23 problems related to engine belts and pulleys have been reported for the 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The contact owns a 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager. While driving approximately 30 mph, the steering failed without warning and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road. When the hood was opened, the contact discovered that the driving belt was out of the pulley. The belt was placed back into position. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 154,000.
I purchased vehicle used and found no problems with the vehicle with the exception of a squeaky serpentine belt. Put a little belt dressing on it and that was as far as the issue went. Then on a dark rainy night, went through a rain puddle-very slowly, and instantly, steering became very difficult. The worst part of this experience this night was trying to put belt back on pulleys, as you can imagine in the dark and no idea how to route it. Thank goodness there was a diagram in engine. With no knowledge that this was a very well known issue with these vehicles it was quite a surprise. After researching this online, and reading all of the consumer complaints I can't figure out what you people are waiting for!! fatal accidents!! there has been more than enough info submitted and documented to warrant a recall and have the manufacturer take care of this. Oh-but guess what? another company 'gates" has come up with a solution that apparently has had positive reviews. My order is in and I am awaiting my retrofitted tensioner belt component kit so that I will feel safe enough to be out on the roads and that I will not become a hazard to other drivers on the road with me. The federal government comes to the aid of a big company like Chrysler (Plymouth) even when it is more than obvious that they are building substandard cars. This is not a major repair, but it is certainly a problem that could very easily cause serious bodily injuries to many people from just one incident! it has now been fourteen years since this car was manufactured. How many years of complaints does it take to get someone to notice and take action? is there someone above you that we have to beg, please help us! the little guys. Why should we have to beg, "please don't let my car be the one that is going to kill someone. "make the ones responsible-be responsible! thank you (I think).
The contact owns a 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager. The contact stated that the serpentine belt would detach from the vehicle whenever it would rain. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the tension pulley needed replacing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 219,000.
I have a 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager with the 3. 3l moter, every time the van goes through a puddle of water the drive belt comes off. The problem has been around for a long time,what has to be done is the belt tenser and pullys need to be changed to fix the problem. The dealership refuses to fix the problem.
We own a 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager with a 3. 3 liter engine. On Friday,October 1,2010, my wife drove slowly through a puddle and the serpentine belt came off causing a loss of power steering and other system powered by the serpentine belt. This has happened to her once before and from what I have read on the internet is a very common problem with these vehicles. My wife usually enjoys driving her van but now has lost all confidence in it. She states it's a very scary situation, not to mention dangerous. With all I have read it is almost impossible to believe there has not been a recall to have this very dangerous situation corrected.
Tl- the contact owns a 1998 Plymouth voyager. The contact stated that the serpentine belt would detach whenever the vehicle was driven while raining. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that there was nothing that could be done due to the design of the vehicle. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage and current mileage was unknown. Pmb.
We own a 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager se, for the past year we have had continual problems with the serpentine belt coming off and have replaced it so many time it impossible to count that high. T belt is especially subject to come off when it rains or there is water on the road. I know for a fact that many complaints have been filed regarding this issue and yet Chrysler will not fix the problem. This is a very serious safety issue as when the belt comes off the vehicle lose the power steering, brakes & electrical system. You people are suppose to make the road ways safe and our tax dollars bailed Chrysler out when they were going under. Theirs no telling how many people have to die due to the negligence of Chrysler and this design flaw and the NHTSA compliance in this matter. . Read more...
The serpentine belt comes off this vehicle, leading to a sudden loss of power steering. So far, this has happened while on the entrance ramp to a freeway, while driing in light city traffic, and while idling at a bank (prior to taking a highway trip which had to be cancelled). In all cases the driver was female and had great difficulty controlling the vehicle. In all cases this was during wet weather. After the second case, we had the deale install a guide plate that is supposed to keep the belt on, but it came off anyway. We have now learned that there appears to be a defect in the mounting bracket for the power steering pump, leading this part to bend under normal wear and tear such that the serpentine belt will jump off in wet weather. In our vehicle, there was another with the exact same problem in at the same time, and the replacement part was on backorder with 18 customers waiting. This clearly seems to be a design flaw as this vehicle is becoming notorious for this problem among mechanics, with several discussion theads to be found on the internet. It is only a matter of time before someone loses power steering at a critical time, thereby losing cotrol of the vehicle and leading to a fatal accident. Indeed, I would be surprsied if this hasn't already ahppened. A recall must be issued for this problem.
Dealership and independent shop replaced the serpentine belt seven times in the past year. Mechanic indicated to the consumer these were defective parts. Consumer found there was a technical service bulletin on this issue.
Defective idler arm pulley alignment on 1998 plymoth Grand Voyager. I have had the idler arm replaced and pulley replaced and belt replaced 4 times since I have owned the car and the car makes a terrible squeaking noise. The belt has come off two times. I have many friends with similiar voyagers with the same problem.
Owner drove over a puddle and the splash knocked the serpentine belt off of the pulleys. Power steering was lost, engine began to overheat, and the minivan needed to be towed to service station to have the serpentine belt replaced.
We purchased our Grand Voyager with about 14,000 miles on it. It now has about 67,000 miles on it and we have been through approximately 6 serpentine belts and 4 belt tensioners. We have been through 1 belt per year at least since we bought the vehicle. The dealership never acknowledged that there was a defect in the engine that kept causing the belt to become mis-aligned, start squeaking, and eventually rip apart. The problem is more severe in hot weather and we have about 5 months of 90 degree weather where we are. Our own mechanic has started shimming the belt tensioner, which seems to prolong belt replacement time but does not solve the problem. He believes the problem is that the hole that was drilled to install the tensioner and/or pulley is drilled at the wrong angle or not lined up correctly. Our only consolation is that the squeaking gives us warning about the state of the belt.
