New Voyager Owner Saying Hello

[Perrymgbv8]

Hi Folks!

I'm Perry. I'm an old guy who has just bought a 2008 Grand Voyager.

This is to replace my old Peugeot 807 people carrier.

The car is for the odd weekend shopping trip and to make sure I have a nice wagon carry my Grandchildren for days / weekends out and the yearly Fishing and Disney trip to France.

 

It has 110,000 miles on the clock. Everything works apart from the Satnav which isn't a problem because I can use my mobile phone for this. There is also a DVD stuck in the bottom DVD unit. Again, this isn't a problem because the head unit DVD still plays on all 3 screens so the Grand children can see their movies on the road. The two rear lights in the overhead console do not work. I'm hoping this may be just lamps that need replacing?? But again! Its not a big problem.

 

When I discovered that the Stow N Go system means I don't have to physically remove the seats and lug then into the garage  (like I used to do with the 807) I was very happy indeed. This also give me useful stowage compartments under the middle seats as well.

 

I drove the car (after road testing before paying for it) 110 miles home keeping to speed limits and it showed 28mpg average. It seems to drive and stop straight. It does not wander on the motorway. It does not blow any smoke under acceleration or deceleration. And when I floor the loud pedal it does accelerate pretty quickly.

 

I have not read the manual yet but I will do soon. I bought it a week ago but have been working flat out ever since. I should have some time on Sunday afternoon to have a good play with it,

 

Its the most loaded car I have ever had. And I am surprised that so much of the electrical stuff still works.

 

I have also discovered that the spare wheel seems to be somewhere under the middle of the car? I have a hobby workshop that I share with a friend and we have a 2 post and a 4 post lift. I am looking forward to getting the Voyager up in the air so I can give it a good look over and see IF there is actually a spare wheel and tyre where it should be?

 

That's my story so far!

 

What horror stories am I to expect from this old Dog in the future? 

 

Please pass on your knowledge and experience to a new Chrysler / Mopar Owner.

 

I say Mopar, because me and a lot of mates all Drag Race and use Chevy engines. But one of my mates has a Mopar 360 engine in his 1950's Ford Pop. And we all take the mickey out of his Mopar engine. You would not believe the amount of ribbing I got from him when I told him that I had bought a Chrysler car

 

 

Regards to all

Perry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[soupstone]

Check what voltage the car charges at and where does the temperature gauge sit when it's up to temperature. 

If charging's less than 14v or the temperature gauge sit's around a quarter, the cars got two common issues that I've had with both the GVs I've previously owned. 

Good news is, both issues are easily remedied, for under a tenner. 
 

[Perrymgbv8]

Hi

I checked the charge voltage at idle and it was 14 volts.

 

What are these common issues that you have previously encountered?

 

Regards

Perry

[soupstone]

Mines was used for short journeys really, 8 miles to work, battery charged around 13.8v. When winter came, it wasn't enough to keep the battery topped up and it would start to have starting issues. The low charging was also causing the battery to fail/stop holding a charge, and was replaced every year to 18 months until I done the mod (4 years to get it on the first one, modded my second one when I bought it) 

Post 13 on this thread of QinteQ, at the bottom, gives the original info from a guy called Leedsman who was great with everything GV.

 http://www.chryslerforum.co.uk/topic/895-06-starting-issue/  

 The other issue was the thermostat sticking open meaning 1/4 on the temp gauge. Again, more of an issue come winter time. Renault 5 Thermostat fitted in the top radiator hose was the workaround. 

 https://www.chryslerforum.com/forum/chrysler-voyager-town-country-21/fitting-second-thermostat-20480/

 Handbrake work was virtually every mot for mines.

Cutting out under acceleration. Both mines was a remove and refit the fuel filter to solve, but there are others that have had to replace a valve on the end of the fuel rail. It's just air getting in to the system. 

The radio can cause a power drain, especially if it has or has ever had an aftermarket stereo fitted. I fitted a switch to isolate the radio when I parked up.

Sounds bad when I write the issues I had between the two, but they're great cars.
 Fuel economy (change of job, would have been a gallon each way) and it wasn't very good at towing our 1600kg caravan were the only reasons we got rid of ours (15mpg towing, constantly kicking down/high revs).

For spares, "VM diesel specialist" was where I got engine spares. Other spares, it's worth giving ex Chrysler dealers a call. 

Think that's about it, between this forum and chryslerforum.com, you'll get any info and help you might need. 

 

[Perrymgbv8]

Thanks for that info Sir!

 

My people carriers tend to sit on the drive all week with the occasional trips out on a weekend day when I am not working. Then we take it to France every April for a week. I think I will fit my battery charger / conditioner while its on the drive to make sure I don't have any battery issues from now on.

 

I will look into the thermostat issue in the near future before Winter hits hard. I will get fuel filter changed as well before Xmas. Although the car does pull hard when I floor it at the moment.!

 

I am lucky enough to share a hobby workshop with a friend where we have a 2 post and a 4 post lift. When I get some time I will look forward to getting the Voyager up on the 4 poster so I can give it a good look underneath. I need to make sure that I actually do have a spare wheel under the car and that its in serviceable condition and also do my usual thing with the family hacks of making sure that everything under the car that can be lubricated gets lubricated. I also spray light oil on every steel component such as springs, top and bottom arms and any other steel components that look dry with any surface rust so these items get a little weather proofing.

 

I am quite looking forward to using this car over the next several years for sure. I was very impressed yesterday As I managed to fit a 3 seat sofa in the car with the middle and rear seats folded down into the floor. This thing is huge inside

 

Regards

Perry

[Perrymgbv8]

_{WOW !}

 

_{Its already been over a month since I have used the car due to work. I took advice and fitted a battery conditioner which is connected while the Voyager is on the drive.  It starts on the button. We recently did a day trip to the seaside with Me, the wife, my Daughter and 6 year old Grand Daughter + my middle Daughter and friend. So 5 adults and one child for a 250 mile day out. It runs cold due to the thermostat issue which I will fix soon. But it averaged 28 to the gallon with gentle pedal work and using cruise on the motorways set to 75 mph.}

 

_{I'm happy with that, Despite the seemingly low engine temp. The heating system worked just fine with day temp of 9C and the drive back at night was 4C.}

 

_{My Grand Daughter enjoyed watching a DVD both ways. But the head phones are missing. And I think some sort of remote controllers are missing as well ?}

 

_{Where can I buy the headphones from?}

 

_{Do I need these remote control units?}

 

_{ALSO!! Does this engine have a Cam belt or Cam chain??}

 

_{Regards to all}

 

_Perry

[bignev]

Hi there!

I recently bought the infra red head phones from Halfords, as I needed (well wanted) them at short notice for a drive from Manchester to Cornwall. They were retailed at £15 but I got discount with my Subaru owners club card (Outback 3.0 2005).

 

They worked instantly, and the AAA batteries lasted all week on holiday, and are still good.

 

The 2.8 has a cam belt - others with a diesel can comment further!

 

Do you not have a remote at all to turn the DVD on? Mine doesn't work without the remote to turn the screen on!!!