1997 Chrysler Town And Country

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME ABNORMALLY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEFROSTER ALSO FAILED AND THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS DETACHED. THE CONTACT REATTACHED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED 3 TIMES AND ONLY WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER. AFTER EACH FAILURE, THE CONTACT WOULD REATTACH THE SERPENTINE BELT HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 187,000.

WHEN YOUR SERPENTINE BELT BREAKS, IS REPLACED BECAUSE OF DAMAGE OR WEAR OR JUST FALLS OFF THE PULLEYS WHEN YOU GO THROUGH WATER PUDDLES... THEN YOU MUST REPLACE THE BELT TENSIONER AS WELL AS THE BELT TO REDUCE FUTURE PROBLEMS... I HAVE A 1997 T & C AND HAVE JUST RECENTLY REPLACED THE BELT TENSIONER OF THE 2ND TIME... NOT HARD OR EXPENSIVE.... MUST DO ABOUT EVERY 3 TO 4 YEARS... THE TENSIONERS WEARS OUT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, NOT STANDING WATER OR HIGH WATER, MY 97 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY STARTED OVERHEATING. NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG, I PULLED OVER AND LET IT COOL OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART MY TRIP. THIS CONTINUED EVERY 1/2 MILE AND FINALLY I HAD NO POWER STEERING. TRYING TO GET TO A FILLING STATION, IT FINALLY JUST DIED. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED, STAYING IN A HOTEL AND TAKING A CAB TO WORK, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME MY SERPENTINE BELT JUST CAME OFF. HE REPLACED IT. HE STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN KNOWN TO BE HAPPENING WITH THESE VANS AND FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY AND LABOR COSTS I COULD HAVE A "KIT" INSTALLED AND WILL HOPEFULLY PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM CONTINUALLY HAPPENING. THE KIT HE SPOKE ABOUT WAS A BELT THAT IS RIBBED ON BOTH SIDES AND REPLACEMENT OF A PULLEY. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THEN CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THIS FREE OF CHARGE. *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT OPERATE IN COOL DAMP WEATHER (25-45 DEGREES F WITH HIGH HUMIDITY). THEY CANNOT BE CONTROLLED- SOMETIMES OPERATING FOR 10 MINUTES WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO TURN THEM OFF, SOMETIMES THEY GO INTO DELAY MODE BY THEMSELVES, AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT EVEN TURN ON. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2002. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURED WITH OUR 1997 DODGE INTREPID ES WHICH WE SOLD IN 2002 DUE TO IT BEING AN ELECTRICAL NIGHTMARE, A LEMON FROM THE FACTORY. THOUGH PURCHASED NEW, THE DEALER WOULD NOT MAKE ANY EFFORT TO HAVING THE CAR REPLACED THOUGH WE SUFFERED THROUGH 3 YEARS OF WARRANTY "REPAIRS" FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ANYWAY, I DIGRESS...

LAST DECEMBER 2004 WHILE DRIVING, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A TURN. I LOOKED UNDER HOOD AND FOUND S BELT HAD SLIPPED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO HAVE IT FIXED. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS. TODAY 5/9, AGAIN, THE BELT CAME OFF AS MY SISTER WAS ABOUT TO GO DOWN AN INCLINE. SHOULD SHE HAVE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF DESCENDING, SHE WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT, BECAUSE OF A SHARP TURN IN THE ROAD. AT THE REPAIR SHOP I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT EXIST WITH THE TENSIONER IN THIS VEHICLE, AND THAT IT SLIPS OFF WHEN IT RAINS OR IF WATER GETS INTO IT. IN ORDER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN USE I'VE HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. FROM THE COMPLAINTS I'VE READ, THIS SHOULD BE MADE INTO A RECALL ISSUE, AND THOSE WHO'VE HAD TO MAKE REPAIRS AND REPLACE BELTS, SHOULD BE REIMBURSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.