1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager SE from North America - Comments

I have a 1997 Plymouth Grand Voyager, and have been reading all of your notes.

My van's ABS light comes on, all dash displays stop working (gas, speed, temp, mileage, gear that I am in), the engine light comes on, my brakes sound like they drag when stopping at times, and we have gone to two different shops that can't tell me what to do.

If someone has an idea that they can share - please do.

This problem is getting worse, and I have two kids, and I hate not knowing what to do.

My instrument panel just went dead and the ABS light came on. no speedometer gas gauge or lights. please help.

I have a 1998 Grand Voyager SE that I just bought 2 months ago and unfortunately I have had to take it to the mechanic twice already. This time it has been to 3 mechanics so far who can't figure out what's wrong with it. What happens is that the Check Engine light comes on and then immediately the van chokes off and I have to coast to a stop and then restart it. Originally the error code indicated it was intermittent cmp or clp failure so we had the sensor replaced. Now it's back in the shop b/c it started happening again and the last mechanic says he's unsure.. something is going on with the computer? Anyone had to replace the computer on one of these? How much are we talking here?

My 98 Plymouth Grand Voyager has 185,000 miles and we have spent over $4,000 on brakes since buying it new. It's been to Midas, two dealerships, and two brake shops. Now, when I push the brake, it pulses back somewhat like stepping on a sleeping cat. One dealer replaced the master cylinder, said a few chants, collected $1200 and the problem persisted. My ABS light is a permanent fixture. I'd like to fix this so I can sell it with a clear conscience, but does anyone know how? Of course, the dealer ignored this when it was under warranty!

For those of you that have the ABS light on all the time and light problems there is a clock spring recall. I have a 1999 TC w 3.8l and the dealer replaced this and fixed my problem. No charge.

I Have a 1998 Grand Voyager with a belt problem as well. It started with the bearings on the water pump then a bolt on the AC snapped causing the belt to jump then it was the tension pulley. Now the belt is off once again. The van has been in the shop every couple of weeks. We never in almost 3 years had a problem with the belt, now it won't go away.

As far as the problems with the dash lights and the ABS. My cruise didn't work and the Air Bag light or the ABS light came on and wouldn't go off and the horn stopped working. I took it in and it was a bad Air bag sensor. Now every thing works, including the cruise control. Figure that out. But now the AC doesn't work. I should have realized that it was a FORD in disguise. After all you do know FORD stands for (F-in, O-ld, R-ebuilt, D-odge).

I also have 1998 Grand Voyager - had problems with my belt, Just about 1/4 inch on the side comes off. I had it in 3 times now, they finally put on a new tensioner - don't know how this is doing yet, just a month now. The thing goes out just past the years warranty on the work. $300.00 is a lot of money each year for this thing. Also, my cruise quit working, and my interior lights won't work. Had to have the brakes redone, but the previous owners had never replaced the brakes up to this point. 120,000 now. I really love the van and hope that it runs for a long time. Can anyone tell me what to do with the interior lights? Thanks

I had a 1998 Grand Voyager SE. Note the past tense. The day I paid it off, was the same day I traded it for a Honda Odyssey. The list of things gone wrong was extensive: prematurely wearing brakes, expensive rear wheel bearings, rusting front strut towers, rusting rocker panels (in spite of being oil-sprayed yearly), and self-destructing air-conditioner compressor. I ditched it before it could leave my family stranded someplace. No more Chrysler products for me.

So true that misery loves company!

Bought our '98 Plymouth Grand Voyager SE in 2001 and have had so many problems -- figured we spent so much money on this car it HAS to last us. So, we keep fixing things. Once Toyota Sienna comes out with a hybrid minivan, we're getting one. So, we hope our hunk-of-junk will last us a few more years. Never again will be buy a Chrysler (Dodge/Plymouth/whatever).

Here are a few problems -- Head gaskets (ouch) and water pump were replaced within a year of purchase, brakes replaced, power window motor went out (weird), a/c compressor & clutch, alternator, transmission, and more things I can't remember. Most recently, we noticed our headlight is loose as it has all it's brackets broke so we duct taped it in. Lovely. But, $160+ for a new headlight when ours works fine is just not an option since we just spent $700 on a new a/c compressor and clutch.

What I DO like -- I feel it's roomy inside. I think the front seats are comfortable. And I like dual-sliding doors.

Our 2000 Chrysler Grand Voyager van is having the serpentine belt issue as well. We have had it come off in rain storms going through puddles and the latest was 2 months ago when I was going through an automatic car wash with it, the belt slipped off during the wash. Well, last night I took it through a different car wash that it has gone through before and the belt slipped off of it again. This is surely an inconvenience and safety hazard. We are pleased otherwise with the van and recently got back from a 2 month, 7700 mile trip in it. We did have had to replace the clock spring (under recall) after the cruise, horn, etc. went out. I am going to check on the serpentine belt kit and see if that will do the trick.

We, too, had a 1998 Grand Voyager. The serpentine belt problem stranded my wife once. When we got the vehicle home, I found the belt tensioner locked up. This was early in the car's life, so the only source of replacement was from Plymouth. The dealer told me that he sold many of the tensioners weekly. I installed it and no longer had any problems. I opened the old tensioner and found the spring broken.

The right front brake ate up pads about every 10,000 miles. Cleaning, buffing and lubrication of the caliper was to no avail. I used Autozone pads with a lifetime warranty, so replacements were free.

With good plugs, the van got excellent mileage even when hauling 5 people and their luggage.

Replacing the rear plugs on the sideways six was a bit of a challenge, but became much easier when the dealer told me he wanted $600 to do the job.