Top tethers for 96 Dodge Caravan

linguistmama

New member
I called the dealership in our town and they had no clue when I asked them about installing top tethers for our van. It's a '96 Dodge Caravan. The next closest dealership that does know what I am talking about is over an hour away.

Is there anything I could bring in to show the closer dealership?

Or some other way to help them understand?

Does Dodge usually charge to put them in?

TIA!
 
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PixieEMT

New member
Ya my dodge dealership was clueless when I called 2 weeks ago about a top tether kit for a 94 Neon. :rolleyes:I need it for a KDMF family receiving a seat soon.
It was $9, I had to PRE-pay...........then they never called me when it came in........then they lost it!!!!!!!:mad:
*sigh

Maybe a photo of top tethers? Sorry my 06 T&C has top anchors in it. We just installed top anchors in our 98 Malibu. That is a sedan though, and it is supper easy. I'm not sure about a mini-van. I think Darren has experience with vans and top tethers?:confused:
HTH-Sara
 

Kalinky

Senior Community Member
LATCH manual states:

"Tether anchor installation program: DaimlerChrysler dealers will install tether anchors in certain older model year Chrysler Group vehicles free of charge. Please have the dealer refer to Technical Service Bulletin 23-08-00 Rev. B for details on this policy."

The kit #'s for your vehicle are:
2nd row: (outboard locations only) 04864118AB
3rd row: (outboard and center) 05018506AA

This is a program/policy that this and every DaimlerChrysler dealership must adhere to according to it's parent company, DaimlerChrysler. Sounds like you're going to have to hold their hand through it since they have never done it before.
 

PixieEMT

New member
Does Chevy have the same policy? I don't have a LATCH manual. :(
Chevy Malibu 1998

It would be nice to have the 3rd one done. We paid $24 a piece for the two kits we bought but we installed them by ourselves. Another would be nice for free. :whistle:
 

Jeanum

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus
Staff member
GM dealers are supposed to do one tether anchor retrofit for free in retrofittable GM models according to the LATCH manual. The LATCH manual doesn't list part info. for retrofittable GM models because the part numbers change frequently and the dealership should have the current part information. Refer the dealer to GM technical service bulletin number 99-09-004 dated January, 2000 for details of the retrofit policy.

The Dodge dealership should retrofit tether anchors (plural, not just one anchor) at no charge to the vehicle owner according to the Chrysler bulletin referenced in the earlier reply. It sounds like the dealership didn't have a clue, or was trying to charge both the owner and Chrysler corporate. :(

P.S. The current Dodge section of the LATCH manual is online as a .pdf file and you can print it out for reference to show the dealership if need be:
http://www.saferidenews.com/LATCH_manaul_updates/DODGE_6_07_web.pdf The GM section isn't online, though.
 

crunchierthanthou

New member
The kit #'s for your vehicle are:
2nd row: (outboard locations only) 04864118AB
3rd row: (outboard and center) 05018506AA

IIRC, the 1996 Caravan can have center and left outboard TAs added to the second row.

Does Chevy have the same policy? I don't have a LATCH manual. :(
Chevy Malibu 1998

According to the LATCH manual, GM will provide and install free of charge on CR Top Tether Hardware Package for most 1989 and later vehicles (including the Malibu). The TA must be for a ff CR in a rear seating position. GM doesn't list part numbers as they can change. Reference Service Bulletin 99-09-40-004 dated January 2000.
 

Kalinky

Senior Community Member
IIRC, the 1996 Caravan can have center and left outboard TAs added to the second row.

Yes - according to the link Jean provided that is correct. For some reason, my 2007 manual has second row center as N/A. The link has the part number listed in for the second row center, but not in red, like all the other changes. :confused: Sorry for the confusion there OP - follow what the link says. :)
 

christineka

New member
Last year I got anchors put in my ford van. A year later I decided to have them put into our ford car. The local service center insisted they couldn't do that. I got the part numbers and had them ordered, but they said they couldn't do it for free and no such free program ever existed. I called ford. They sent me a ford document stating all applicable retrofitted vehicles and that it costs nothing to the consumer. So, I recommend contacting the company and get a document to show the local service center.

Christine
 

Jeanum

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus
Staff member
Yes - according to the link Jean provided that is correct. For some reason, my 2007 manual has second row center as N/A. The link has the part number listed in for the second row center, but not in red, like all the other changes. :confused: Sorry for the confusion there OP - follow what the link says. :)

The confusion probably stems from some corrections/updates that were made to the 2007 LATCH manual after the first printing, mostly in the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Plymouth sections. Later printings include the updated info. and the changes are posted with links to .pdf files for the updated manufacturer's sections at the Safe Ride News site at: http://www.saferidenews.com/html/LATCH_manual_info.htm The changes are in red text in the updated sections. :thumbsup:
 

linguistmama

New member
Thanks so much! Now another question:
I called today and actually got someone who knew what I was talking about:) But they said that the kit costs $42.00. Is that their policy? The customer pays for the kit and the dealership just does the install for free? The link says the installation is free, but I'm not sure if that means the parts as well or not. I'll get them either way, but free parts would be better.
 

mominabigtruck

New member
It's all free.

I'm having tethers put in all spots of a 98 caravan and I'm not paying a dime. I honestly think that the dealerships believe that most people don't know the difference so they think they can get paid twice, once from you and once from chrysler.
 

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