I'm so sick of paying out money for this 96 dodge care a van. I just had a water pump put on, cerintine belt, and now while coiming home from the store the engine light come on and the car cuts of. Do you think I need to get another car.
2006-10-19 04:31:23 · 6 answers · asked by Ellen J 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I hope it's payed for.
You have one of two choices , pay a car note or pay a repair bill .
Most of the time the repair bill is cheaper.
Make the choice , if it's costing too much to keep it up ........TRASH IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2006-10-19 04:42:38 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the 96 caravans are really good cars, the motors are built pretty well, and if you do regular maintenance, it should last about 200k miles. I'm not kidding.
What happens a lot of times is that it's not the car at fault, but the person working on the car. Remember in the past there was such a thing as the crooked mechanic? They seeked out primarily women, and guys who didn't know anything but how to put gas in the tank. So guess what.. they're still around and they are still everywhere. there are honest and reputable mechanics, they are out there, not easily findable sometimes, and unfortunately. going to the dealership is simply a mistake.
I tell people, before you blame the car, look at the person who works on it, even if its yourself, make sure you know what you're doing, cars today don't require mechanics, but literally computer techs.
In the case of your van, one thing you can try to do is have your car towed to an AAA approved repair shop. IF you suspect foul play, AAA will make sure things are right. It's not in a shops best interest to lose that AAA approval.
You didn't mention how many miles you have on the van.
Water pumps to go out, serpentine belts wear out. average life of a water pump is about 80,000, if you get more, that's great! I've gotten 218,000 out of a Ford Explorer. But I also take very good care of the engine.
the cooling system is serviced (by me) every 2 years, I use distilled water vs. tap water, there are no impurities in distilled, I use name brand antifreeze, nothing generic, although it's probably from the same batch anyway.
I believe that a car runs the way its treated. Not just by the owner, but the person doing the work as well.
when that water pump and belt were put back on, easily a vacuum hose could've been loosened up and fell off during driving, or a sensor wire wasn't attached tight enough.
2006-10-19 12:21:32 · answer #2 · answered by Eric F 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
JEEP is your only answer i have jeep grand Cherokee with almost 300,000 miles on it and you know what i do with this jeep i off road it that is it, it's a damn good SUV and also ford explorer sport trac are real good to dodge is good vehicles their built buy Chrysler caravans has been around forever this prob wasn't taken good care off. treat your car like you would treat your mom with respect you use it to go every where.
2006-10-19 13:18:26 · answer #3 · answered by dtuttle17 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes i think you need to take it trade it in and get a honda or a ford.
2006-10-19 11:56:14 · answer #4 · answered by mommy2savannah51405 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
trade it in on a foreign car. More reliable
2006-10-19 12:21:34 · answer #5 · answered by John71 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think u need to get a truck...since a truck does not break down......and second of all u own a dodge...which is the other mistake.....either a chevy or u walk..thats wat i say
2006-10-19 11:36:50 · answer #6 · answered by Adam S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