I own a 96 3 litre voyager, 102,000 miles. (for sale in Daytona Florida.) All doors - including rear deck lid - unlock when the electric door lock switch is activated. Once unlocked, one can open the rear deck lid (with the engine running or otherwise) with the manual handle/latch mechanism. This was a handy feature.
On my recently purchased 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan (52,000 miles), I cannot open the rear deck lid without inserting a key into the key slot located on the outside of the rear deck lid. The exterior "handle" seems to perform no useful function. If one inserts the key, turns it and lifts at the tailgate at the same time with the key hand, the handle latch mechanism does not seem to perform any function.
This pre owned 03 Grand Caravan came with one key, I had another one made (there is no computer chip in the key). I do not have the remote keyless entry keyfob. The owners' manual indicates that some vehicles have the remote keyless entry and some do not. IIRC, it also stated in the manual, that, if a vehicle has electric door locks (mine does), then, it has the keyless entry system - but not necessarily, the electric power doors.
My tailgate latch handle is rubber coated and provides less than an eighth inch of travel. It feels somewhat normal, but it almost like it is "stuck" and, as I stated, it does not seem to provide any function.
It would seem, in the newer models, that an interior switch or button to open the tailgate should have been provided and was not. Am I wrong? I searched the manual and to my dismay, there is no evidence of same. Its a bit of a nuisance at the grocery store - even my old 96 voyager was more convenient tailgatewise. One could let one's spouse inside the vehicle via the the key, hit the power lock button and the tailgate would be unlocked and ready to open.
I am imagining that there is something amiss. Please let me know about any function of tailgate handle that I am missing. And if you believe that a visit to the dealer should provide me with the ability to purchase a remote keyless entry keyfob for this particular van.
thanks, dylan
On my recently purchased 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan (52,000 miles), I cannot open the rear deck lid without inserting a key into the key slot located on the outside of the rear deck lid. The exterior "handle" seems to perform no useful function. If one inserts the key, turns it and lifts at the tailgate at the same time with the key hand, the handle latch mechanism does not seem to perform any function.
This pre owned 03 Grand Caravan came with one key, I had another one made (there is no computer chip in the key). I do not have the remote keyless entry keyfob. The owners' manual indicates that some vehicles have the remote keyless entry and some do not. IIRC, it also stated in the manual, that, if a vehicle has electric door locks (mine does), then, it has the keyless entry system - but not necessarily, the electric power doors.
My tailgate latch handle is rubber coated and provides less than an eighth inch of travel. It feels somewhat normal, but it almost like it is "stuck" and, as I stated, it does not seem to provide any function.
It would seem, in the newer models, that an interior switch or button to open the tailgate should have been provided and was not. Am I wrong? I searched the manual and to my dismay, there is no evidence of same. Its a bit of a nuisance at the grocery store - even my old 96 voyager was more convenient tailgatewise. One could let one's spouse inside the vehicle via the the key, hit the power lock button and the tailgate would be unlocked and ready to open.
I am imagining that there is something amiss. Please let me know about any function of tailgate handle that I am missing. And if you believe that a visit to the dealer should provide me with the ability to purchase a remote keyless entry keyfob for this particular van.
thanks, dylan
