Faults:
Replaced the battery in 2001 right after I got the van.
Had to have the shift fork in the 5 speed manual transmission (yes a 5 speed on a mini van) right after I got the van. That cost $800, but included a new clutch assembly (wasn't bad at that time) I had them put in while they were in there.
Replaced CV/axle shafts on both sides at 115000 miles.
Needs the passenger side shaft replaced again now - 161000 miles.
Replaced the tires when I got the van. Replaced them again at 148000 miles.
Replaced the front brake pads and calipers when I first got the van in 08/01. Recently (159000 miles) had to replace the driver's caliper, rotor, and front pads due to a sticking caliper which caused the pad to go to the rivets and deeply scored the rotor. $50 job and did it myself in 1.5 hours.
Replaced the passenger side lower ball joint and front tire due to being forced off a country road hitting a low berm. Cost me under $200 total for parts and labor - professionally done.
Replaced the front struts and rear shocks at 105000 miles.
Replaced the front struts again at 157000 miles - we live in a rural area and it is hard on them.
Replaced the radiator and hoses at 136000 miles due to leaking radiator.
I have been told that this model year (93-95) had bad A/C core under the dash. My vehicle was beyond the mileage for the recall so it cost me $1000 at the dealer. My mechanic wouldn't touch it because of how long it would take him to do. Since then the A/C has worked flawlessly. Dealer did a good job, but it was expensive to have done. Took 2 days though and was much more than I wanted to do myself.
Replaced the cap, rotor button, plugs, and wires at 136000 miles. Set timing too.
Recently (160000 miles) replaced entire exhaust, including the catalytic converter, due to the CC collapsing and it needed the rest done anyway. We kept having the "check engine" light come on when idling for any length of time and loss of power and lower MPG. That has cleared up since this work was done.
Never touched the back brakes and have no reasons to at this point.
General Comments:
This was an eBay buy and has been the best vehicle we have ever had! It has cost us less to operate than any other vehicle we've owned in the past 20 years and is so easy to work on due to the smaller sized engine.
It was my daily driver (60 miles per day minimum) until it became the main family vehicle.
We have 6 kids and needed an 8 passenger vehicle. I found another 3 person rear bench seat (same color and fabric) for $75 in great shape and installed it into the middle position in the existing mounting slots. We now have an 8 passenger Voyager with all the proper seat belts and seats.
A little cramped for 8 people, but it works for us.
We consistently get 24 MPG on the highway with 8 people in it and 18-19 around our rural town and farm (hills).
A little under-powered with 8 people, but still gets up and goes if you downshift and punch it. We can pull a trailer with it too.
Uses oil now (about 800 miles to a quart), but it has 161000 miles on a little 4 cylinder - what do you expect.
We have no qualms about taking it 250 miles to visit family - very reliable.
Utility of a van and drives like a car.
This is one we will hate to see go someday.
12th Jul 2006, 06:40
Go to the site www.allpar.com/fix/trans.html
And it might shed some light on the reason you had to replace your transmission twice!
Good luck.