2000 Dodge Caravan

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH THE CONTACT SUDDENLY NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS HEAVILY LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION PIN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92000.

I HAVE 2000 DODGE CARAVAN WITH A 3.0L ENGINE. EVERY TIME IT RAINS OR SNOWS THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF. THIS CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO LOCK UP, AND THE ALTERNATOR TO STOP CHARGING. THE CAR IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. YOU LOSE CONTROL. THE MALFUNCTION WAS CORRECTED USING THE GATES MICRO V KIT. THIS INCLUDES A RIBBED BELT TENSIONER, RIBBED IDLER AND A DOUBLE SIDE SERPENTINE BELT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V480000; COMPONENT: AIR BAGS AND CONTACTED HIS LOCAL DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE REPAIR. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE; HOWEVER, THE CLOCK SPRING WAS ON BACKORDER AND THEY COULD NOT MAKE REPAIRS AT THAT TIME. THEY ALSO ADVISED HIM THAT THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS ON A NATIONWIDE BACK ORDER AND DID NOT HAVE AN ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL. TO DATE, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 155,000. UPDATED 2/17/10 *CN UPDATED 02/22/10.*JB

THE SERPENTINE BELT ON A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN SLIPS OFF WHEN YOU GO THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER OR WET CONDITIONS SUCH AS IN THE RAIN OR SNOW, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING (LOSS OF CONTROL); WATER PUMP (OVERHEATING AND POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE ALUMINUM HEADS); ALTERNATOR (NO BATTERY CHARGING) AND AC. THIS WAS AFTER A NEW BELT AND TENSIONER WAS INSTALLED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS INCIDENTS SITED ON RELATED WEB SITES. MY WIFE ALMOST WRECKED BECAUSE OF NO STEERING. IT HAPPENED OVER A DOZEN TIMES TO HER AND 4 TIMES TO ME. COST OF PUTTING BELT BACK ON WAS AROUND $40 EACH TIME. TRIED A FIX USING A DISC OVER THE TENSIONER AND IDLE PULLEY RECOMMENDED BY DEALER, BUT FIRST TIME THROUGH A RAIN PUDDLE, IT SLIPPED OFF. A $200 FIX IS AVAILABLE PLUS $150 LABOR CALLED A GATES KIT # 38379K ALSO BY GOODYEAR #49215K. THEY BOTH COME WITH A DOUBLE SIDED GROOVED BELT, GROOVED IDLE PULLEY AND GROOVED TENSIONER AND STATES THAT IT FIXES THE PROBLEM OF BELTS COMING OFF THE DODGE VANS IN WET WEATHER. IF THIS IS PART OF THE SELLING POINT OF THE KIT, THEN THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER, DODGE, PLYMOUTH VANS AND THE CONSUMER SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS "FIX." THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE PAID FOR AND CORRECTED BY CHRYSLER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT SEEMED AS IF THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT THE TENSION AND IDLE PULLEY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FURTHERMORE, SHE NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE WHICH SHE PRESUMED WAS IN THE BRAKE AREA WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND OCCASIONALLY FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SHE SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, HE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED HER THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OR AN AUTHORIZED DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 138,830. UPDATED 4/30/10 *CN TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 06/28/10*JB