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Honda Odyssey vs Dodge/Chrysler minivans - READ ONLY

7485 messages,  Last post on Mar 23, 2008 at 7:43 AM

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What is this discussion about? Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Chrysler Voyager, Plymouth Voyager, Van

#7369 of 7485 Mary38 by hayneldan Aug 29, 2007 (7:59 pm)
Try the this test, with the passenger seatbelts buckled without your daughter or the car seat installed see how much the red button must be pressed in before the seat belt releases. Replies to this message: mary36 (Aug 29, 2007 8:32 pm) mary36 (Aug 29, 2007 8:35 pm)
#7370 of 7485 Re: Mary38 [hayneldan] by mary36 Aug 29, 2007 (8:32 pm)
Replying to: hayneldan (Aug 29, 2007 7:59 pm) oops sent this twice - edited to delete
#7371 of 7485 Re: Mary38 [hayneldan] by mary36 Aug 29, 2007 (8:35 pm)
Replying to: hayneldan (Aug 29, 2007 7:59 pm) I already have.   All it takes for the passenger (GEN 3) seatbelts to unbuckle is for the red release button to become FLUSH with the retainer. We're talking less than an inch compression.   In addition, it doesn't take much pressure at all for the buckle to release. During a collision, a loose cell phone, or child's toy... or even an elbow or foot could accidentally release the seat belt and have a child ejected from the vehicle. (And it's already happened to other families. Chrysler has settled millions of dollars in lawsuits, but still refuses to do a recall.)   My driver and side passenger seat belts are different. It takes MUCH MORE pressure to release them. Also, the red release button has to be forced INTO the retainer pretty DEEP for the buckle to release.   If you look at the list of models affected, you will see that my vehicle (02 Caravan) only has Gen 3 belts in the rear, which is consistent with what I'm finding.   http://www.unsafebelts.com/known.cfm   I believe only your rear belts are affected too.   Is it POSSIBLE my children will be ejected during a wreck? YES.   Is it PROBABLE? Probably not.   But after obtaining this knowledge and doing my own testing with my own seatbelts, I am going to be a VERY cautious driver until we get this van replaced with an Oddy.   Each family needs to weigh their own risks vs probability. My family is choosing to replace our vehicle as soon as possible. Until then, I'm going to limit projectiles in our van and drive as cautious as I can.   (Although, it's not me I'm worried about driving... it's all the other idiots out there on the road.)
#7372 of 7485 Mary36 by hayneldan Aug 30, 2007 (7:14 pm)
"I believe only your rear belts are affected too." Nope
#7373 of 7485 Re: 2007 Chrysler T&C vs Honda Odyssey [thegraduate] by aaron_t Sep 11, 2007 (11:15 am)
Replying to: thegraduate (Aug 29, 2007 8:58 am) Those are all not including $635 destination charge. For comparison:   2008 T&C Pricing, with destination:   $23,190 LX $28,430 Touring $36,400 Limited   The LX & Touring models have three option pakcages each plus individual options to play with.   With the trims/features/options of minivans ranging from $22k to $45k, it's hard to compare any particular vehicle trim level to antoher. I may regret it, but True Delta's comparison is a reasonable tool to commonize features between competing models. The MSRP of the 2008 Chrysler minivans undercut Honda and Toyota on a feature by feature basis except for powertrains of the base models.
#7374 of 7485 head gasket by achislett Sep 22, 2007 (8:31 pm)
I'm planing to drive from eastern ontario to burnaby british columbia in the spring of 2008. My odyssey has 181,00 kilometers on the engine. The engine has been maintenanced according to the dealers recommendations faithfully. I'm concerned about taking a 4000 kilometer trip with an engine that is 8 years old. For example, would head gaskets fail if I were driving between 6 to 8 hours per day for about 5 days. Has anyone taken this kind of a trip with a 1999 honda odyssey?   Allan Replies to this message: bobber1 (Sep 23, 2007 6:51 am) shipo (Sep 23, 2007 6:59 am) achislett (Sep 24, 2007 4:46 pm) shipo (Sep 24, 2007 5:54 pm) and 1 more... maryh3 (Nov 18, 2007 6:51 am)
#7375 of 7485 Re: head gasket [achislett] by bobber1 Sep 23, 2007 (6:51 am)
Replying to: achislett (Sep 22, 2007 8:31 pm) No I wouldn't worry about that if the eninge is running fine and not using any oil. That's really not that many kilometers in the greater scheme of things. I have a brother with a Ford Ranger with 255,000 miles on it and it still runs like new and he routinely drives it from Lousisana to Iowa. Routine maintenance is the key and sounds like you've done that.
#7376 of 7485 Re: head gasket [achislett] by shipo Sep 23, 2007 (6:59 am)
Replying to: achislett (Sep 22, 2007 8:31 pm) Probably the easiest 4,000 kilometers your van's ever done, won't even tax the head gasket(s).   Best Regards, Shipo Replies to this message: achislett (Sep 24, 2007 4:46 pm) shipo (Sep 24, 2007 5:54 pm) achislett (Sep 28, 2007 8:30 am) maryh3 (Nov 18, 2007 6:51 am)
#7377 of 7485 Re: head gasket [shipo] by achislett Sep 24, 2007 (4:46 pm)
Replying to: shipo (Sep 23, 2007 6:59 am) are there certain things that need to be checked ahead of time prior to a 4000 kilometer trip? i.e. radiator, tranmission, fluid etc? Or should I just bring it to a dealer for a check over prior to going?   allan Replies to this message: shipo (Sep 24, 2007 5:54 pm) achislett (Sep 28, 2007 8:30 am) maryh3 (Nov 18, 2007 6:51 am)
#7378 of 7485 Re: head gasket [achislett] by shipo Sep 24, 2007 (5:54 pm)
Replying to: achislett (Sep 24, 2007 4:46 pm) Assuming that you've been maintaining the van all along you're probably good to go. That said, how long since you've had the coolant flushed, the hoses and belts replaced, the brake fluid flushed and the brakes checked?   While none of the above are a really big deal, if you're 400 miles from the nearest large town the last thing you need is a radiator hose or some such to go sour on you. Another thing to consider is when is your next oil change due? It's kind of a pain to have to stop for an oil change mid trip.   Another good thing to do is to evaluate the condition of your spare tire. Once again, getting a flat in town is no big deal, but of you're a long way from nowhere and the rubber on your spare is old and cracked, you may very well not make it to the next tire shop.   FWIW, I took two 2,000+ mile trips this summer in our old 1998 Grand Caravan with 150,000 miles on the clock and had absolutely no worries about it going the distance. Said another way, it's really no big deal for a well maintained older car to go on long road trips.   Best Regards, Shipo Replies to this message: achislett (Sep 28, 2007 8:30 am)

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