I'm in shock!!! Has anyone had this changed on their car by a non-franchised dealer? If so where and how much did it cost? I'm worried if we take it elsewhere we may run into trouble as the diagnosis was done by main dealer.
Thanks
Mark

 

first thing is always ask for a breakdown of the quote into parts and labour, see if you can get the part number of the item they are going to replace. Also ask for details of why they think that the solenoid pack needs replacing - get it written down if possible

A google search of American parts suppliers will probably find you a far cheaper part even after shipping and import duties.

e.g. this one on ebay.com
A604 41TE Transmission Solenoid Block Pack Brand New Caravan Voyager 99864 | eBay

Use yellow pages to look for an automatic transmission specialist and get a price for fitting one from them.

Regards
Richard

 

This doesn't look like a huge job, as Richard says I would get the split between labour and parts and then use an auto transmission specialist, they will have seen it all before.

The link is a youtube on how to do it yourself, there are several others around.

 

Surely not looking for £880 for that job....Right enough if you don't know what's involved or if your a woman you would pay it. Let us know if it solves problem.

 

Thanks Guys for all your great helpful replies. I have spoken to the dealer today and they have offered to the job with a 25% discount. I am going to speak again with them tomorrow and advise them that I've seen the video of the solenoid switch being replaced and the price of the OEM one on Ebay. I am a bit confused as I thought there were a no of individual solenoids all over the gearbox, but the video and ebay ad seem to show one component containing all 4 solenoids! Does this sound correct? I need to make sure I know as much as the dealer to challenge them.
Many thanks
Mark

 

It's a sad day to see this sort of thing going on. Whatever happened to honesty in business?
It won't do them any good in the long run.
Once you find out a business is like this, simply WALK. Don't have anything more to do with them. It's happened to me too, over a radiator for my GV. One place in Leeds quoted £350 labor for the job, the one I went to after them quoted and charged £150 labor for the same job. The mechanic got a £30 tip over and above. It's worth looking after honest people.

Leedsman.

 

Spoke to dealer today and they have replaced the solenoid but won't release the car until they have cold tested it on Monday. I'm starting to think they are doubting their own diagnosis. All I keep hearing is these cars are notoriously unreliable and cost a lot of money to repair. Totally p***ed off with the car and rip off merchant Chrysler dealers. Had 2 more quotes to supply and fit part £420 and £530 from auto gearbox specialists. Both said they could easily do it but somehow I doubt it. Losing the faith!!!

 

I've had around 50+ cars in my life, many new, some few years old and some over ten years old like one I've got now. These cars are not the worse ones for reliability, far from it.
The main problem that seems to pop up, is, this is a BIG car and if anything goes wrong Garages ask you to take out a mortgage. Greed here.
They have got their ill's but most faults are known on here.
The main problem that raises many times is the cars computer, or computers which causes problems in diagnosing faults. Garages just don't know what to do to them for repairs. And as you say Chrysler must be charging around £120 - £150 per hour.
If I came into a little money would I buy another car. I just can't think of a better one that's high up, comfortable, powerful and carries 8 x 4's in back....Might buy a newer one.
That's it, I'm happy even though I've still got an ABS fault and still to fit a tow bar when it stops raining.

 

I'm with Goggs here Mark - all cars are a liability, I've owned dozens over the years and these are as good as most others (I had a 69 Chevy that beats every other car I know of in terms of toughness and reliability, but she was special).

On the Chrysler, prices are a tad high for parts - but you can get some bits off of the well-known auction site for reasonable prices. If planning to keep the car, try to find a non-franchised reputable garage that is good with the Chrysler stuff. Ask on here for folks near to you to recommend perhaps.

It is a big vehicle, with lots of technology and lots of extra bits...so compared with my 79 Triumph Spitfire, there are more things to go wrong. But these are truly versatile, comfortable (not just for those in the front seat), and relatively cheap to buy, considering what you get for the money. Chrysler practically invented the minivan with this vehicle (not to be confused with a people-mover like the Renault Espace), and they got an awful lot right.

You'll get a lot of sympathy on this site, and hopefully some practical advice too! Hope your trouble passes quickly.

PS the fact that your garage want to keep the van over-night to cold test is a good sign to me.

 

Well, if you live in the south of England, maybe more so the southwest, it's handy if your GV will float.

Leedsman.