2005 Town & Country Limited

[DCJREDLINE]

Wow good news for you man!! That is about as nice of a van as one could buy!! Love it.

[wjcollier07]

Not a bad choice, looks clean!

Hey, if you decide to keep it for a while and inevitably go all harofreak on it, be sure to post all the fixes for the most common problems in your normal fashion. Between all the different common issues, this could definitely be a new chapter for you!

My dad got an 01 T&C Limited back this past summer. Since he got it, I've changed so many things on it, it's ridiculous. It only has just recently broken 100k miles. Just this past fall, I replaced inner and outer tie rods, both window regulators, both lift gate pistons (really not normal how un-straightforward that is), bled/flushed the brake system, front and rear pads and rotors, the rear calipers (one of which really didn't like that whole changing the brake pads thing), the power steering fluid (which got rid of most the stuttering feedback the p/s would give you at low engine RPM when doing a parking lot maneuver), fuel filter, transmission fluid & filter, tires, third brake light bulb, cooling system flush, spark plugs & wires (which...is really...really not fun), 2 oil changes, serpentine belt, and throttle body cleaning.

Do you even want to KNOW how the van said thank you for all of that work? The harmonic balancer making a horrific noise and the a/c blower motor only working when it wants to, the rear wiper committing suicide (it...wipes down, instead of up...how..I don't know), topping it off with the side electric sliding doors just deciding NOT to work anymore.

[CMNTMXR57]

Stow-N-Go seating FTW!

Honduh and toyota may make fancier vans, but Chrysler makes the best "tool", period!

Since our oil consumption issue where they finally replaced the engine, it's been back to have the transmission torque converter, and pump replaced. The replacement stuff is worse than the shuddering than the original trans was suffering from, and this one has a really hard 1-2 shift, and torque converter disengagement is rough. So Monday I will be calling them again and demanding a new unit. Not a reman.

My point being, you may want to see if Chrysler offers some extended warranty to buy.

BTW, I went with a different size tire too. I replaced the OEM, scrawny Bridgestone Turanza's, and am currently running Michelin HydroEdge's, 235/60/16.

[harofreak00]

I'm getting some rubbing at full lock with the 225's, so you must have to be pretty careful with the 235's. Not that it really matters with these vans, the turning radius feels about twice as sharp as the Bonneville.

[CMNTMXR57]

No rub at all. I've had Yokohama Avid V4S's and now the HydroEdge's in this size on it.

The one thing I'm noticing though, much like the Yokohama's, these Michelin's are dry rotting.

[wjcollier07]

Not to get too off topic, but it seems like most of the later Green X hydroedges REALLY dryrotted fast. I've got a set of the original Hydroedges with a 2005 date code (not in service ATM), and they're less dry rotted than some of the 09, 10, and 11 runs that I would commonly see absolutely ROTTED ROTTED. The Defender (which superceeded the Hydroedge early 2012) seems to age much more gracefully.

And while on the subject, most yokohamas develop surface cracking very early on, but it tends to be superficial long term. Michelins do a similar thing, but appear to be much worse in most cases. Neither of them fail as frequently as goodyears or sumitomos when aged (fail= air loss, separation, etc)

I remember this one guy, no idea what he was doing to these tires, but I pro-rated out 3 sets of hydroedges on his nissan van before he put 60k on them only over 18 months time. Heat killed em I guess.

My dad's had 225/70-16s on it when he got it, no rub, but I put the stock 215 65 16 back on it just out of cost savings.

[00Beast]

Wow, really been out of the loop the past few weeks...

Congrats Andrew and Shannon!! Hope everything goes well with the pregnancy.

Van looks great as well.

[CMNTMXR57]

These aren't the green ones.

I think it's just a combination of the environmental dirty as well as the way the fronts brakes create a ton of brake dust (even with a low dust set of pads), that coats everything. Add heat, water, snow, road salt, etc...

[MattStrike]

Congrats! Van looks like it's aged gracefully, hope it continues to do so.

My hydro-edges (3x 2010 and 1x 2011) aren't having issues with rot, but I clean and shine them every now and then and put about 20k a year on them. At 45K, 27k on an L67, they had 6/32 last oil change (9/32 new, the oddball has 7/32) so they seem to be doing good other than the slight flat spots from the LeSabre.

[wake]

i approve only because of the window tint, there is something about a tinted out mini-van that makes me miss my *shoot*

[SSEiMan01]

*ahem* *shoot* Star!

[wake]

*dang* typos

[95naSTA]

Grats Andrew! Much better than your last minivan.

[dpnewfie]

Congrats to both you and Shannon. Nice find on the van as well.

[CMNTMXR57]

Well as I mentioned before, ours is now blessed with transmission issues. It goes back on the 21st for another tear down and probably another transmission. We took it in before for shuddering under light acceleration. They replaced the valve body, pump, and torque converter, and reflashed it with the latest flash from Chrysler. They then put it into "break-in" mode for 200 miles. It's been nearly 1,000.
This time, not only does it still shudder the same as before, the 1-2 shift is crazy hard, and the torque converter disengagement upon deceleration shakes the van.

So Andrew, I hope you purchase some kind of extended warranty from Chrysler. Ours has the Lifetime Powertrain warranty that came with the van in 2007 as their promo.

