by "CodyVella" (codyvella)
Published 10/05/2017 at 18:45
by "CodyVella" (codyvella)
Published 10/05/2017 at 18:45
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STARS: 4
Couldn’t even use it for a demo derby. It was free because it had an overheating problem (wiring to the fans was shot), so I never looked under it when I took it. I mean, it was free but the guy was still DDing it so, it couldn’t be that bad. Boy was I wrong. Yesterday while taking it for a lap around the block to shake it down, it started making a clunking noise off the line. Jacked it up and was greeted by this:
The front subframe/engine cradle has rotted through, and the passenger side has separated from the rest of it. The body and rest of the floors are fairly rust free. It’s all contained to the engine cradle. But a new cradle is $750 and that’s not including bushings/mounts/lines. That’s more than a Pacifica is worth. Oh well, guess we’ll hoon it at the abandoned quarry and scrap it when it dies.
"r50 PathCRUSHER" (pathcrusher)
10/05/2017 at 18:48, STARS: 3
That is horrifically bad. Im surprised the engine hasnt just dropped right out yet.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
10/05/2017 at 18:54, STARS: 2
Yikes. Looks like it has been on the bottom of the ocean for 30 years.
"daender" (daender)
10/05/2017 at 18:55, STARS: 0
Would it be worth going to a pull-it-yourself junkyard and finding a replacement cradle?
"cmill189 - sans Volvo" (cmill189)
10/05/2017 at 18:56, STARS: 7
Holy Shit. Was this car underwater? I’m surprised the jack/jackstands didn’t punch right through.
"CodyVella" (codyvella)
10/05/2017 at 18:57, STARS: 1
I haven’t looked into that yet, however I’ve always looked at the Pacificas in my local Pick N’ Pull and wondered why they were there because they all looked in really good shape. I believe this might be why. Apparently it’s a very common problem.
"Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
10/05/2017 at 19:02, STARS: 2
Nightmare fuel knowing cars like that are out on the road
"CodyVella" (codyvella)
10/05/2017 at 19:03, STARS: 0
The jack is on the jacking point which is part of the subframe that’s integrated into the floor. That has zero rust. Most of the vehicle has zero rust.
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
10/05/2017 at 19:14, STARS: 1
I wonder what it was about the subframe that made it rust so much worse.
"Wacko" (wacko--)
10/05/2017 at 19:15, STARS: 0
didn’t know Mazda made Pacificas
"CodyVella" (codyvella)
10/05/2017 at 19:18, STARS: 1
Apparently, they were just painted with one coat of paint, then bolted up. So it got a lot lest protection against rust than the rest of the car. Also water and salt would get in through the access holes, and pool inside of it causing it to rot from the inside out (just like the R50 Patfinder).
"daender" (daender)
10/05/2017 at 19:19, STARS: 0
Well, that’s a shame. I guess it doesn’t share cradles with the T&C, Voyager, and Caravan?
"Ike" (untitledcarshow)
10/05/2017 at 19:25, STARS: 1
I’ll give you a case of beer for it. #profit?
"CodyVella" (codyvella)
10/05/2017 at 19:28, STARS: 0
Unfortunately no. A lot of the parts were unique to the Pacifica. However apparently it shares some of its components (Including the 3.5L) with the Mercedes-Benz R-Class. Not sure how much truth there is to that.
"interstate366, now In The Industry" (interstate366)
10/05/2017 at 19:30, STARS: 0
"CodyVella" (codyvella)
10/05/2017 at 19:32, STARS: 3
Haha, I’m throwing it up for sale on Kijiji as a parts car and if it’s not gone by the end of the month, it gets hoon’d to death at the abandoned quarry.
"RacinBob" (racinbob)
10/05/2017 at 20:37, STARS: 1
Heck, looks like a death trap to me.......
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Chrysler/Pacifica/2005/
Interesting reading
I’d contact the NHTSA. My neighbor’s Toyota pickup was bought back due to frame rail rust that looks nothing like that.
The only way to discourage Fiat Chrysler from making junk is making them pay the consequences.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/05/2017 at 21:29, STARS: 0
That made me feel a bit ill inside.....disgusting. I wonder what’d haplen if you take a mallet to it.
"Brickman" (legomaniacman)
10/05/2017 at 21:33, STARS: 0
At least with the Titanic you can identify what it is, I cant tell what im looking at here :P
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
10/05/2017 at 21:46, STARS: 0
Yup, noted issue with those. We’ve had two through our shop and both were rotted. We replaced one as we had sold it on after other repairs and didn’t notice how bad the subframe was. Not that bad as yours, but bad enough. We sourced one from AZ and had it shipped for less than $400. I think it was closer to $300. All the bolts came loose and the old one dropped out and new one in before noon on a saturday morning with 3-4 guys helping. Not for the faint of heart for sure. Sad that they rot that bad. Chrysler was replacing them up through about a couple years ago. Depended on the year and mileage.
"coqui70" (coqui70)
10/05/2017 at 22:08, STARS: 2
Even the rust has rust growing on it.
"Steve" (stevelouzon)
10/06/2017 at 10:25, STARS: 0
There isn’t some kind of recall on that?
"CodyVella" (codyvella)
10/08/2017 at 04:43, STARS: 0
Na. Chrysler admitted they didn’t properly coat the subframe, but they refuse to recall it.