How To

Desperately seeking a spring for an old minivan

John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader who can’t locate a part for a 24-year-old van.

The Car Doctor answers a question from a reader who can’t locate a part for a 24-year-old van. Stellantis media

July 15, 2025

3 minutes to read

Q. I read your column every week and now have a question. I have a 2001 Chrysler Grand Voyager with a long wheelbase, and the rear spring snapped. I have looked high and low and still cannot find a replacement. Please if you can, end my misery, and point me in the right direction.

A. I did a search using the factory part number 5006304AC and came up with the same results as you. All of the Chrysler/Mopar parts houses show this part as not available. I also tried the usual online parts outlets; Rock Auto, CariD and eBay Motors, and came up with zero availability. The other two options are a used part from a salvage yard or a new part from a spring shop. The spring shops that I have used in the past are more of a blacksmith that can manufacture almost any spring, and where I would look first.

Q. I am a snowbird who spends 4-5 continuous months in Florida. I have always used a battery maintainer to ensure I do not have a dead battery when we return home in the spring. We will be downsizing from a house to a condo, and I will no longer have a garage or access to an outlet for the battery maintainer. Are solar car battery maintainers any good and, if so, do you recommend any particular model?

A. I have a small boat and use a solar charger, and it does seem to keep the battery charged. My one concern is possible overcharging of the battery. The best I can tell is that my solar charger uses the battery to regulate voltage. The one that I use was inexpensive and I only use it for short periods, generally no longer than a week. The cheaper units (under $30) all seem about the same with different names. If I were to use a solar charger for months on end, I would want one with the ability to regulate the voltage from charging to maintenance or float mode. I would look at chargers from Deltran or Schumacher, these companies make all kinds of battery chargers, and all of their products have always worked as advertised.

Q. I am in the process of purchasing a 2015 C7 Corvette 3LT package with less than 24,000 miles. The C7 generation started in 2014 and ended in 2019. I have owned C5’s/C6’s in the past with no issues. I have asked you before about other issues and your information was a great help. The Carfax is clean and there are no recalls on it. Are there any issues with this particular second-year model?

A. The first place that I look is whether there are there recalls or service bulletins that could be a problem. From what I have seen the transmission is where the problems are. This includes hard shifts, sloppy shifts, and poor engine performance. If after a good road test, the transmission seems normal, then I do not believe you would have anything to worry about. The second issue — and common on many car engines — is a cold engine tapping sound when the car is started. If the noise lasts more than three seconds, the active valve system is acting up. Also, some of these cars have had corrosion on the wheels, which can cause slow tire leaks. The other issues are odd rusting of some under car parts, considered normal but worth looking at. And finally, the infotainment system, which can randomly go blank. If, after a thorough road test and an inspection by a qualified technician, things look good, enjoy your new ride.

Q. I have recently retired and have a big garage and a fair amount of skill and tools. I am thinking of a project. What do you think about the kit-cars from Factory Five?

A. I was recently at their 30th anniversary open house in Wareham, Mass., and in my opinion their kits just keep getting better. There was a time when the Cobra kit relied on a 5.0-liter Ford Mustang as a donor car and the examples I saw 30 years ago were a little rough around the edges. Today, their cars are truly world-class and can be powered by a variety of engines. The frames are rock solid and all the parts are very well done. Factory Five recently unveiled the Mk5 kit, and from first glance it looks fantastic.

John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has over 40 years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE-certified master technician. E-mail your Car Doctor question to [email protected]. Listen to the Car Doctor podcast at johnfpaul.podbean.com.