1993 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER, SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF. *JB

Mileage: 98,000

V6 3.3 L ENGINE I BOUGHT IT 3 YEARS AGO WITH 77000 MILES ON IT AND SHORTLY THEREFATER THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN NOTED: ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE EVEN AFTER SHIFTING TO "D". IT WOULD WORK AFTER GETTING WARMED UP. FREQUENT JERKS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AFTER BRAKING AND RESUMING ACCELERATION SHARP CLUNKING SOUND FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE FRONT WHEN STARTING TO MOVE. (MOUNTS?)

Mileage: 77,000

TRANSMISSION DELAYS GOING INTO DRIVE AND IT GOES INTO (LIMP MODE) MANY TIMES IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR, IT WILL ONLY STAY IN SECOND GEAR. IF IT DOES SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR YOU MAY BE DRIVING ALONG AND IT WILL ALL OF THE SUDDEN SHIFT DOWN INTO SECOND GEAR HARSHLY.THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS THE SECOND GRAND CARAVAN THAT I'VE HAD WITH THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER REFUSES TO HELP.

Mileage: 97,000

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH TENSIONER OF VEHICLE SHEARED OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. POWER STEERING WAS LOST ALONG WITH ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH TENSIONER OF VEHICLE SHEARED OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. POWER STEERING WAS LOST ALONG WITH ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

STALL 7 TIMES WITHOUT WARNING IN DIFFERENT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS OVER 2 YRS. NEAR ACCIDENTS. DEALER CAN'T DIAGNOSE.*AK

THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. I STARTED THE ENGINE AND NOTICED I COULDN'T STEER THE VEHICLE. I CHECKED AND SAW THAT THE BELT TENSIONER FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND THIS HAPPENED I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. I INSPECTED THE FAILED COMPONENT AND COULD SEE THAT THE STUD WHICH FASTENS THE DEVICE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS BROKEN DUE TO A STRESS CONSENTRATION IN THE STUD MATERIAL. IT WAS NOT BROKEN DUE TO TOO MUCH TORQUE WHEN ATTACHED TO THE BLOCK. I COULD TELL THIS DUE TO THE FRACTURE CONFIGURATION. TYPICALLY A TORSIONAL FRACTURE CAN BE SEEN BECAUSE THE MATERIAL IS BROKEN AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THIS FRACTURE WAS DUE TO A STRESS CONSENTRATION IN THE MATERIAL. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE? YOU PROBABLY COULDN'T TELL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE, IF TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, WOULD BE SO BADLY DAMAGED YOU WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE CRASH. I WOULD SUGGEST YOU LOOK INTO THIS.*AK

COOLING FAN LOCKED UP, CAUSING A MELTDOWN OF CONNECTING WIRES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THERE IS NO FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER PROTECTION, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. *SLC *AK

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE IS CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO FLASH WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ALSO DIES WHILE DRIVING. NLM

WITHOUT WARNING- ENGINE STALLS IN TRAFFIC, USUALLY WHILE DECELERATING, AND CAN ONLY RESTART WITH GAS PEDAL FLOORED. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, SPORADIC, AND CANNOT BE DUPLICATED. DLR/MFR. SAY CORRECT BY WARRANTY, BUT PROBLEM MAY NOT SHOW FOR MONTHS. *AK

REPLACED THERMOSTAT TWICE BUT ACTION DOESN'T CORRECT PROBLEM

NO SUMMARY

TENSIONER PULLEY FOR SERPENTINE BELT SHEARED OFF ENGINE, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, NO ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE SECOND TENSIONER TO BREAK ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW. TRANS AXLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED 8 TIMES SINCE NEW FOR SLAMMING INTO GEAR ON SHIFTS. TRANSAXEL FINALLY WENT INTO LIMP ALONG MODE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW FACTORY REBUILT UNIT AT A COST OF $1486.88 TO ME. *AK

VEHICLE STALLING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE MOTOR.

TIMING COVER LEAKING DUE TO FAILURE, WATER PUMP FAILED.

TIMING COVER LEAKING DUE TO FAILURE, WATER PUMP FAILED.

CHECK VALVE FAILED.

THE CASTING ON THE HEAD THAT HOLDS THE ROCKER ASSEMBLY BROKE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW DUE TO PATTERN FAILURE. MY MECHANIC REPORTED HE HAS SEEN 4 INSTANCES OF THIS FAILURE ON DODGE VANS SINCE MINE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. HE ALSO NOTED THAT CHRYSLER CORP. IS NOW USING STUDS INSTEAD OF BOLTS TO HOLD ROCKERS.

WHILE COMING TO A STOP THE ENGINE CUTS OFF . THE DRIVER MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE VEHCLE SHUT DOWN, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

BELT TENSIONER OF PULLEY HOUSING CRACKED, AND THE BELT RIPPED APART. *AK

WATER PUMP REPLACED DUE TO WHISTLING NOISE.

REPLACED BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT TO DUE CLUNKING NOISE.

AUTOMATIC SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BOLT SHEARED OFF, CAUSING TENSIONER TO FALL OFF. *AK

WHEN MAKING A TURN OR WHILE DRIVING IN HOT CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED.

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED.

BELT TENSIONER FELL OFF.