2001 Town and Country Vibration
 

My family has a 2001 T&C Limited with 108k miles. For about two years, we have been tolerating a very annoying vibration at highway speeds. It seems to begin at about 65 mph and maintains the vibration at higher speeds. It is not necessarily constant in intensity. Sometimes it gets worse when you achieve a certain speed and then let off the accelerator. Sometimes it just vibrates whether your foot is on the pedal or not. It feels to me as if the whole vehicle is shaking, but I can feel it coming through the steering wheel and the gas pedal. We have replaced the tires and had them balanced twice. Also tried testing the van with the tires and wheels from another van without the vibration, and it seemed to make no difference. We replaced the whole front axle and it had no effect. I keep wondering if it is in the transmission. It does not seem possible that it could be an alignment problem, as the van tracks well and the tires do not show any signs of uneven wear. My mechanic is at a loss thus far.

I'm no mechanic but I'd try having the transmission flushed and tranmission filter changed before I'd have them tear it apart! Had an old Ford Taurus do the same thing. Had the flush and change down and it run like new! No vibration, no sluggyness, no noise! I was stunned! $152.00 at NTB cheaper than $3000.00 new tranny.

did you ever get this fixed?
Thanks
Ian

2001 Chrysler T&C Vibration
 

Sad to say, we have not figured it out. Last summer, I went on a long trip through Texas and back to Arkansas in the van, and it bugged me all the way down there and back. I don't think it is in the transmission. I believe the vibration is originating from the rear of the van. That is just my feeling, can't prove it as yet.
Last year, we replaced all the motor mounts as well. It had no effect. The only thing I can say is that it seems as if when the seats are out of the rear and there is no cargo, the vibration does not seem as severe. I recently took the van on a 250-mile drive with the seats out and the van empty except for my wife and I. This lends credence to my theory that the problem is located in the rear suspension or alignment, if there is such a thing. The alignment guy I talked to says there is no alignment procedure for the rear of the van.

Thanks for asking.

It all relates to an out of ballance fault. You checked the Wheels and Axles but how about the drive shafts. You say its from the rear end, is it a 4x4 model you have...
Can remember Commercial Vans having this fault and they had to change the drive shafts to cure it.
Goggs

Hi Boggs, this van is a front wheel drive. We replaced the front axle early on. I don't know how to narrow the problem down any further. It may be in the torque converter, and I don't think we will know without a rebuilding of the transmission, which seems fine. I am going to double check the service intervals, however, and see if there is a different fluid we might try for the tranny. I am familiar with the procedure used to fix the vibration in many Tauruses. That problem is said to be coming from the torque converter. I recently drove a 2003 Taurus with the problem, and it manifested itself more clearly than our minivan does, and the feel was different. But there are similarities.

I would do the axles and than balance the tires as you have mentioned your still having this viberations, have you checked the hubs and don't forget the rims they can cause viberations also. I had a bad sway bar link in my car that cause the viberations like you said 40+. The next thing should be checked is the rack and opinion inner and outer tierod ends this can cause the viberations at high speeds this is your best bet.

I take it your problem is still on going.
I'm coming up with a Damper fault, as they can make vibs through a vehicle if their in a seizure situation.
Just a thought to check for one that looks abnormal, oily or rusty.
Goggs.

I experienced the same problem on my 06 T&C - I solved it by going to a shop that specialized in alignments. They found my inside tie-rod end on the driver was weak. They replaced it, replaced my tires and now the van drives perfect.
I had another van that did this sort of thing and it turned out the halve shaft on the passenger side was out of balance. When I got to highway speed it would shake.
Most car repair shops work on everything and are "jacks of all trades" which means masters of nothing. Go to a specialist. If your in Richmond Virginia the place to go is Suspension Repair Richmond, VA - Thurston Spring Service Inc. It cost more but they know what they are doing.

I am having the same problem on my vehicle which is a 2002 Voyager. But my vibration is strong at any speed and actually feels like my tire is wobbling back and forth. I have replaced my tie rod ends and hubs. It is really bad and uncomfortable to drive