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I paid over 35K for this car, never towed anything, just drove it like a normal car. And yes, I changed the oil!! I wanted this vehicle to last another 75K being a V-8 and all, is that asking too much?????? My dad’s 1981 K-Car with a 2.2 engine lasted longer than my HEMI!!!
Why is Chrysler in denial? I’m still waiting for my agent at Chrysler to call me but based on what I read, it looks very depressing. Didn’t Toyota give 15K for vehicles with over 200K miles due to rust on the frame?
Do I keep the car for a year or two in hopes there is a forced recall? SHAME SHAME SHAME on Chrysler. Why is not Motor Trend or the Attorney Generals of all the states doing something/ How about using facebook? I feel like crying now, no family car, tough economy, no help from Chrysler as I type.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_thrVTMlx4&feature=player_embedded
By the way the water is seeping in via the cowl cover that rests on top of the lower part of the front winshield. Dont believe me? open your hood and spray your windshield..
So even if I pay for a new motor, the water is still going to weep into the engine compartment and ruin the motor? My engine failed when it was sunny and dry, if that matters anything.
The water problem is a poor design of the plastic cowl cover. There is a service bulletin on it and there is an updated replacement cover. Normally the stalling and rough running issue is simply the ignition getting wet. Sometimes it is accompanied with a check engine light because of a cylinder misfire code.
Getting water INTO the engine (not on) would have to be a severe breech in the air cleaner assembly or a severe leak in the intake manifold and a huge volume of water, more than the cowl leak will produce. In either one of these events there would be a check engine light. The factory air box/air cleaner system is designed to be water proof under normal circumstances. If someone is driving the vehicle with NONE of the air intake parts installed there would be a risk of hydro-lock because there would be nothing protecting the engines air intake tract. To hydro-lock an engine it has to ingest a significant amount of water all at once.
For an engine to hydro-lock it has to ingest a lot of water equivalent to the air box or air filter being partially submerged.
I have seen this a few times when someone drives a 4x4 across a deep water hole or stream and enough water splashed up the engine gets a "big gulp".
What happens is there is standing water in the cylinder and when the rod moves up for the compression stroke it can't compress it; the weak link is the rod and piston.
Just got the call that most likely this the rod is gone. The engine is shot. They have to tear into to see. They said they had one that did this last year.
I was hoping to seek out information that Dodge has stepped up to the plate on this defect.
Ours did start doing the stalling thing in car washes or when it was really raining out it would hesitate.
Won't guarantee this will help but good luck.
The problem may be you purchased the vehicle in good faith that it would provide good service for the life of the vehicle and it didn't. But nowhere will you find such wording in the loan agreement. It is all on your back once you sign.
The overall design of the engine is excellent. A real power house, light weight, small displacement (relatively) and powerful. A win-win combination that yields power without sacrificing descent gas mileage. But why in the HELL did they use such cheap internals?? It blows my mind.
As an Amsoil dealer, I'm a fanatic about frequent oil changes, using Amsoil's best synthetic oil and filters. Clean as a whistle inside, my guess is the use of cheap/defective material for the rods.
Jasper wants $3500 for a long block, plus $800 because the core is no good.
Found a 67,000 mile engine for $2,000. Have to give it a try.
I agree. I also have a 2004 Durango Ltd with 5.7L Hemi and am also in Texas. My engine blew with no warning and I previously had no problems. I did call Chrysler and told them what had happened. They said the engine blowing was not a known issue and basically thanks for the info. They also apologized and said my engine blowing up was just a fluke. I told them this is happening to many 2004 Durangos with less than 100 k miles. AND I would NOT take a chance on another 'fluke.' My husband and I mainly purchased Chrysler products but have lost our business.
The ONLY way to recover any value in your Durango is to get it fix, and yes pay for it.
If you vehicle is relatively low miles (less than a 100K) then you can get a premium for it if it looks good.
Find a mechanic that will do a search for an engine (replacing engines is what good mechanics do all the time) and get a good price on a used engine. You should be able to find one for less than $2000 with a guarantee.
A 2nd option is to sell the vehicle to a "rebuilder" and get something for it. (not junk value).
Guys that buy cars and trucks; do some repairs and resell them for profit are all around. 2nd gen Durangos are popular vehicles so there should be some interest there.
Prices vary greatly depending on where you live. In the southern states I have found 4x4s and SUV always bring a premium, but not so much in the northern states because of the rust issues. The salt use on the roads will damage a nice vehicles in just a few years so there is a glut of "fixers" vehicles in that area.
On pavement when the tires can't slip that's what happens. When turning one has to travel farther than the other. It can be dangerous if you aren't aware of it, especially making sharp right turns.
On my 2000 it sometimes is necessary to shift into reverse and back up a little to get it to fully disengage from 4wd locked.
Class action lawsuit against GM??
And I will say again what I think of a "class action lawsuit".
These are for the sole benefit of LAWYERS. Ever notice the TV commercials "if you have suffered (insert ailment) after taking (insert drug, or a surgical procedure) then you deserve compensation. Call the XYZ law firm 1-800-gotcha!.
What those ad are an attempt to gin up a class action lawsuit. They are looking for enough people to file. It has NOTHING to do with justice.
When you take part in one of these you sign your right to compensation over to the lawyers. THEY get the compensation you deserved, NOT YOU. Because there will be 100, 200, 1000 or whatever people that signed up as part of the suit, the plaintiffs share of the settlement (after the lawyers take them majority) is split up among you. So you get a check for $10.
You are right. I had a hard time reading the post also. If they are a mechanic (as they say) they would know the difference between a Chrysler and GM. And the only ones that would come out ahead if a class action lawsuit was made against Chrysler would be the lawyers. We can only hope Chrysler realizes the problem and tries to fix it. Otherwise I WILL NOT buy another Chrysler.
The vibration is basically a cylinder with low compression. A skilled mechanic can fix this by removing the valve cover and swapping the spring with the specialized tools for this kind of job.
Again I will emphases the '03,04,05 was the fledgling years of the new hemi and these bugs have been worked out. You very rarely hear of these kinds of failure in '06 and newer hemis.
including gaskets, fluids, A/C recharge, plugs wires, etc. Now I have a great SUV and motor! Hope this helps.