1999 Dodge Caravan review from North America
"Questionable"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Serpentine belt very squeaky and slips off.
General comments?
Whether it's the serpentine belt or the pulley, it is very loud and squeaky. WD40 used to help for a while, but not as much anymore, and the noise is worse on rainy days.
The belt slipped off for the first time the other day when I drove through a water hole to come to a stop in median. The hole was nothing out of the ordinary, but I figured it jarred the belt off. The wd40 problem helped that too. I was able to get the belt back on with my hands. If you start at the bottom pulleys and then slip over the tensioner, saving the idler for last, it's the only way I could get it on without tools.
It is still on after a week of normal driving, but still very loud. The belt did not look worn, but then again I know it's not new, so will replace it and save the old one. If the belt decides to keep coming off, it will change my mind about the reliability of a Dodge Caravan.
The belt issue should have been taken care of at factory; inexperienced drivers who lose control of power steering and continue to drive, jeopardize their engine over a belt.
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| I'm a Toyota customer from now on! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model year | 1999 |
| Year of manufacture | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 2007 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.0 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 216000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 225880 miles |
| Previous car | Dodge Caravan |
| Date of Entry | 24th September, 2009 |