My dad is very tempted to buy a minivan, and yesterday he saw a Chrysler Town & Country 1996. Apparently is in good shape. It has very much options. Has the 3.8 v6 with O/D. Now today, we took the van to do a Test drive. The Van runs good, with enough power to our needs. But since we never have bought a Chrysler, i need some input about how are these cars, especially with this van (you know, reliability....) Any help would be very very appreciated. Thanks.....
(http://usuarios.lycos.es/racingtrykes/cougar/LS.jpg)
Well being a chrysler mechanic,the T&C is not a bad van,they have a few recalls that can be taken care of at a chrysler dealer.
Other than that the transmissions are not the greatest,be very gentle with it and you should be ok.
Living in mexico you should not have to worry about rust so your ok in that department.
Not a bad van overall.
Only thing i have to say if you plan on doing anything heavy with it like pull a tralier, make sure its no domestaport Mitsubishi engine. My dad bought a 87 voyager new, in 5 years it was because it had a Mitsu 2.5 in it.( Im not sure if they were using the mitsu engines in the 96's but its a possiblity)
yeah...i was going to say the trannys in those are J U N K
I'll third the tranny being junk...
:rolleyes: Guy I worked with couple years back needed to put a tranny in his t&c too.. funny you guys said that... coincidence I'm sure
The OD trans in the 3.3L chryslers vans absolutly suck. I would seriously stay away from the van for this reason.
However, the chryslers vans with the 3.0L mitsu engine and the NON overdrive trans are very relaible and decent for towing.
Like I said, I would look for a chyrsler with the 3.0L NON o/d instead. The O/D trans are really unreliable even if you drive like a grandma, and little can be done to improve them.
The OD trans in the 3.3L chryslers vans absolutly suck. I would seriously stay away from the van for this reason.
However, the chryslers vans with the 3.0L mitsu engine and the NON overdrive trans are very relaible and decent for towing.
Like I said, I would look for a chyrsler with the 3.0L NON o/d instead. The O/D trans are really unreliable even if you drive like a grandma, and little can be done to improve them.
To clairly 20anny's point: mitsu 2.5L way underpowered for those vans
mitsu 3.0L V6 great engine. Good power, mileage, and reliablilty. Low powerband is decent for light towing.
transmissions suck, every chrysler we'v had, and people we'v known have gone bad. they suck. for what ever reason their junk so be careful. if it starts to go, sell it quick
mmm, too about the automatic transmission. Its very bad in this car ?
I guess that all cars have problems, but it sounds like a real and alarming problem. Of course, we dont drive very fast, but at least we can keep the F150 for load. And yes, the F-150 2001 suffered a pair of times reliability problems.....and only with 44,000 kilometers now.
Any other serious problem with this van ? any help would be very appreciated....
(http://usuarios.lycos.es/racingtrykes/cougar/cat2.jpg)
Other then the trans the vans are good vehicals. However, you have to realize that you WILL be replacing that trans. It is not a question of if it will fail, its just when. It was a very poor design on chryslers part. Technically speaking, the fluid pump in that trans cannot build up enough pressure to adequatly apply the clutches in low gear. The torque of the engine causes them to slip, building up heat, which causes rapid wear.
Again, unless the price is really good, I would recomend you look for another van, specifically one with the 3.0L NON o/d trans. They are, in my oppinion, the best minivan of the 90's. (mechanically)
Is that the same transaxle that makes that odd ticking sound when coming to a stop? My Daytona did that all the time.
Yes, but lots of chrysler trans seem to do that. Including the newest mini vans. This trans was never in a daytona, to my knowledge.
So I had a different OD transaxle? Hmmm. Oh well. (I had the '92 3.0 V6 w/ auto/OD)
I got rid of that car 'cause I was tired of an automatic and wanted a stick. Then I got this T-bird ten years later 'cause I was tired of a stick and wanted an automatic. :D
I only owned that car for two years.. don't think I beat on it enough to kill the transmission.. but it wasn't from lack of trying. :D
Oh yeah, my dad.....
Now i need super fast input....but its not necessary to open a new topic...
"Ok, forget the van. Now i have seen a Ford Explorer 1996 with the 4.0 V6 automatic"
Its very loaded, too. Leather seats, A/c, cruise control, sunroof, 6 cd changer, 4x4, and a bunch of electrical things. Has apparenltly 81xxx miles. Looks in good shape, too.
I dont very happy with the response of the Truck, but is respectable (, the van was fast...) but again, i want some info about this truck, again, of reliability and another things.
Please excuse me guys, and thanks for all the help. Any help would be very appreciated...
Explorers are good all around. Don;t expect anything spectacular off road or the best ride on road. Just don't expect to tow too much with a V6 auto. Perhaps check online, if their are any outstanding recalls on the VIN before your buy, along with the other commen things you would check on a used car.