# What causes a 2005 Dodge Caravan whine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 3, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704 "2017-03-03T04:52:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NoPollyannaAnymore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b782af/32.png) [@NoPollyannaAnymore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NoPollyannaAnymore)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/1 "2017-03-03T04:52:10Z")
Considering buying a 2005 Dodge Caravan, but it has a whine. Does anybody know if this is something that signals an expensive repair? Or can it be driven forever with the whine? Thanks for your help. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 4:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/2 "2017-03-03T04:53:40Z")
More information, please. Under what circumstances does the whine occur? Does the pitch change with engine or vehicle speed? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 5:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/3 "2017-03-03T05:40:40Z")
> [@NoPollyannaAnymore](#): > > Considering buying a 2005 Dodge Caravan, but it has a whine Red Flag ! Might be serious or not but with so many used vehicles out there why even consider one that has you on the internet asking if you should buy it? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 5:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/4 "2017-03-03T05:51:45Z")
Things that can make noise; alternator, water pump, power steering pump, A/C compressor and fuel pump. Each should be less than $1,000 to repair. When a torque converter clutch fails the torque converter and transmission pump can make a whining noise, perhaps $3,000 to repair. For a $2,500 vehicle any of these problem are significant, if you must buy this vehicle have the problem identified by a professional. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 11:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/5 "2017-03-03T11:07:56Z")
Run @NoPollyannaAnymore, Run away from the Caravan. A whine today, is a bank account drain tomorrow! Many more used cars out there. Don’t risk your bank account on this van - unless it free, of course. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 1:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/6 "2017-03-03T13:07:32Z")
Buying a used vehicle with an undiagnosed noise is always risky. Keep looking. There are more used vehicles out there. And whatever you consider, have it checked out thoroughly by a trusted mechanic before buying. ---
**Author:** ![knfenimore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@knfenimore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/knfenimore)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 11:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/7 "2017-03-03T23:11:54Z")
A Dodge or Chrysler vehicles are the worst as far as reliability goes. Run away. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/8 "2017-03-04T00:16:50Z")
Could be a whine from the differential in the transaxle. Very expensive, never buy a car with a noise unless you know exactly what the noise is and what it will cost. Never take a seller explanation of what a noise is or what it will cost. Tell them to get it fixed and if you are still in the market you will come back and look at it. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/9 "2017-03-04T00:18:55Z")
"What causes a 2005 Dodge Caravan [to] whine? The sight of a Sienna? 😆 ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 12:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/10 "2017-03-04T00:58:16Z")
I agree . . . keep looking If you KNOW what the whine is, the van might be a good buy, if the repair is cheap For instance, several years ago, I was looking at a used car, which was in fantastic mechanical shape, with the maintenance records. The guy wasn’t lying, when he said he took care of it Anyways, there was this persistent whine, which the seller wasn’t mentioning. He mentioned all the little dings and the new tires, but not the whine. Perhaps he thought I was a sucker I had the hood up at one point, while I was checking the car out, and it was CLEARLY the water pump and idler pulley. No big deal at all, for me, anyways We agreed on a price, and the car was mine That next weekend, I replaced the water pump and idler pulley, and the noise was immediately gone. Problem solved. Just cost me maybe $120 in parts ---
**Author:** ![NoPollyannaAnymore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b782af/32.png) [@NoPollyannaAnymore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NoPollyannaAnymore)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 4:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/11 "2017-03-04T04:24:42Z")
Ooh. Thanks for the warning. ---
**Author:** ![NoPollyannaAnymore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b782af/32.png) [@NoPollyannaAnymore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NoPollyannaAnymore)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 4:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/12 "2017-03-04T04:25:58Z")
Thanks, old timer. You just put starch in my knickers. ---
**Author:** ![NoPollyannaAnymore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b782af/32.png) [@NoPollyannaAnymore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NoPollyannaAnymore)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 4:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/13 "2017-03-04T04:36:02Z")
The whine occurred upon acceleration. First test drive in moderate temps had no whine, next test drive was snowy and colder and whined upon acceleration. ---
**Author:** ![NoPollyannaAnymore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b782af/32.png) [@NoPollyannaAnymore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NoPollyannaAnymore)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 4:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/14 "2017-03-04T04:37:23Z")
Good point. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 4:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/15 "2017-03-04T04:45:56Z")
It could be something as simple as a worn serpentine belt. But don’t gamble. Have a pro check out the vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![NoPollyannaAnymore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b782af/32.png) [@NoPollyannaAnymore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NoPollyannaAnymore)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 4:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/16 "2017-03-04T04:59:02Z")
Thanks, NYBo. ---
**Author:** ![galant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/77aa72/32.png) [@galant](https://community.cartalk.com/u/galant)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 5:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/17 "2017-03-04T05:33:59Z")
This is what I think. When selling a used car, if anything was cheap to fix, they would have fixed it. The reason that haven’t fixed this whine is most likely the cost involved in the repair. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/18 "2017-03-04T15:33:15Z")
**@NoPollyannaAnymore** Does the vehicle have a trailer hitch installed? _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![NoPollyannaAnymore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b782af/32.png) [@NoPollyannaAnymore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NoPollyannaAnymore)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/19 "2017-03-04T18:38:13Z")
That makes a lot of sense. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![NoPollyannaAnymore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b782af/32.png) [@NoPollyannaAnymore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NoPollyannaAnymore)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704/20 "2017-03-04T19:14:50Z")
No trailer hitch, CSA. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-a-2005-dodge-caravan-whine/100704.md?page=2)