2000 Dodge Intrepid

NOVEMBER 2002 TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE CAM POSITION SENSOR. JUNE 2003 TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CAM POSITION SENSOR. COMPLAINED TO DEALER OF TICKING NOISE. DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE TIMING BELT AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PERFECT RUNNING CONDITION. AUGUST 2003 LOUD NOISE FROM ENGINE. TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER CLAIMS VEHICLE NEEDS NEW ENGINE IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR A COST OF $7000.

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN THE ROAD, AND NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE IS BEYOND REPAIR, THAT WE WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW OR REBUILT ENGINE. CONSIDERING THAT I OWE $9000, TO SPEND $4000 TO REPAIR IS BEYOND MY MEANS. WE ORIGINALLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS IN 2002 WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND ACCORDING TO THE DODGE DEALER IN OUR AREA, THE CODE WAS FOR THE LEAK DETECTION SENSOR. THIS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON FOR A WHILE, AND WE WERE TOLD NOT TO WORRY UNTIL IT STARTED FLASHING. MYSTERIOUSLY, THE LIGHT WOULD THEN GO OFF. WE HAD SEVERAL OTHER REPAIRS AFTER THAT FOR THE SAME CODE AND SENSORS/MODULES REPLACED, THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WERE ULTIMATELY TOLD IT WAS A BROKEN WIRE UNDER THE SEAT?. EVENTUALLY, IN JUNE 2003, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE JUST SEIZURE, ALMOST CAUSING A REAR-END COLLISION AND HIM SWERVING TO AVOID ONCOMING CARS AND ULTIMATELY ALMOST GOING IN THE DITCH IN FRONT OF A BUSY GAS STATION. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE, ENGINE SENT TO MACHINE SHOP, AND WE ARE TOLD IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED, AND IF THEY ATTEMPT TO, THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE FOR EVEN A DAY. THE VALVES ALL HAVE TO BE REPLACED, AND THERE ARE LARGE INDENTATIONS IN THE CYLINDER HEADS. EVERY TIME THAT SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THIS CAR, IT WOULD DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IT IS A HAZARD AND A LEMON!

OUR 2000 DODGE INTREPID TRANSMISSION WENT IN TO THE LIMP MODE (LOCKED IN TO SECOND GEAR). TOOK TO DEALER. NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INPUT AND TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSORS. OTHER INTERNET SITES INDICATE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 32 TSB'S ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT THE DEALER SHOULD BILL CHRYSLER FOR ANY REPAIRS. CAN THIS BE CONFIRMED AND WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT? SECONDLY, I HAD TO PAY FOR CLEANING CARBON FROM THE THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM. PREVIOUSLY, I HAD A 93 DODGE INTREPID AND HAD TO PAY FOR THE SAME SERVICE. I RUN THE RECOMMENDED OCTANE GAS & DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL DOES NOT INCLUDE ADDING A FUEL ADDITIVE AT VARIOUS MILEAGE INTERVALS IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CONTINUES TO OCCUR WITH DODGE ENGINES. I APPRECIATE ANY RESPONSE TO THESE TWO CONCERNS.

I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR LESS THAN A YEAR. REGULAR OIL CHANGES. NEVER ANY PROBLEMS. IT IS A 2.7 ENGINE. WITH 80,000 MILES. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIWAY AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. NO LIGHTS CAME ON. NO WARNING. MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN THE PISTONS PUSHED UP THROUGH THE HEADS. WE CHANGED OUR OIL AT A SERVICE CENTER REGULARLY. THE MECHANIC SAID IT HAS HAPPENED TO PEOPLE ALL OVER WITH INTREPIDS.

STEERING DEVELOPED 'PLAY' IN LATE 10/03. BY 11/12/03 IT WAS CLUNKING, WHEEL WAS COCKED TO THE RIGHT. STEERING WHEEL WOULD STICK/LOCK UP. CONTACTED DEALER IN SANTA ROSA, CA. WAS QUOTED $175 ESTIMATE. LATER, SAME DAY LEARNED THAT RACK WAS BROKEN AND PUMP WAS LEAKING AND COST WOULD BE A MINIMUM $2000 TO REPAIR. I OPTED TO GO TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HAD THE CAR TOWED AWAY FROM THE DEALER SHOP.

I HAVE ALSO REPLACED FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. NOW THE DRIVER SIDE BACK LOCK ACTUATOR IS GOING OUT. I HAVE NOT FIXED THE RADIO, DASH LIGHTS OR DOME LIGHTS. I AM OUT OF MONEY FOR THE TIME BEING. I HAD TO REFINANCE AND ADD $4900. TO GET MOST OF THE REPAIRS DONE. MY ENGINE BLEW DUE TO SLUDGE AND I NOW HAVE A USED REBUILT ONE THAT WILL PROBABLY DO THE SAME THING.