The info I just provided was the most recent. I bought the van used with 22,000 miles and since then I have lost 6 serpentine belts and nobody will help me with the problem. I have spent over 1,000$ in the attempts to get the problem fixed and this last time I just did it myself is why the cost is so low. I have been told by two top mechanics in my area that the belt is not lined up right and there is no adjusting it. The problem is from the factory they tell me. Nobody will help me though because it is not a recall. Maybe this will help the next guy.
The brake system was defective, there were burn like smells, and noises, the clock spring was inoperative and caused other problems, and the squeaking serpentine belt had gone bad. Scc.
Consumer states that if driving in the rain and vehicle hits a water puddle, water splashes onto the serpentine belt and it comes off. As a result, vehicle loses power steering. Consumer very concerned that if turning and problem occurs driver will not be able to turn vehicle and possibly crash. Dlr also advised consumer that mfr is aware of problem. Nlm.
At 600 miles, instrument cluster failed, a/c not working, no reverse. Dealer replaced instrument cluster, could not duplicate the no reverse condition, and replaced the a/c fuse. At 6,363 miles, transmission slipping and scraping noise when turning left in reverse. Dealer could not duplicate. At 7,586 miles, no start condition on numerous occasions, after the dealer had the van for over a week, they finally duplicated the problem and and replaced the starter. At 36,141 miles the serpentine belt broke because of a defective tensioner pulley, dealer replaced the belt and tensioner, supposed goodwill, but we all know about the TSB, and all the other complaints. At 36,741 miles, leaking coolant, dealer replaced the rear head gasket, and did not even check the front head. (now who ever heard of replacing one head gasket on a v-6 motor, I guess Chrysler must think they are superior). At 53,000 complete engine failure, 2 hours away from home, and now waiting to see what the cause is. According to the service manager the motor is knocking and there is a lot of metal in the oil. And I forgot to mention that this vehicle has not even fulfilled the lease term. Nlm.
In September of 2000 we replaced the belt tensioner. The car had about 33000 miles on it. In January or so we had to replace a valve cover gasket because oil was leaking and we were losing oil. The van had 39000 miles on it. The manufacturer was contacted and would not accomodate us even though the dealership said there was only one cause of the problem at that milage - manufacturer's defect. Then we just foundout this week at 48000 miles that we need a valve and ring job because the car was burning oil. We had been burning oil since before the valve cover gasket. We've been told by the dealership (not the one we purchased the car from, which was a small independent company) and the manufacturer that the repair will not be covered because we didn't complain of burning oil before. (of course, the oil was being lost prior to the valve cover gasket problem but they said we weren't specific about burning oil. We had attributed the lost oil to the leak.
I was traveling at about 60 mph on interstate 85 north in atlanta, GA when I heard a loud bumping noise under the vehicle. I looked in the rear view miror and saw somthing rolling on the road. I lost power steering and the vehicle was very difficult to control. I managed to get to safe spot off the road and looking under the hood I discovered my water pump pulley was off and laying on the splash pan. The serpentine belt tensioner pulley had also fallen off and was what I had seen rolling in the road. I had the vehicle towed to a five star Chrysler dealership in stone mountain, GA where the maintenance supervisor said it just wore out and he had seen them fall off in less mileage than mine had. I complained that it was a manufactures defect and should not have just sudenly fallen off with no warning. I was left with no choice but to have it repaired. They charged me just under $400. 00 to replace the water pump and put a new tensioner pulley on it. Towing cost me $85. 00 and a rental vehicle $79. 00. The dealer maintenance supervisor even had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to get a 60000 mile check up while they were working on it. I told him no thanks the vehicle never made it to 60000 miles. I have not complained to Chrysler because I felt I would get the same cold treatment that I got from the dealership in stone mountain where I was stranded over 100 miles away from home. I once thought Chrysler made good quality vehicles but no more.
This is the second time this has happened. The first time was 2 months after purchase. An exceptional amount of rain had fallen and many roads had standing water on them. While negotiating one spot (approx. 6-12 in) all power steering ability was lost. Assuming the belt was wet continued to drive until warning light and signal showed overheating. Discovered that serpentine belt had fallen off. Dealer replaced and informed that incident had been reported to Plymouth. Today same problem. Attempting to negotiate several instances of water, less than 25mph and suddenyl, no power steering. Personally reported to Plymouth and was informed that they had not heard any instances of this failure. Questioned dealer and was informed that they had seen it happen several times. Initial problem: tension pully has no edge to hold belt on if water gets between pulley and belt. Pulley is also smooth which causes belt to slip. Result: loss of power steering, loss of charging to battery, loss of power to drive headlights/wipers/air conditioning. Dangerous result: loss of control/visibility. Solution(?): replace smooth pulley with one that has edges and put grooves of some sort on the pulley to allow water to be sheeted off if it comes between the pulley and the belt.
The self tensioner failed to work properly. Had taken to dealer & informed that the surpentine belt came off the pulley. The engine motor system stopped working.
While driving in rainy conditions the serpentine belt came off, disabling the power system, which may cause an accident. Happened 4 times. . Dealer cannot determine problem. Please provide further information.
On 2 occasions while driving in rainy weather the vehicle hit a puddle and the serpentine belt came off, the consumer lost temporary control of the vehicle but was able to pull over to the side of the road. Nlm.
The vehicle is experiencing a loss of power steering,a/c,and the electrical system. Also, engine belt needs to be replaced. Dealer has replaced engine belt 3 times. The problem has happened 5 times.