Looks like the Caravan will be going in for Warranty

[StevieC]

Looks like I have a bad engine mount in the front on the Caravan. I started noticing more and more vibration from the engine especially when parked up a slight incline. Hadn't had a chance to look at it until this morning with all the rain and in that time the shifting of the transmission was also becoming a lot more noticeable whereas before you couldn't tell it was shifting most of the time.

I put it up on my ramps before I got ready for my day and I see excessive play in the front engine mount compared to what I know is normal for these having 4 of them in the family.
The rubber is not broken through but the engine does rock pretty good past normal amounts.

It's this one that is the issue it looks like... It's only $15 CDN on Rock Auto so I might just do it myself and spare the whole day appointment at the dealership because I'm impatient. Side, rear and transmission mounts all look ok.

Just about 32,000km (20K miles) so I would call that a manufacturer defect as my dad's with over 300K km are on original mounts although they are definitely worn some feeling the driving dynamic when I'm behind the wheel of it.

 

[LoneRanger]

That kind of [censored] usually takes special tools any more, on most newer cars, but maybe not. The rear output shaft seal for the transmission on my Forester was $15 but it takes a special tool that costs about same as what the labor fee would be for the dealership to do it. Would of cost me over $100 and about 4 hours of my time along with probably a lot of cussing and carrying on (no children in vicinity of garage please...) to DIY and still possibly bungle the job. Whereas the dealership charged $90 ...

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Remember the days when engine mounts last the life of the car even with big block high performance engines?

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted by JohnnyJohnson
Remember the days when engine mounts last the life of the car even with big block high performance engines?


FCA hasn't been known for good engine mounts. Some are far better than others and I would classify the Caravan as one of those vehicles that has better mounts. I just got a dud it looks like. Oh well, it happens. Could be far worse like an engine or transmission. The van has been flawless otherwise, super happy with it since I bought it last October.

Just called the dealer and they can't see me until the 13th because they are backed up with work so I either wait because they do quality work at that dealership or I do it myself. I'm thinking I might just do it myself for convenience because it's not a PITA job for this particular mount and it's $15.

To me downtime is a PITA because it's our only car in the house between me and my spouse and it's also my workhorse for work. I mean I could borrow one of my parents vehicles because they have 4 of them and my dad isn't driving due to his terminal illness, but I'd rather not because if something happened it's on their insurance record as well as mine.

 

[mclasser]

Warranty? Definitely the dealer's problem. I don't think the engine will fall out in the next 2 wks. Ask them for a loaner car so your day isn't interrupted.

 

[nobb]

Just let the dealer do it under warranty with OEM parts. The RockAuto motor mounts are all aftermarket brands (Anchor, Westar, DEA) and are known to be of low quality that will break.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted by nobb
Just let the dealer do it under warranty with OEM parts. The RockAuto motor mounts are all aftermarket brands (Anchor, Westar, DEA) and are known to be of low quality that will break.

Yeah that was why I was considering the dealer in the first place.

Originally Posted by mclasser
Warranty? Definitely the dealer's problem. Ask them for a loaner car so your day isn't interrupted.

Problem is I need something I can drive with my bad back and they usually give you some sort of compact that you need a shoehorn to get in/out of and that you need to recline the seat back to even drive the stupid thing because of sloped windshields. Then they wonder why people are buying SUV's, Cross-overs, Vans and Trucks.

 

[14Accent]

If you drive a van, ask for a van. Explain why. I bet the dealer has 20 caravans on the lot they would let you take.

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted by nobb
The RockAuto motor mounts are all aftermarket brands (Anchor, Westar, DEA) and are known to be of low quality that will break.

It's not so much that they "will break", it's more the fact that the mounts are total garbage to begin with.

 

[Imp4]

Originally Posted by 14Accent
If you drive a van, ask for a van. Explain why. I bet the dealer has 20 caravans on the lot they would let you take.

I think you're right with the 20 available caravans on the lot.
However......
If you explain that you need a van as a courtesy vehicle so that you can use it for your work they will immediately say no in all likelihood. It's an insurance thing at that point.

 

[Andrew1972]

If you decide to DIY and your repair does not work out:

* Warranty can now deny you related to area since you fixed it yourself
* You may own adjacent effected areas based on your attempt at repair.

Drop off car you'll have back within a day.

 

[StevieC]

They do all the loaners through a Rental place they pick-up the tab for because they are also a body shop location. I know because I've had to request a vehicle in the past.

 

[atikovi]

Originally Posted by StevieC
I put it up on my ramps before I got ready for my day and I see excessive play in the front engine mount compared to what I know is normal for these having 4 of them in the family.
The rubber is not broken through but the engine does rock pretty good past normal amounts.


If the rubber isn't broken, I'll bet they will say it's normal wear and you will have wasted a day.

 

[bullwinkle]

Originally Posted by atikovi
Originally Posted by StevieC
I put it up on my ramps before I got ready for my day and I see excessive play in the front engine mount compared to what I know is normal for these having 4 of them in the family.
The rubber is not broken through but the engine does rock pretty good past normal amounts.


If the rubber isn't broken, I'll bet they will say it's normal wear and you will have wasted a day.
And if they're like some of my local thieves dealerships they'll try to charge you a diagnosis fee to tell you it isn't bad!

 

[tcp71]

Buy the part from the dealer and swap it yourself, rather than waste your time.

 

[RooflessVW]

Originally Posted by JohnnyJohnson
Remember the days when engine mounts last the life of the car even with big block high performance engines?

No.

Rubber had always deteriorated. I remember when cars were NVH nightmares and less reliable in general though.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted by JohnnyJohnson
Remember the days when engine mounts last the life of the car even with big block high performance engines?

We used to chain them down because they broke so often.

 

[4WD]

But you had rumpity cams N stuff …

 

[CrAlt]

Originally Posted by JohnnyJohnson
Remember the days when engine mounts last the life of the car even with big block high performance engines?


Nope.

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted by nobb
Just let the dealer do it under warranty with OEM parts. The RockAuto motor mounts are all aftermarket brands (Anchor, Westar, DEA) and are known to be of low quality that will break.



Who is the OEM for the mounts? It could be one you just named.