Right now, the tally on their dime is;
- One engine
- Two transmissions (soon to be two anyway)
- Tie rods
- Multiple reflashes
- Two HVAC headunits
- Drivers side door lock actuator
- 3 Power sliding door "snake" cables
- One EGR pump
- One wheel speed sensor

I think that covers it. All in less than 90k. All on their dime.

[cml37]

Congrats on the van, Andrew! We have a 2005 T&C LX. About 70K miles on it, bought it with 24k miles back in '06 for $18K

Since purchasing it, for repairs, we had a PCV replaced under warranty (free), had to repair a lock solenoid ($8 - fixed it myself), and a new turn signal stalk ($37). So, yeah, $45 in repairs that were "Chrysler's fault."

Only other thing that cost me other than standard maintenance stuff (i.e. battery, tires, wiper blades, oil changes) was that last year I had to put on new brake rotors, calipers, and pads all around ($725). But I honestly feel that the rotors and calipers were my fault for letting it go too long!

Seems that with these, people are pretty polarized, they've had either great luck or terrible luck. At $6.42 in repair costs per year, I'd say I've had exceptional luck!!

[CMNTMXR57]

Outside of the issues I've had with ours, it has only required regular maintenance (oil changes, tune-up's, tires, brakes, etc), and as far as mini-van's go, I will still argue with anyone that it (the Chrysler duo), is simply the best "tool" for the job. It's not the best performing, best handling, most gadget laden (although the new ones are), van on the market, but as a people hauler/utility vehicle, none of the other vans on the market can match it's functional capability and versatility.

However, at just under 90k, I for all intents and purposes, have a new van. Not because Chrysler was bored and selected me from a lottery of owners to receive major component transplants to extend the life of their vans, but because of typical Chrysler quality. And this is on one of their more reliable engine/trans combos. I would hate to be a 90k owner of a new Pentastar V6 version... Anyway, up until we had these issues, I reguarly threw it in my in-laws face about their week older, 2007 sh*tbox toyota sienna needing a new trans a month after purchase, as well as a couple other things, whereas my duhmestic Chrysler, which has twice the mileage and much harder use on it, ran like a top and needed nothing more than regular maintenance.

Also, on this generation of vans, Chrysler uses two style's of braking systems. A Bosch one. And a Teves one. Bosch is the majority of them, Teves fills the gap. I of course have the Teves!

[Hotwheels]

My parents bought their '05 Limited at 72k and have 125k on it now. Having every electronic gadget on it, my dad opted for the extended warranty - I believe he had the turn signal switch replaced and power steering pump replaced under warranty. Other than that, it's been brakes (a weak point on these), rear shocks, and sway bar end links on the front - pretty normal maintenance. It's been very reliable and they love it. It's their third Mopar van, and they're starting to consider going for the next. The Limited makes it a Cadillac in minivan clothing, which they've loved. Like its been mentioned, it's the perfect tool - versatile, comfortable, fairly luxurious, and easy to get repaired/find parts or being an American make. At least its not a Ford or Chevy minivan - there's a reason they gave up....they just never quite got it right - whether design, quality, or reliability.

[Jrs3800]

That van is in good shape.... Just keep up with the tid bits and it should live a long life... If the PCM/TCM would not get unhappy about a cooler trans I would install a cooler if it does not have an AUX cooler...

I think Chrysler has had the van segment right from the start and just got better... The 3.8 is a good warhorse...


I think Gm threw a good thing away when they got away from the 90-96 Vans, At the time based on the old A Body Wagon... Had they based the van on the H platform I think they would have been well ahead of the game in a lot of aspects..


Andrew, for the direction you two will be headed the van will be a must.. I never thought I would like driving a van, I do enjoy it and have actually taken it to WV and back to FL... 2000 Miles round trip... It was the most pleasant, comfortable trip I ever took in any vehicle... And I have driven the Limited, I was impressed with its ride quality and that 3.8 Grunt... Great find that should treat you well...

[Bugsi]

Nice find! With two boys ages 5 and 7, Heidi and I are very proud minivan owners. When her brother ordered a new 2010 Odyssey, we bought his used 2003 Odyssey from him and drove it from Ohio to California. In November Heidi totalled it by hitting a curb. Insurance paid out more than I paid for it 2 years ago. We went out and bought a 2011 Town & Country Touring-L.



Of the 2011 and 2012 T&C and GC vans we looked at, some had 225/65/16 tires, but the nicer ones (Touring-L or Limited models) including the one we bought had 235/60/16. The ride feels much nicer to me on the ones with the 235 tires. There's no rubbing at all. I know the T&C was redesigned in 2010, so maybe that's why I don't have rubbing.

StowNGo really does rock. Our Touring-L is pretty loaded with just about everything except heated mirrors, heated steering wheel, and Nav system. It has the dual DVD entertainment system. I'm looking forward to taking it camping with the kids.

If you haven't already, you should sign up for an account over at http://forum.chryslerminivan.net/forum.php
They aren't as heavily trafficked as this forum, but they're useful for bouncing ideas off other owners.

Definitely keep us posted on your T&C experiences, I'm happy to have someone to share experiences with!

Oh, and I have to tell you, reading that you bought a T&C brought back memories of that old van you bought and painted with a roller. Was that a Plymouth?

-Mark