OT AGAIN! Chevy Or Doge Caravan

KCTractors · Jan 19, 2012

My tractor parts go getter needs to be replaced. I thinking of a 98 to 02 Chevy Venture or a Caravan/ Voyager. They all have between 150,000 to 205,000 miles. I hear that the 3.3 in the Dodge/Plymouth vans are good and need no timing belts to replace. The Chevy 3.4 need the timing belt replaced at a very high cost because they are bear to get at. I have a Venture located that is in very nice condition but has 181,000 miles with nothing ever do to it as far as changing the timing belts. Anybody have experience with any of these vehicles. Thanks

bradk · Jan 19, 2012

The 3.4 in GM minivans have a chain.Usually never have to worry about them,even with high miles.The more popular failure on the 3.4"s are head gaskets and lower intake gasket failure.

If you decide on a Chrysler minivan,my opinion is that "00 was the last year of the best ones.After that they had lots of electrical gremlins with the newer body style.The latest ones are worse yet.

Nate V. IA · Jan 19, 2012

We have an 04 Venture/Montana with 222K miles on it, we bought it with 80K. Only things we have done are couple batteries, several brake jobs (SWMBO likes to keep her feet on the gas/brake at all times). Eats front wheel bearings like candy, but they are easy and quick to replace, 80 bucks for a hub assembly and you're good to go another 40K. I haven't ever touched the motor with oil changes every 10-20k miles. I'm gonna buy another one when this one takes out a deer, just a matter of time.
Nate

LJD · Jan 19, 2012

I've got two Grand Caravans. 98 and a 99. Both AWD and both have 3.8 engines. The engines have been fantastic. Pushrod design, NOT overhead cam and no timing belt. Both have around 200K miles.
The AWD system has been bullet-proof also.

I've been thinking of trying a Venture IF I ever come across a good deal on a rust-free van with less then 120K miles on it.

I've heard the highest fuel mileage claims from Venture owners and thus the reason why I've thought about trying one. The Dodge 3.8 AWD Grand Caravans get 23 MPG on long highway trips doing 70-75 and loaded with equipment and people. I consider that pretty good. But I've heard claims of Venture owners getting 26-27 MPG. True or not, I don't know. People fantasize and lie more about fuel mileage then anything else I know.

dhermesc · Jan 19, 2012

Agreed on the Dodge vans - it also seems they need transmission swaps about the same way other vehicles need their transmission oil changed. I looked at them when I was looking at a new family vehicle - I bought a KIA Sedona instead have haven't looked back - 70K on the clock and only one trip to the dealer.

A friend of mine has one of the Chevy vans - he finally traded it off when it hit 200K - his wife drove it every day with the kids in it until then. Nothing wrong with it when he traded it - he just thought it was getting a little high in miles.

Nate V. IA · Jan 19, 2012

Fully laden with cargo cruising down the highway at 75 mph our Montana with the 3.4L engine gets 22-24 mpg. If I go somewhere with just me, in the summer, windows down, I can get 26-28 mpg, mileage drops with the heater or AC going full blast.

Nate
This is our van milage stats

Two Dogs · Jan 19, 2012

Why does your heater make your mileage go down? TDF

Ky. Hauler · Jan 19, 2012

I've owned three Caravans. They are easy to get in and out of. If I'm right I think you can put a 4x8 piece of plywood in it, too. They run well and are easy on gas. I have a 2003 now with 125,000 on it. New plugs and alternator belt, tranny fluid flush at 90,000 miles and update/flash TCM. That's it.
I sold my 88 to my wife's friend in 1999. She is still driving it to this day. It was a four cylinder.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 19, 2012

I haved owned a number of caravans, and have done real well with them. The last one I had the wife managed to grenade the trans at 200,000. The Venture/Montana are absolutely pita's to work on. They seem to have a lot of issues. Maybe I only see the problem ones. Hope this helps,,,

Mike M · Jan 19, 2012

I worked at the Buick /Caddy dealer and those GM 3.1 and 3.4 are total junk ! Intake and headgasket failures galore.
I had a 99 4cyl. PLYmouth voyager went 100K with no issues. got a larger 2006 grand caravan really like the stow and go seats ! Lots of cargo room too. But that newer van was always needing something done to it. Traded it off around 80,000 miles on it.

Mom had a 1993 Mazda MPV AWD it held up good but liked the gas. Sister had an old Toyota Previa van it held up good but was only RWD and would not get up the drive in winter. If you want a van get a Honda ! Our family has been switching over to Hondas and our car repairs are fewer and farther apart.

Nate V. IA · Jan 19, 2012

I don't know, more load on the alternator running two blower motors, is the AC compressor running when the heat is on? There is a noticeable engine load drop when you turn them off when cruising down the highway for both the heat and AC.

