Dodge Caravan - Plymouth Voyager 1996 - 2000

Overview

Redesigned for the 1996 model, the third generation of the world's most popular minivan has got more rounded shape and an available driver's-side sliding door. The 1996-2000 Dodge Caravan was offered in short- or long-wheelbase body styles. The Plymouth Voyager and upscale Chrysler Town & Country are essentially the same vehicle.

The front-wheel drive Caravan came with a base 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine or optional 3.0L, 3.3L, or 3.8L V6. The 4-cylinder 2.4L and the 3.0L V6 engines have a timing belt that must be replaced in recommended intervals. An all-wheel drive model was available from 1997. Inside, Dodge Caravan offered plenty of space and versatility. The second- and third-row seats could be easily removed for more cargo space. The driver's place offers a good view of the road. The gauges on the instrument panel are simple and easy to read. On the road, Dodge Caravan handles comfortably with a smooth and quiet ride. All the Caravans I have looked at haven't had any problems with a transmission but if you do some research, there are plenty of reports about Dodge Caravan automatic transmission problems. Speaking about other problems, from several vehicles I checked, one Dodge Caravan had the cruise control and the horn not working due to a clock spring defect. Another Caravan had a problem with the wipers; sometimes, front wipers would stop in the middle of the windshield and the rear wiper goes on and off by itself, most likely due to a bad ground connection. The owner of the third (4 years old) Caravan had complained about the rear brakes. All the others were generally OK.

Overall

The 1996-2000 Dodge Caravan is a comfortable minivan to drive with plenty of space. The second- and third-row seats can be easily removed for extra cargo space. On the downside, electrical and transmission problems are not uncommon. Read below.

Dodge Caravan problems

A faulty circuit board in the instrument cluster or a bad BCM can cause the gauges to stop working; sometimes intermittently. Also, a faulty Body Control Module (BCM) can cause a variety of electrical problems, for example, with power locks. A bad clock spring in the steering column can cause the horn and the cruise control not to work as well as the air bag light to come on; there was a recall on this issue - check with a Chrysler dealer. Bad transmission speed sensors can cause the transmission to go into the "limp" mode and not to shift into higher gears. A bad transmission solenoid pack and faulty Transmission Control Module (TCM) also can cause variety of transmission issues. A bad Idle Air Control (IAC) valve can cause stalling at idle.

What to look for buying a used Dodge Caravan

First, check the car history report, it may save you a lot of money. Here is how to do it:
How to check history of your car. Carefully check all the electrical accessories: the air conditioner, power windows, locks (make sure the lock works on the sliding door and the rear hatch), mirrors, heater, stereo, etc. Make sure to check the cruise control and horn. Try to open and close all the doors and the rear gate. The warning lights "ABS", "check engine" or "airbag" should never come on while driving.

On a 3.3L engine, check this hose connection (pointed with an arrow on the picture), it shouldn't be oily. Check the oil and coolant level, it shouldn't be low. There should be no leaks under the engine. To learn how to check the engine read more here: how to check the engine condition. Be sure to check the transmission very carefully. First, check the transmission fluid on the dipstick. If you are not familiar how to do it, read here how to check the automatic fluid. The transmission fluid should be clean and transparent, without any debris. Drip the transmission fluid on the clean white paper and look closely at the paper. There should be only clean and transparent transmission fluid. No black flakes, no metal particles, no dirt. If any of these exist, avoid this vehicle. Try to smell the transmission fluid. It should not have a strong burnt smell. If it has, pass on this vehicle. Check more details at how to check an automatic transmission. Learn more: how to check a car.

How prevent transmission troubles

The Caravan's automatic transmission is very sensitive to the transmission fluid type; use only the correct fluid. Always check your parking space. If you discover a leak, get it fixed before it will cause a serious problem. Never switch to Reverse or Park until the car comes to a complete stop. Check the transmission fluid level on a regular basis. Change transmission fluid as often as specified in your owner's manual. Don't spin the wheels too hard when you are stuck in the snow, this will cause the transmission to overheat, which is the most common reason of transmission failure. Consider installing an additional transmission fluid cooler. This site has a lot of info on the Dodge Caravan transmission.

DIY repair info

If you want to find a DIY repair information, such as diagrams, specification, component location, repair instructions, technical service bulletins and so on, there is a website where for a small fee you can get an access to this type of information online. Read more: where to find technical information about your car.

by Vlad Samarin