- #232 of 1261
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Re: I test drove 2008 T&C LX and I prefer it [tonyv1]
by tonyv1
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Sep 11, 2007 (1:25 pm)
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Replying to: tonyv1 (Sep 11, 2007 1:14 pm)
Hey hansienna again
I just realized after I posted that you meant 25K as an option package for the 2008 GC STX, not a cash price I mentioned. My mistake.
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- #233 of 1261
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Re: I test drove 2008 T&C LX and I prefer it [tonyv1]
by hansienna
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Sep 11, 2007 (5:43 pm)
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Replying to: tonyv1 (Sep 11, 2007 1:14 pm)
Go for the T&C LX option 24H...BUT IF he will sell you the GC SXT option 25K for $ 25,000 same as T&C LX, go for the GC SXT for reasons you stated. I was satisfied with 3.3L in my 02 T&C LX but do appreciate the additional power of the Sienna 3.3L.
Chrysler has interesting codes: 24 indicates 3.3L, 25 indicates 3.8L, and 26 indicates 4.0L in GC SXT while 28 indicates 4.0L in the T&C Limited.
The letter F indicates base T&C LX or base GC SE while G and H have more content in either T&C LX or GC SE.
The letter K indicates base T&C Touring or base GC SXT where the 3.8L engine is standard. Letters L and M have more content in both T&C Touring and GC SXT.
The 4.0L is available with GC SXT option M and N but NOT available with T&C Touring option M. The 4.0L is available on the T&C in Limited only and is listed as 28X since the T&C Limited has no comparable GC. 
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- #234 of 1261
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Can power slide door motors be temporarily disengaged
by tonyv1
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Sep 11, 2007 (7:38 pm)
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Replying to: hansienna (Sep 11, 2007 5:43 pm)
Actually, I would like the GC SXT 197 HP motor over the 175 HP in the TC LX, although I doubt 22 HP is going to provide a great difference in performance. I'm not as thrilled to get power slide doors and seats in the SXT because I intend to keep the minivan with its lifetime powertrain warranty, and those door motors will break down eventually. As a youth I owned a Triumph TR-7 with hidden headlights -- very cool until I had to replace the motors at a cost of $800 back 30 years ago instead of just changing $5 standard headlamps. The motors had to be flown in from Germany as Triumph had gone defunct in England. Does anyone know of a way to safely temporarily disengage door sliding motors on 2008 TC and GC? I dare not ask the dealer or he may later claim I voided the warranty on the car. It's probably not wise to do it, but I wonder if it can be done safely. Or conversely, can the doors still slide manually after the motors are shot? Then it doesn't really matter about disengaging the motors. I could still manually rotate the Triumph headlights, but I had to get down on my knees under the front bumper to turn each motor knob with my fingertips. Not too cool when trying to impress a date with your hot foreign sport car that doesn't work properly. Oh the good old days. 
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- #235 of 1261
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Re: Can power slide door motors be temporarily disengaged [tonyv1]
by masterpaul1
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Sep 11, 2007 (9:17 pm)
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Replying to: tonyv1 (Sep 11, 2007 7:38 pm)
If they kept the same concept as the previous models, you should be able to open them manually with little resistance from the motor. Next time you go to the dealer, test one out with the power sliding doors. 
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- #236 of 1261
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Re: Can power slide door motors be temporarily disengaged [masterpaul1]
by tonyv1
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Sep 12, 2007 (2:11 am)
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Replying to: masterpaul1 (Sep 11, 2007 9:17 pm)
I've actually tried that and found that once you manually start to open or close a power sliding minivan door, the motor engages to finish the job and you can't physically force it to speed up or slow down. It works like an elevator door. If you try to force it either way, it reopens automatically, as a safety precaution I guess. I wouldn't try it unless someone can definitely tell me how it can be safely done without damaging the motors. Or I may just go for the TC LX which has a smaller 175 HP engine, but manual doors and seats all around. After the motorized headlights debacle with my old Triumph TR7, I swore I'd never buy a foreign car again, which is another reason I prefer Chrysler/Dodge for future access to parts and service.
