2000 Dodge Caravan

EVERY TIME THIS VEHICLE IS TO BE SERVED FOR SMOG CHECK RENEWAL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BECOMES AN ISSUE. FOR 2014 I SPENT MONEY IN REPAIRS DEALING WITH A NEW EGR VALVE. THE PROBLEM STOPPED AND PASSED SMOG CHECK. THIS YEAR 2016 I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL AREAS OF SMOG HAVE PASSED IN THE SMOG TEST EXCEPT THAT RESULTS SHOW A "NOT READY " OBD II SYSTEM. DO THIS MEANS THAT EVERY YEAR THIS VAN IS DUE FOR SMOG CHECK I HAVE TO KEEP BUYING A NEW EGR VALVE OR SPEND MONEY IN THE EMISSION SYSTEM REPAIRS BECAUSE THE EMISSION SYSTEM IS FAULTY BY MAKING? AREAS SHOWING AS NOT READY ARE CATALYST, OXYGEN SENSOR, EGR AND OR VVTVSYSTEM. PLEASE ADVISE. MY NAME IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT ON THE VEHICLE FELL OFF FIVE TIMES LAST MONTH. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER SHE DROVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND WAS TOLD THE PULLEYS WORKED FINE, BUT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SHIELD COVERING THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOST THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 172,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED TWICE IN TWO MONTHS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND SNOWY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2002, PROBLEM DIDN'T OCCUR TILL MID-2010. SINCE THEN THE BELT HAS CAME OFF AT LEAST 5 TIMES OR MORE. SEEMS EVERY TIME IT RAINS. I'VE HAD THE BELT REPLACED, AND EVERYTHING ELSE REPLACED THAT COULD POSSIBLY AFFECT IT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I HAD IT REPAIRED THIS PAST TUES. AND GUESS WHAT YESTERDAY IT CAME OFF AGAIN (ALL OF 5 DAYS). I LOVE MY VEHICLE BUT I'M AFRAID OF IT. WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF EVERYTHING GOES OFF. LUCKILY I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD (SO FAR). LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHAT DOES IT TAKE -SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE A RECALL WILL HAPPEN AND A SOLUTION?? THIS IS VERY COSTLY IN REPAIR BILLS/TOW BILLS AND SO FORTH. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. *KB

I HAVE 2000 DODGE CARAVAN WITH A 3.0L ENGINE. EVERY TIME IT RAINS OR SNOWS THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF. THIS CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO LOCK UP, AND THE ALTERNATOR TO STOP CHARGING. THE CAR IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. YOU LOSE CONTROL. THE MALFUNCTION WAS CORRECTED USING THE GATES MICRO V KIT. THIS INCLUDES A RIBBED BELT TENSIONER, RIBBED IDLER AND A DOUBLE SIDE SERPENTINE BELT. *TR

THE SERPENTINE BELT ON A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN SLIPS OFF WHEN YOU GO THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER OR WET CONDITIONS SUCH AS IN THE RAIN OR SNOW, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING (LOSS OF CONTROL); WATER PUMP (OVERHEATING AND POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE ALUMINUM HEADS); ALTERNATOR (NO BATTERY CHARGING) AND AC. THIS WAS AFTER A NEW BELT AND TENSIONER WAS INSTALLED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS INCIDENTS SITED ON RELATED WEB SITES. MY WIFE ALMOST WRECKED BECAUSE OF NO STEERING. IT HAPPENED OVER A DOZEN TIMES TO HER AND 4 TIMES TO ME. COST OF PUTTING BELT BACK ON WAS AROUND $40 EACH TIME. TRIED A FIX USING A DISC OVER THE TENSIONER AND IDLE PULLEY RECOMMENDED BY DEALER, BUT FIRST TIME THROUGH A RAIN PUDDLE, IT SLIPPED OFF. A $200 FIX IS AVAILABLE PLUS $150 LABOR CALLED A GATES KIT # 38379K ALSO BY GOODYEAR #49215K. THEY BOTH COME WITH A DOUBLE SIDED GROOVED BELT, GROOVED IDLE PULLEY AND GROOVED TENSIONER AND STATES THAT IT FIXES THE PROBLEM OF BELTS COMING OFF THE DODGE VANS IN WET WEATHER. IF THIS IS PART OF THE SELLING POINT OF THE KIT, THEN THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER, DODGE, PLYMOUTH VANS AND THE CONSUMER SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS "FIX." THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE PAID FOR AND CORRECTED BY CHRYSLER. *TR