Nate

Jim in michigan · Jan 19, 2012

I have a 99 olds silhouette(same van as the venture) they do have transmission problems.I found that out the hard way and I am now waiting til tax time to get mine fixed.Seems there is a steel valve inside a aluminum housing and the steel cuts into the aluminum causing hard shifts and such.

TLZ · Jan 19, 2012

Go with the caravan. From a body design they have excellent doors as well as sliding doors. Stay away from the 3.0 litre engine if possible they are ok but you will not get the miles out of them like the 3.3 or 3.8. If u go with the older body style 2000 and down check out the top of the strut towers they had bad rust proofing from the factory and can cause some serious problems and expense.
Todd

Lesformore · Jan 19, 2012

I have an 05 Chevy Venture mini van that I bought used with about 80,000 klms and it now has about 150,000. It consistantly gets 30 miles to the gallon or about 9.5 litres per 100 klms. No engine problems, but have had to replace the rack and pinion steering. Does this engine have a timming belt or chain ?

bill mart · Jan 19, 2012

On the Mopar vans, if you are in the rust belt check the tops of the front strut towers for rust. the drivers side on several vans I know of the towers rotted through from road salt. The local napa sells a weld on repair cap. cost me $350 to have it installed as alot of the electrical components are located there. Bill

tomNE · Jan 19, 2012

2001 and up van's are dust proof compared to 2000 and older. 3.3 gets better mileage then the 3.8 but all the dodges seem to be good.

wisbaker · Jan 19, 2012

We had Dodge Caravans with the 3.3 at the county, they were run hard, only thing that gave me grief was rear drum brakes, if you go the Caravan route try to get one with 4 wheel discs. My personal van is a Dodge with a 3.8, very happy with the engine, pulls strong no spark knock or rattles

hd6gtom · Jan 19, 2012

Kc I have an 02 and a 05 dodge. Got both of them with 125000+ miles on them. pinion pin went out of the 02 at 197000. cost 400.00 at the local tranny shop to fix. Had them set the inner tranny pressure settings when we got them. The 02 gets 25-26 mpg highway and the 05 gets 22to 24 mph highway. We load these heavy and go to craft shows on the weekends.

johnlobb · Jan 19, 2012

My son bought a 2001 Chevy Venture new. This is the BIGGEST PIECE OF JUNK I have EVER seen! I am 65 and have owned a lot of cars including a 2003 Chrysler Town "n Country with 177,000 mi. During the warranty period a few major things were replaced, but I have always used full synthetic oil. I recently heard a repair mechanic say he liked the Chryslers and Dodges because everything is fixable at a reasonable cost. I like the way it drives and feels. It is really nice on trips.

ASEguy · Jan 19, 2012

All of the older Caravan engines were decent. 2.4 four cyl is very well designed and gives long service. 3.3 or 3.8 have decent power and last a long time as well. I have seen a few with rear head leaking coolant and a couple with an upper engine tick at higher RPM's which was the rocker shaft cracked. 3.0 is Mitsubishi and gives great service except for the cam seals leaking and the occasional burned exhaust valve on the rear head. My wife's Caravan (3.0 3 speed) just turned over 300,000 miles. Gerard

WGM · Jan 19, 2012

3.4's don't have a timing belt.

farmer boy · Jan 19, 2012

I have no experience with either. All I know is I've never heard one good thing about the Chevy Ventures. I would get the Dodge and cross my fingers.

Greg K · Jan 19, 2012

We have a 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan with 130,000 on it and the only problems we have had is the EGR valve at about 55,000, which I have heard is common, and a deer embedded himself in the drivers front corner. We should get this one back tomorrow.

Fudpucker · Jan 19, 2012

We have had two Dodges. One had 298,000 on it when I sold it. Had to put in one transmission and one axle. We still have an 06 with 100.000 and only had to replace an EGR Valve and a water pump. Both are 3.3 engines. I would buy another one.

Revredneck · Jan 20, 2012

Lesformore, Your engine has a timing chain. My '01 Montana has 230k and runs strong. It seems to be hard on radiators, though.
Good Luck and God Bless

INCase · Jan 20, 2012

Those broken Rocker arm mounts were only the 1990-91's and a few 96 with a new PS pump design.

3.3/3.8s are pretty bullet proof. Trans are ok put the Chrysler fluid ONLY in them.

I had to put a water pump on our 03. OEM pump went bad. Napa pump had the pulley mounts break off. Lost the receipt or it would have gone back. Did not by a 2nd one from Napa.

The Dodge/Chryslers are Far more common and parts should be easier to get.

OT AGAIN! Chevy Or Doge Caravan

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