Rough Idle on 2004 Town & Country

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Bob, Oct 11, 2003.

  1. Bob

    Bob Guest

    I just bought a 2004 T+C, and I've noticed that it has a rough idle when
    hot. The RPMs dip to about 550-600 from the normal 700-750. This is
    noticeable when you've been driving, and stop at a light. Trip to the dealer
    resulted in "nothing's wrong". Pushing further, I found out I'm not the only
    one complaining of this, but DC's opinion is that there's not a problem, and
    the vibration is within specs. They said a rep came by, and measured it (not
    on my T+C) with a "G meter", and proclaimed that there's only .0xxx g's of
    vibration, so - no problem. I had a 2001 Grand Caravan, same engine - 3.3 -
    and it never did this. I've had one occurance of a "squish" (didn't go
    immediately when I stepped on the gas) (They had some wierd fancy name for
    that) I've forced them (I hope) to call D-C, and raise my complaint. Has
    anyone else experienced this? How do I push this hard enough to get it
    fixed? Is the failure to accellerate enough to go to NHTSA if it happens
    again?
     
    Bob, Oct 11, 2003
    #1
  2. Bob

    Guy Guest

    I have a 2003, but idle seems fine. However, if memory serves mine idles at
    about 600 RPM normally - is this low?

    Guy
     
    Guy, Oct 12, 2003
    #2
  3. Bob

    Bob Guest

    It's not really the idle speed that bothers me. It's the shaking of the
    vehicle, and the occasional refusal to accelerate immediately. This,
    according to the dealer, is something that's started with the 2004s.
     
    Bob, Oct 12, 2003
    #3
  4. Bob

    Kevin Guest

    How many miles? My 2003 had that for the first 5000 miles and seems to have
    gone away.

    KS
     
    Kevin, Oct 12, 2003
    #4
  5. Bob

    Bob Guest

    Around 3000.
     
    Bob, Oct 12, 2003
    #5
  6. I just test drove a 2004 the other day and it did nothing of the sort.
    I would have noticed because I am very sensitive to stuff like that.

    Sounds like a vacuum leak to me.

    Bring it back and raise hell because you've paid enough for it and
    AFAIK that is not normal.

    A good technique is to ask to drive the dealer demo, with the service
    advisor in the car with you.
    Unless there is some design problem, which I doubt, that car will
    drive fine. Now demand they fix your car so it is the same.
     
    psycho_pastrami, Oct 12, 2003
    #6
  7. Bob

    Bob Guest

    Good idea about going for a ride in their demo. I've gone for a ride with
    the service manager in mine, and he was well aware of the condition, and
    under what conditions it occurs - he could actually predict when it would
    and wouln't occur. The thought crossed my mind to ask them for assistance in
    initiating arbitration procedures - whether I go thru with it is another
    matter - but at least it would get someone's attention at Chrysler. FYI, for
    the vibration to occur, the vehicle has to be hot - in closed loop as the
    service manager said - and in drive. AC on or not doesn't matter, but when
    the compressor kicks in, there's an increase in the vibration for a couple
    of seconds.
     
    Bob, Oct 12, 2003
    #7
  8. If you can get the service manager to document this on paper then you would
    have some assistance should you go to arbitration. But, my guess is that
    Chrysler
    has a programmer in a back room somewhere who is frantically working on
    a new firmware version for the engine computer. Until that new version has
    made it through an entire test cycle so they can release it, Chrysler is
    going to
    continue to claim there's no problem.

    Ted
     
    Ted Mittelstaedt, Oct 13, 2003
    #8
  9. Bob

    SaintDan Guest

    You just bought the car and it has 3000 miles on it so far. WOW... you must
    drive quite a lot. Did you do a good long "test drive" before handing your
    money over to the dealer?

    Dan
     
    SaintDan, Oct 13, 2003
    #9
  10. Bob

    Bob Guest

    Yup, sort of.... I bought it on September 11. It had 5 miles on it. We took
    a weeklong vacation to Florida, and drove all over the state - hence, the
    miles, and the annoyance with the vibration. Lots of red light time. Normal
    miles is ~ 150 a Week.
     
    Bob, Oct 13, 2003
    #10
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