1995 Plymouth Voyager fun post

Let me know if this is not the place to post this due to the lack of questions about vehicle issues.

I recently got a pair of Foglight Hellas since the kit that de-yellowed the headlights does not last forever and the lights have always sucked. The Foglights do not throw as far as Driving Lights, but they throw to the sides and forward enough to please me. They are wired up to their own circuit so I can turn them on whenever I want and to make sure they are legal I have kept them at 55Watts.

I had to get my entire exhaust system replaced back in November ($800 ouch) and it being New York I had the local shop do it since I do not know how to operate a blowtorch. Before I got the exhaust replaced I took a hammer to the muffler and Catcon since the exhaust was throaty for months plus I wanted to hear the 3 LitreV6 in all its glory. I will admit the 3 Litre V6 is not a Spitfire, but it sounded pretty darn cool to me with its rumble and the interior bits of the muffler rattling about making even more noise and then I got a call from the shop. Turns out they ordered a California Catcon so they could not do the work that day and I had to drive 40 miles round trip to help out some family on short notice.

I may have been over the 90 Decibel limit, but I did not care because that must have been one of the most fun 40 miles I have driven in Sandy the Voyager. I messed with a few Mustangs and other sports cars as well as those people who think everyone should hear their rubbish music, but never any serious street racing. I also just enjoyed the burbling and somewhat high revving

I have gotten used to the new exhaust, but it took a while since I can hardly hear it now and I kind of toyed with buying muffler where I can change the noise level, but I spent that money elsewhere. Last month I found a gold mine which contanied 4 pretty good looking hubcaps, 4 rims, and the trim pieces I was looking for.

As the months were getting colder I vaccumed out all of the interior then I cleaned all the carpet with carpet cleaner. I then cleaned all the seats (except the 3rd row that is my bedroom sofa) with seat cleaner. The Turtle Wax bottles have a head that is meant to come off and be used, but it sucks so I just used a stiff bristle brush from Agway which worked great. I used Simple Green and q-tips to clean every nook and cranny in the dashboard. I also scrubbed all the floor mats and the rest of the interior, it looked ready for the showroom again I was so proud. I replaced the rear trim piece that goes over the rear latch mechanism and sure it does not match it is pretty close, but it beats what was there. In the process of replacing all the rusty screws and bolts with screws usually I broke one of the door sill pieces so I had to replace that as well. Course the exterior is still rough and only looks mad sexy from about 3 meters away at dawn, but whatever, I have the rust mainly under control, the hubcaps make it look better as does the supreme car wash, and if I really have to replace the fenders I can. I bought a jack that actually goes high enough so I can swap wheels, but now I need jackstands.

I am trying to get a job in California and if I succeed I am crazy enough to drive my Voyager all the way from New York. If that happens I will be back to ask some questions and such. I hear on the Golden Coast Voyagers like mine are common as bugs on a bumper.

Oh yea, two question for y'all. It took about 15 or so years, but the 17+ year old clearcoat has begun to fail making the Poppy Red paint fade and you can brush it off with your hands leaving a red coating on them. I say about a 1/4 to a 1/3 of the roof and about 1/5 of the hood are suffering as well as a bit of one of the fender tops. The tailgate was also suffering, but I replaced it when fighting the rust issues. Anyone else have paint issues with their 1984-2012 Minivan? I do not plan on repainting it since that would ruin the originality, but I have to make sure it does not get more serious. I hope this clearcoat and paint issue does not spread to the vertical surfaces since I have had the doors replaced recently and the uneven fading/peeling would not look so good.

I want to buy a service manual so I can work on my vehicle. I already have a Haynes (kind of useless kind of not) and was wondering if this is a good one to get?


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Planned obsolescence be darned!

Teddie, sounds good what you did with the van, as long as you like it thats all that matters. My Dakota has the same problem with the paint. I guess this spring I'll have to try to get some spray paint in a matching color and blend it in. That seems to be a common paint problem. Good luck to you!

Thanks for the kind words and I hope to have enough disposable income in a few years that I can buy a newer vehicle as a daily driver and semi-retire the Voyager. The Voyager was bought new in 1995 to replace a hand me down 1970 Dodge Dart so to able to keep the Voyager for this long and hopefully for decades to come means a lot to me.

What year is your Dakota?

Hello Teddie, My Dakota is an 87, I had a new truck but I got hurt on the job so I bought what I could afford, like you someday I'll be able to get something newer, not complaining the dakota has been ok. I wish I could get a job in California that would be a dream come true,plus the weather would be warmer! Anyway have a great New Year by the way I used to own a Dart, man I miss that little car.