2008 Chrysler Pacifica

GAS GAUGE SHOWED 1/3 FULL & IT SUDDENLY DROPPED TO EMPTY. "MILESTO EMPTY" WENT FROM 142 TO 14, THEN 6. UPON STARTING THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING, FUEL GAUGE SHOWED 1/3 FULL THEN DROPPED TO EMPTY AGAIN. "MILES TO EMPTY" SHOWED 2. I DROVE 8 MILES THEN ADDED 14 GALLONS OF GAS TO FILL THE 23 GALLON TANK. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE THEN. ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME I HAD TO BRING IT IN WHEN IT WAS HAPPENING AS IT WAS A SENSOR ISSUE. ANOTHER TOLD ME THE CAR ACTUALLY HAS TWO GAS TANKS & THE FUEL PUMP VACUUM WAS PROBABLY NOT PICKING UP THE FUEL FROM THE SECOND TANK PROPERLY. HE SAID THE DEALERSHIP FIXED A 2005 PACIFICA WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

THE VEHICLE'S CHARGING SYSTEM INCLUDES A HEAVY GAUGE WIRE WHICH RUNS FROM THE ALTERNATOR FEED POST TO THE STARTER WIRING HARNESS, WHICH THEN CHARGES THE VEHICLE, AS THE STARTER WIRING HARNESS THEN RUNS DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERY. NONE OF THIS WIRING APPEARS TO HAVE A CIRCUIT BREAKER OR FUSE INLINE. THIS PARTICULAR WIRE WHICH RUNS BETWEEN THE ALTERNATOR AND THE STARTER IS ROUTED THROUGH SEVERAL BUNDLES OF OTHER WIRES, AND MAKES A HARD BEND IN ONE LOCATION WHERE A BUNDLE IS SECURED TO THE FRAME. THIS WIRE FORCED ITSELF OUT OF THE BUNDLE, AND THEN ABRADED ITSELF AGAINST THE FRAME UNTIL IT FINALLY MADE CONTACT WITH THE COPPER THEREIN AND SHORT CIRCUITED. CONSIDERING THERE IS NO BREAKER OR FUSE IN THIS CIRCUIT, AND THE WIRE APPEARS TO BE ABOUT A 6 GAUGE, IT SHORTED UNTIL IT MELTED, FINALLY BREAKING THE CIRCUIT. THE APPROXIMATELY TEN INCH SECTION OF THIS WIRE BETWEEN THE SHORT AND THE STARTER APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED ON FIRE FOR A SHORT TIME. LUCKILY, THIS SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHED BEFORE ANY OTHER FLAMMABLE COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD ALSO CAUGHT FIRE. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, OTHERS WITH THIS PARTICULAR AUTOMOBILE WITH THE 4.0L ENGINE HAVE NOT BEEN SO LUCKY. PICTURES CAN BE FURNISHED UPON REQUEST. *TR

VEHICLE SHUTS COMPLETELY OFF DURING DRIVE AT LEAST TWICE PER DAY. DEALER CLAIMS THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS AT BOTH HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS. OIL LIGHT TURNS ON AND ALL POWER IS LOST. PROBLEM EXISTED ON 2006 MODEL BUT DEALERSHIP CLAIMS ISSUE WAS RESOLVED AND WILL NOT CONSIDER SYMPTOMS FOR THE 2008 MODEL. THEY KEPT MY VEHICLE FOR FOUR DAYS AND CLAIMED THE PROBLEM NEVER SURFACED. I WAS CHARGED $100 AND BEFORE THE DAY ENDED, THE FAULT OCCURRED TWICE ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR