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1996-2000 minivan strut tower ROT

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Old Nov 23, 2006 | 03:30 PM
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ddvez's Avatar
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Default 1996-2000 minivan strut tower ROT

Check your 1996-2000 model year minivans for Strut Tower rust through on the Drivers side. The windshield wiper module drains water onto it and rots it out. I went to get my struts replaced and the shop wouldn't do it because they said the struts were ready to blow through the tower. I am out of warranty and SCREWED! There is a TSB on the issue and they will only fix it if you are UNDER WARRANTY !
 
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Old Nov 23, 2006 | 11:04 PM
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Default RE: 1996-2000 minivan strut tower ROT

Any good bodyshop will do the tsb. The dealer could do the tsb also, you would have to pay for it.
 
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Old Nov 25, 2006 | 04:12 PM
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Default RE: 1996-2000 minivan strut tower ROT

this sucks
my buddy at work has a 2000 and his are rotten as well
i'm going to check mine 99
hopefully the rustproofing helps to slow it

just checked both side still like new no rot. the paint is still there. thanks to the undercoating i guess
 
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Old Nov 25, 2006 | 09:50 PM
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Default RE: 1996-2000 minivan strut tower ROT

my 96 has both of them rotted out,you can buy the top 2 inchs of the strut tower for about 35$s a piece.
 
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Old Nov 27, 2006 | 04:08 AM
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Default RE: 1996-2000 minivan strut tower ROT

I've been quoted $500-600 each side to repair the strut tower perforation. If you see the tsb, there are two fixes: one that requires cutting out rusted metal and one that does not. Of course Chrysler refers to it as "cosmetic." Sounds like yours is beyond cosmetic. The tsb consists of a metal cap that epoxies onto the top of the tower.
 
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Old Nov 27, 2006 | 01:40 PM
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Default RE: 1996-2000 minivan strut tower ROT

I was lucky enough to find a fabricator who did my 1999 for $250. Those caps hide the future rot. We cut the rot out and fabricated a new top on mine. OMG the stuff that has to get removed to correctly fix the tower. Right down to the wiper assemby. It was worth it though. Every body shop I contacted wouldn't touch it with a 10 ft pole, most claiming they didn't want to be responsible for alignment issues after the fix. I wad luck enough to find a welder/fabricator who had done a couple of others.
 
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