So, some of you have probably read about my van in other forum areas. It's time to move on. This 1998 Chrysler Town & Country LX was originally purchased new by the magazine as a Suddard family hauler/magazine workhorse, and has been in the family ever since. When the Ridgeline came along, it went to Margie's dad. When he passed, I bought it for my wife who drove it for a couple years. When she got her Mazda5, it stayed with me since it was too darn useful to get rid of.
The Good: 3.8 liter, class 3 hitch, Koni shocks, 168,xxx miles, always well cared for. When it came to me a few years ago I replaced the carpet. In mid-2011 it got paint, a new windshield, a headliner, new tires, plugs and wires. Rebuilt trans installed at 90,xxx. Cosmetically it's in very good shape. It has some loading scratches on the interior plastic in the rear and on the backs of the seats, but nothing heinous. All of the passenger areas are clean and in good repair. Steering wheel has some hand wear. A/C blows cold, Infinity stereo works, as does the cruise and power windows.
The Bad: Front power lock actuators are weak. It throws a Idle Air Control code occasionally (and has since about 100,000), but I really don't much care about that. It also does that thing. you know, that thing where it won't start. Apparently this is a not-uncommon issue with these vans, but it is one that I no longer have the time or willingness to deal with. It also prevents me from, in good conscience, selling the van for what it would be worth if the problem didn't exist.
Here's the deal: Occasionally, the van will not start. You always know the condition will exist because when you turn the key on, the odometer and PRNDL lights do not illuminate. When that happens, you'll get a crank, start and instant stall. The only cure has been time. Come back later and it works.
The common cause has usually been body control module. We have been unsuccessful in confirming this, and unlucky in tracking one down. The other cited cause is clod solder joints in the instrument cluster. At this point I'm too busy making magazines and too happy with my new Roadmaster to give it much more time.
The problem manifests itself inconsistently. It may not do it for six months, then it may do it twice in a week. If you're the one to deal with it, you're about to get a heck of a deal.
$2012 to GRM readers. Fix it and sell it for another $1200. Fix it and drive happily for tens of thousands more miles. Don't fix it and drive cheaply but occasionally have to sit somewhere and wait for it to change its mind. Or jump it into a lake. Your call.
Pics coming soon.
email jg@grassrootsmotorsports.com or call 386-290-0970. That's my personal cell so no late night obscene calls unless you're willing to finish the job.