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- #237 of 1261
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T&C / GC power sliding doors
by hansienna
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Sep 12, 2007 (4:52 am)
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Replying to: tonyv1 (Sep 12, 2007 2:11 am)
I, too prefer manually operated sliding doors instead of power sliding doors for the reason you have stated. I had preferred manually operated windows because I knew people who had expensive repairs on power windows.
Now that I have had power windows since 1991, I would not want to be without them. Probably why many people can't live without power sliding doors and power liftgate at rear.
As masterpaul said, the T&C/GC sliding doors with power sliding motors are designed to be opened as easily without power as those that never had the power sliding doors.
As I recall, the reason is because the power sliding motor is located within the door whereas other brands had the motor located within the van body unless they have copied Chrysler.
Toyota and Honda put one engine in all minivans but don't make the comfortable feature of separate temperature for driver and front passenger on less expensive models. Chrysler is just the opposite: You can get comfort features on less expensive models but not the most powerful engine.
Now that I have had 215 HP in my Sienna, I would probably miss the extra 40 HP if I got a Chrysler minivan with only 175 HP while I never missed the extra power in my 02 T&C. A devout Town Hall owner of a 2007 Sienna tells me I would not be satisfied with only 215 HP of my 06 if I drove the 07 Sienna with 266 HP 
Sort of funny since I was able to get by with only 40 hp or whatever in my first Volkswagen Beetle but it was really nice to get a real heater in a car after I had owned the very primitive VW. Winter on the windswept plains of southern Wyoming can be bitterly cold without any heat from the most basic of transportation
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- #238 of 1261
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Re: Can power slide door motors be temporarily disengaged [tonyv1]
by carcom2
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Sep 12, 2007 (5:56 am)
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Replying to: tonyv1 (Sep 12, 2007 2:11 am)
When I checked out the 2008 T&C Limited about a week ago, which most likely has the same power door as all the 2008 D/C minivans, I noticed no motor engagement or resistance at all when I opened the power sliding door manually. It was gliding smooth as could be. I was actually impressed by that because I remember trying that with competitors in the past when it was a pain to feel the resistance when trying to open manually and the power doors opened so slowly. Not the 2008 T&C. They got it right.
As minor as this might seem, I dislike the ugliness and design on some of the foreign minivans that don't conceal the track nicely intergrated near the window. The Dodge & Chrysler do it just right.
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- #239 of 1261
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Re: Can power slide door motors be temporarily disengaged [carcom2]
by tonyv1
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Sep 12, 2007 (6:35 am)
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Replying to: carcom2 (Sep 12, 2007 5:56 am)
Well that does sound promising because the TC LX I test drove did not have power doors so I can't check it out until the dealer provides another 2008 TC or GC with power doors. I'll definitely check for that. Thanks. Can anyone unequivocally state that the TC/GC power doors will still work manually if and when the motor fails, or must the motor be repaired? Same question may apply to the powered driver and front passenger seats, liftgate, windows and new feature of powered third row Stow N Go seats.
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- #240 of 1261
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Re: T&C / GC power sliding doors [hansienna]
by bobw3
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Sep 12, 2007 (6:49 am)
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Replying to: hansienna (Sep 12, 2007 4:52 am)
Now that I have had 215 HP in my Sienna, I would probably miss the extra 40 HP if I got a Chrysler minivan with only 175 HP
Just curious on how you would "miss" the 40HP? Getting to the stop-sign a fraction of a second later?
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- #241 of 1261
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Miss 40 HP? [bobw3]
by hansienna
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Sep 12, 2007 (6:52 am)
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Replying to: bobw3 (Sep 12, 2007 6:49 am)
EXCELLENT, well written reminder of the craziness that many Americans will embrace.
Good reminder that I don't need blitzkrieg acceleration.
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