Hey All:

New here - just bought a 2003 Grand Caravan ES with 37,000 miles on it for an excellent price. It has pretty much everything.
Stepped up from a 1998 Plymouth Voyager Base.

Am getting used to the differences between the two cars and stepping from a 4 Cly to a 3.8l V-6 is quite a change and the engine sounds quite different.

While driving, I notice there is a high pitch noise that seems to be tied to accelleration. Now, in my 98, instead of that, I just hear the engine revving super high to try and pick up speed. Here, I hear this noise and it appears to be coming from the passenger side (at least that's the way my ears are hearing in from the drivers side).

What I am trying to figure out - is if it's something I should have looked at? Is this an issue others have had - or is this "normal" and just what the engine sounds like accelerating?

You can hear it when you accelerate, it seems to pitch down when you release (take your foot off) the accelerator.

Thoughts?

 

Welcome to DF
You could have a belt tensioner or a wheel/axle bearing that could cause a high pitch sound, or the transfer gear on the driver side.

 

Thanks for the Welcome. Given I've had a 98 Plymouth Voyager, I'm suprised I didn't end up here before

I was thinking the tensioner, possibly the alternator - and the gear certainly is something to look at as well. Didn't really sound like something axle related but I could be wrong.

Its something where you can be crusing down the highway at 65 and on the gas and it makes the noise, then if you let up while say coasting down a hill (which there are many around where I live in central MD), the noise pitches down and isn't as noticable.

 

A wheel bearing could be make the same type of noise. A alternator would be noisey all the time, not just driving. The best thing to do is raise the van and try to isolate the sound.

 

Really? Huh. Learn something new all the time. Thanks for the tips. Will report back with what we find out.

 

Ok, heard back from the folks I work with and they CONFIRM it's the dreaded power steering pump/filter clog issue.

Now, they are telling me that you replace the reservoir and pump together as a kit and they need to flush and fill the whole power steering system. Estimate is $700 (washington dc suburbs). Does that sound right cost wise? Does the pump and reservoir need to both be replaced? They said all totaled about 3-3.5 hours labor.

Does that sound right?

 

Many many people DIY it, changing the reservoir/filter then drain and refill the system with good results. The unit costs around $30 at the dealership.

 

Checking back in - I talked with them and they said cost would be $200 for new reservoir and filter, plus removal, new fluid - parts & labor. They realized they could get the part via the dealer rather than a package with the pump (which apparently was new already anyway). If I had the time, I'd DIY it but right now I'm inclined to let them do it since it's new to me and I don't want to screw something up. I'd probably be a little braver if it were my 180,000 mile caravan but this is my new baby.

 

200 is probably inline for just the reservoir(filter is in the reservoir so no seperate part)
I am south of DC fredericksburg va area and labor rates at non dealer are around 100$ add the part plus some fluid and figure and your pretty close to 200

it dosn't hurt to call around and get some estimates over the phone for just the power steering reservoir replacement, you might find one a bit cheaper 150$ish

 

OK - that most definately was the issue. The whining is gone. Later in the day today they called and said they had replaced the resovior but there was still a slight sound - and they noticed the Cooler Assembly wasn't performing as it should. Once replaced the noise was totally gone. It's a little more than I expected but I'm happy with the result anyway. Things sound as they should. As I said before, the good thing is they said the rest of the engine is in very good shape.

So here's the breakdown for the repair in Frederick, Maryland at Fredericktown Auto Repair (DC/Baltimore Area)

Resovior = $33.75
P/S Cooler Assembly = $41.67
Remove & Replace Both - Labor = $180

Deluxe Power Steering Fluid Flush = $25.95
ATF+4 x 4 Units @ $13.98 = $55.92
Labor = $84.00

10% Discount on Labor = $26.40

Shop Supplies = $19.74
Sales Tax = $10.62

Total = $425.25

12 Month / 12,000 miles warranty on their work.

BONUS: Also got $20 free deluxe car wash at the AutoSpa they own - cleaned in and out, windows, dash, towel dry, deluxe wash, armor all tires, scent. It doesn't take away the fact I paid that much but it's nice to drive away in a super clean car anyway