IT WAS LIMITED PRODUCTION ENGINE THAT HAS A PROBLEM OF EATING TIMING BELTS, CRACKING CYLINDER HEADS, AND A/C FAILURE. WHEN THE TIMING BELT BREAKS, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY DIES AND THERE IS A LOSS OF ALL POWER ASSIST INCLUDING STEERING. ANOTHER ONE OF THESE VEHICLES I OWN WENT THROUGH 5 CYLINDER HEADS AND 7 TIMING BELTS IN 83K M…
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IT WAS LIMITED PRODUCTION ENGINE THAT HAS A PROBLEM OF EATING TIMING BELTS, CRACKING CYLINDER HEADS, AND A/C FAILURE. WHEN THE TIMING BELT BREAKS, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY DIES AND THERE IS A LOSS OF ALL POWER ASSIST INCLUDING STEERING. ANOTHER ONE OF THESE VEHICLES I OWN WENT THROUGH 5 CYLINDER HEADS AND 7 TIMING BELTS IN 83K MILES, BECAUSE OF THE SMALL NUMBER OF THIS SPECIAL ENGINE PRODUCED, THERE PROBABLY HAVEN'T BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS, BUT IF THE SERVICE RECORDS WERE PULLED FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER FOR ALL THE CARS WITH ENGINE VIN CODE "A" THE 2.2L 16V LOTUS DOHC TURBO III, 90% WILL HAVE HAD AT LEST ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AND PROBABLY MANY MORE THAT WHICH CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED. AN OWNERS CLUB ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://TOPICA.COM/LIST/RT_MAILING_LIST HAS OVER 300 PEOPLE, SOME WITH MULTIPLE CARS LIKE MYSELF AND WOULD BE A GOOD SOURCE TO HELP DOCUMENT THESE PROBLEMS. *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****762546
THE WELDING ATTACHMENTS OF THE FRONT FRAME RAILS TO THE FLOOR PAN SHEET METAL MAY NOT BE PROPERLY WELDED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE IMPROPERLY WELDED AREAS COULD CAUSE BODY PANELFLEXING AND SHEET METAL CRACKING, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE,COMPROMISING THE VEHICLE IMPACT PROTECTION CAPABILITY. THIS COULD INCREASE THELIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A COLLISIONACCIDENT.
Remedy: SECURE THE FLOOR PAN TO THE FRONT FRAME RAILS BY BOLTING BOTH FRAME RAILS TO THE FLOOR PAN.
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