I'm in the market for a 2002 or 2003 Grand Caravan Sport FWD & V6 only.

I'm new to minivans but am very mechanical minded.

Tell me what to look for, or what to look out for. What to do on a test drive for checkout.

I'm seeing some with around 80k miles for under 6K. I'm shopping private sellers only for tax purposes.

Thanks Guys

 

Welcome to DF
Depends on what you are looking for? To fix them up or for the family.

 

Hi And Thanks,

I want it as a daily driver and not have to pour a bunch of maintenance into it. It will be a second vehicle for local touring purposes.

I found a clean 02 sport w/76k miles and want to do a test drive and close visual inspection on. I'm looking for you guys to tell me what common trouble spots to try and focus on for the 02 or 03 units. It has the 3.3L motor.

Such as, I have been reading on the sway bar link rubber bushings. An easy fix for me.

The transmission is what I need to know how to check out. What do I listen or feel for on the tranny?

Anything to help me feel and eyeball this thing. Buying used is always a risk but I gotta do what I gotta do. I have seen the car-fax and it seems OK as far as that goes.

Under 80k for an 02 seems good. But I know nothing about these mini vans.

As an example of my mechanical background, see my ride here, http://alcphoto.net/radix/truck.html. If i was buying a Chevy truck I could tell you what to look for, eh?

 

The 3.3L engines are a good motor. But you need to keep an eye on the cooling system. The transmission and i know some of the guys will think i'm nuts, Has been pretty good. As long as you keep up on reg maints, it will last for sometime.They do have problems with sway bar bushings and strut links. The vans also have problems with the rack'n'pinion seals leaks.

 

Thanks, what is the difference in a SE and Sport?