan? Did the temperature gauge go all of the way to the right? What year and displacement of engine does your van have?   Having asked all of those questions, if you add oil, and it restarts and is reasonably quiet/knock free, you might have dodged a bullet. So, if it does run reasonably well, the only other thing I would do is to have the compression tested to see if you destroyed the cylinder walls or stuck a valve.   Best Regards, Shipo
#2719 of 4276 Dead Instrument Cluster, Gauge Problem resolved by 5bucks May 09, 2005 (12:20 pm)
After 2 years of trying to find a fix, I finally was able to do something to get my gauges to start working again. Just took aparta few dash panels and removed the instrument cluster enough to access the modular plug that connects to the back of the cluster. Disconnected and reconnected this connector and boom the gauges are working again. Did this last Thursday. It's now Monday and instruments are still working after driving the van about 300 miles with lots of starts and stops. It has been more than 2 years since it has driven this far with the guages in continious operation. Very simple to get at the instrument cluster. just removed a few of the dash panels and the drivers side window air vent molding. Probably about 10 screws holding the assorted dash moulding pieces in place. All screws same size. Took about 10 minutes Replies to this message: chuckg (May 10, 2005 4:10 am) jborris (Jun 07, 2005 5:17 pm) igettheblame (Jun 14, 2005 7:23 am) phantom3 (Jul 01, 2005 7:44 am) pinolero (Dec 06, 2005 12:06 pm)
#2720 of 4276 Strut Towers rusting out repair info by 5bucks May 09, 2005 (12:30 pm)
Can anyone provide info on the strut tower repair? I have a 98 voyager and the strut towers are rusting out. I've read a post or two about a "repair kit" but no specifics. a google search turned up nothing. Thanks. Replies to this message: 97xpresso (May 09, 2005 2:47 pm)
#2721 of 4276 Re: Strut Towers rusting out repair info [5bucks] by 97xpresso May 09, 2005 (2:47 pm)
Replying to: 5bucks (May 09, 2005 12:30 pm) There is a lot of info out there but this site frowns on posting links to other sites. Here is just a small sample:   There is a Technical Service Bulletin issued by Chrysler on Oct. 14,2002 (TSB 23-044-02) on the problem and it covers all minivans build from 1996 until 2000. If you were lucky enough to see it before your warranty ran out it would have been covered. What Chrysler told me was keep the reciept for the repair, if there is ever a recall in the future it would be paid for. Of course there will be no recall unless enough people complain to the National Highway Safety Transportation Agency.   NHSTHA can be found at www.nhtsa.dot.gov. I filed a complaint, you can find it under complaint number 10090457. It's easy and I'd ask everyone with this problem to issue a complaint and tell others who own 1996-2000 Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge mini vans to look for the problem and issue a complaint as well.   The parts number are 05080008-AA and 0580009-AA. The price is 27,65 CAD each. I have been lucky to find them. My dealer had one left side in stock and he found the right side for me at another dealer. They are back order everywhere.   If you want to do the job the way they want you to do it, you will have to buy also a set of aluminium rivets (I don't know how much) and a kind of glue they sell for 70,00$.   I did not use the glue nor the rivets. I used bolts instead. 5/16" by 3/4" long with washers. 6 bolts each side plus 4 self tapping #14 x 1" screws for the side wall.   Need to remove the wipers arms, the cover under the wipers arms, and the pan containing the wiper motor (sorry, I don't know the names of these parts.) I think you dont need to remove the hood as I did.   If you want to do a good job, you should get the strut assembly out of the way. Maybe removing them.   Me, I just lowered them as much as possible by removing the 3 nuts and raising the car.   My job is just a quik fix for an already almost dead car. My 96 voyager has 316000 Km and many other things are falling apart. The motor and the transmission are going. If he run another year, I will be happy.   Took me about 4 or 5 hours to do the job. No more that 2 or 3 if I had to do it again.   If you want to keep your car more than one year, I suggest that you make a better job than this one, removing the strut assembly, using the glue and rivets and putting a lot of rust protection.   There is no instruction available and it is not really needed. The dealer told me that this problem is affecting 1996 to 2000 Caravan and Voyager.
#2722 of 4276 Re: Airbag light [gino45] by dcater May 09, 2005 (8:01 pm)
Replying to: gino45 (Mar 29, 2005 10:47 am) Let the dealer tackle this as it should be done completely free of charge. It is most likely the clockspring which was recalled last year. Your dealer should know all about it. I had this same problem on my 98.
#2723 of 4276 Re: Dead Instrument Cluster, Gauge Problem resolved [5bucks] by chuckg May 10, 2005 (4:10 am)
Replying to: 5bucks (May 09, 2005 12:20 pm) I'll bet you're happy to get this fixed. Nothing to it.   Thanks for reporting back.
#2724 of 4276 Re: 2001 T&C LXI IAWD Intermittent Squeal noise [beemom] by bluebomber98 May 10, 2005 (6:03 am)
Replying to: beemom (Mar 23, 2002 2:59 pm) Did you ever find the cause of this? My 2003 Grand Caravan had just started doing this when it rains. Replies to this message: badgerfan (May 10, 2005 6:13 am)

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