1986 Plymouth Voyager - is it a lemon?

I was recently given a 1986 Plymouth and have had nothing but problems. Had to totally re-do the brakes, including roters, calipers, the "load sensor" thingy (Very expensive part!) master cylinder, brake cables, etc. Then 2 new front tires & it was okay for about a month. Then had to replace the engine mount. Driving home the other day there was a loud "clunking" noise either from the engine or somewhere underneath between the front seats. Also it refused to go up the slight hill of my driveway although it has no problem going up the hills in town.
Can anybody tell me (1) - what is the clunking? and
(2) why it won't go up the driveway? (I also had the transmission fluid & filter changed).
Is it possible to get this into enough shape to sell it for at least the money I've put into it - $800 in parts alone so far?

 

I think you are right that it is using different gears for different hills. My immediate problem is that I am a retired woman with a bit of a mobility problem REALLY need a vehicle that runs! I don't care too much that it doesn't like my driveway - but I am very worried about the loud clunking!

 

I wouldn't say it is a lemon. Just that some one else got all the goodie out of it without doing any preventive service or repairs. Just enough to get by. As far as the clunk, not enough information to go on.

 

I agree. The clunking could be something as simple as worn out struts in front. Noises are often difficult to diagnosis unless someone's actually driving or riding in the vehicle. I'm afraid a 20 year old Caravan is a little long in the tooth to think about getting much more useful service out of it (or $ by selling). Refusing to climb a hill would not be a good sign in relation to the tranny.

 

The loud clunk you heard was your bill fold hit the floor.The 86 voyager is a big money pit.Your problems has just begun.If you got a month out of it you were lucky.I had 1 that was only 10 yrs old when i had it when the fun began,with the tranny,the engine quiting at 65 mph on the freeway..happened more than twice.you wait 3 hours go start it right up.drive 45 minutes it would quit again.I put out over 350 dollars on that problem and never fixed it .I drove it to nearest junk yard and signed the title over.I was just relieved to get rid of it.

 

It sounds like you got a car that has been consumed. Like GRRRD said, the previous owner simply let the maintenance go on it. You said it was given to you. There's nothing more expensive than a cheap (or free) car.

 

something thats been on the road this long is certainly not a lemon

cars can be kept running forever if your willing to put the $$$ into them

(wittness the 40's and 50's model us cars running around Cuba )



sounds like this one has reached the point that continuing to put $$ into it is not cost effective

it was given to you , its worth what you paid for it

 

I have a 1984 plymouth voyager one of the first mini vans so i am told, still in service......I paid $500 about 10 years ago and have put so much money into it I've lost count, basically nickle and dimed us .....mainly because we couldn't afford another vehicle at the time.
Now I feel guilty to get rid of it, because i know what has been done to it and the cost. I still have it, she still runs tops. I can get in it and drive it across the country and know I would get there. I have kept all records of work done to the vehicle, as did the prior owner, the body is just starting to get a little rough but other than that she is pretty reliable. She only has 7,000km on a rebuilt. Whe she has to go to the dealer they make fun of it, cant beleive she runs so quiet although parts are getting harder and harder to find maybe you were given a lemon......thats why the people got rid of it, I would deal it whilst your able or donate it to charity, dont know about the US but here in Canada you get a tax reciept.........so you can recoop some of your expenses Just a thought.

 

If you are going to drive old cars, you need to have a good friend who will help you take care of it. If you were my neighbor, I would help you out for an occasional home made apple pie, assuming you can cook.
Got one neighbor, tho, who is frustrating. Right after I tell her her car is in tip top shape, she takes it to a new car dealership for an oil change, and they rip her off on a major repair. Told her her power steering was leaking and it had to be replaced or she might have an accident. It is a 98 Toyota with only 60K miles on it, in near mint condition. There was no oil leaking on her driveway, and no loss of fluid.
If you can't find a friend to help, look for one of the community college classes that teach ordinary people how to maintain their cars, and how to keep from being ripped off. And make this your mantra, "the service rep is not necessarily my friend".

 

These are KNOWN to have bad transmissions!! My mom and brother both had one and they each put 2 transmissions in each of their vans!! Just thought I'd let ya know! Jack

 

[QUOTE=UtahBill;1127649]"tell her her car is in tip top shape, she takes it to a new car dealership for an oil change, and they rip her off on a major repair. Told her her power steering was leaking and it had to be replaced or she might have an accident. There was no oil leaking on her driveway, and no loss of fluid."
QUOTE]

Funnily enough, I took the van to Canadian Tire for an oil change, they told me the same thing, quoted me mega bucks - and probably the ONLY thing not wrong with the van is a power steering leak! - and yes, I can cook - wish you were my neighbour

Thanks for all the info folks - after checking it seems a strut needs replacing (thunking?) and the timing belt is loose - could this cause the lack of power?
Appreciate the info

 

If the timing belt is loose, then it may have jumped a tooth. When it does that the engine can lose a lot of power.