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We received another warranty offer from Chrysler in the mail yesterday. In their brochure they say that a car as technically sophisticated as the LHS or 300M should have extended coverage. I agree. But I don't like the Chrylser coverage because the work has to done at a Chrysler shop.
My question to all of you LHS/300M owners: have you purchased an extended warrany for your vehicle? If so, are you pleased with it? Would you recommend it to others?
I appreciate your help. I've always found the discussions here interesting and helpful. If you would prefer not to respond here, please email me at tksatksa@hotmail.com
Thanks.
Here is the scoop on DRL's.
Though I haven't checked, I suspect that the module discussed next will fit on most recent Chrysler products OR there is one made to fit them because Canadian Chrysler product MUST have RL's installed on them. As I have been told by numerous dealers here in the US, NO extra wiring, etc., is required nor is it costly to activate RL's on these autos.
Both autos are already built for DRL's. I have had them on my '99 LHS for several years. What you must do is obtain Molar part number 0460222AC from any dealer who will order it for you. List price is $78.50 and it is frequently available for discounts of up to 20 or more percent. The module is about 1 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches by 1 inch (depth). It has two sockets for both a 4 and 2 pin connection and fits, on these two autos, in the extreme upper left of the fuse block just under the black pull-off panel on the driver's side of the instrument panel.
The module is inserted there, an existing wire is placed in the connectors and you have DRL's. Be sure to turn off the engine while you install it, but it is NOT necessary to disconnect the battery. Then, when you turn on the engine, you will get the low beam headlights to come on at about 1/3 power. This module does NOT affect either your automatic headlights, not the auto on for windshield wipers, or anything else. In other words, the auto remains exactly as it was but you now have DRL's.
I bought my module fro POMOCO Cry-Plymouth in New Port News, VA by e-mail and UPS. I was able to get a 20% discount, making the unit cost $62.80 plus $3.93 UPS to me in Ashburn, VA (neat WashDC). POMOCO is PartsPomoco@aol.com, voice 703-833-8087, fax 703-833-0948; ask for Jonathan Evans, Parts Manager. I have had many other quote for much more money, but find out for yourself and enjoy this safety upgrade.
Thanks for the info. Have ordered the module from my Dealer's Parts Dept. at a good discount (a little better than from POMOCO). They are not quite sure how to hook it up but believe their mechanics can figure it out. The full Mopar part number for the unit is 04602229AC.
Don't know how any reviewer could describe it's ride as a "road pillow". The window sticker described the suspension as "4-Whl Indep. Touring" and that it is. It is comfortably firm and rides "tight" around curves.
Drove through snow, slush, rain and sun; the Michelin tires handled great through all conditions and were quiet.
Engine is powerful. Good acceleration, even at 65 mph!
This is a "can't go wrong" car, so far.
If you don't need three people up front, you'll never regret getting the LHS. Differences in dimensions are superficial, having to do with body style and seating. The platform is the same for both.
acco20: The tires are the Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus P225/55R17 Blackwall. I believe these are now standard, at least on the LHS. Their speed rating is 98H ("H" = 130 mph tire).
See these sites for detailed info:
Tire Description:
http://www.michelin-us.com/us/eng/tire/catalog/energy_mxv4p.htm
Tire Speed ratings:
http://www.michelin-us.com/us/eng/tire/guide/speed.html
Tire Load ratings:
http://www.michelin-us.com/us/eng/tire/guide/load.html
Anyway, just using this as an introduction and to say I have been reading this forum for about 3 weeks now and find it informative... I am sure I will have questions/problems to bring to the forum in the future and hope to be able to contribute as my knowledge of this vehicle increases...
Bill (Mobile, AL)
Rotureau - Congratulations, My '97 cost $10,500 with 60,000 miles. Also, I have no problems to report. Like you I will be putting tires on soon.
manofbronze--- thanks and congrats to you also... I also saw where the Good year Aqua 3 got great ratings in all depts... I ended up going with the TOYO 800 Ultra Premium Touring... about half the price of the Good year and with a 100,000 mile tread wear warranty.. a 100 day 3000 "bring em back if you don't like em" deal... so far I am impressed with the overall ride, quietness and both wet and dry traction, and handling response. Anyway, good luck with your search for tires and enjoy your car.
Bill
Mine, which I kept for over 100K, was a real bad auto. Had brake, transmission, water pump, and HVAC problems. All began occurring after the 36K warranty expired and continued to go bad for the rest of the time I owned it. But, got rid of it for a '99 LHS which had its own problems but is a much better auto. If you must buy an earlier LHS, get one such as a '97 (there was no '98) since most of the bugs were worked out of that year.
Dealer did a great job, 100% covered by warranty.
They replaced the entire interior door panel top-to bottom, swapped out all the switches
electronics, speakers, etc.
Works well, looks good, tight, no rattles.
Thank you
Best price I found for a Chryslers Warranty was from www.chryslerwarranty.com. There are three levels of coverage with $0, $50, or $100 deductible choices.
Price was much better than your normal dealer would charge.
I expect to keep the car for 6 years and don't want any surprises.
its a dealership in arizona that posts costs for warrantys at a discount. Even if you buy elsewhere do not pay anymore than this.
OH...I LOVE MY LHS. 10,000 miles so far....oil changes only....not a single problem.
And like golden51, I haven't had any problems at all.
Sled1- I'm really surprised to hear about your rough idle problem. The one thing I noticed and liked about this car is the smooth idling. Strange. The only thing that got my attention was a kind of humming noise when you first start the engine, then it disappears. Dealer said it was normal (vacuum noises from plastic top part?).
Good Luck.
I lurk here and in the Concorde and 300M discussion groups - the 300M group is really active. I learned there that the humming you are talking about is the serpentine belt. It's a known problem and there is a TSB on it.
"Dealer said it was normal" - typical dealer crap. It is typical but not normal or else there wouldn't be a TSB on it. My LHS humms too, it goes away after the engine heats up. When I get to the point where I need some warranty work done I will have the belt TSB done too. But it seems like a minor item and I figure the fewer times the wrench monkeys poke around, the better. For regular maintenace I take it to a mechanic I know and trust. A good, trustworthy mechanic is rare; when you find him(her?) hang onto them.
Enjoy your LHS!
But they may find the problem and correct it. After a rocky start it may turn out to be the best car you've ever had. I hope it turns out that way for you. I've had my '01 LHS since last Thanksgiving and we really love it.
Best of luck to you.
The 300M has taken the thunder from the LHS lately, so I can see why it is going away.
The DRL module fits into a socket at the extreme top left of the board. It has very little room to get a large hand in there but it can be done. The wire harness transfers to the DRL module. The low beam lights will come on at about 1/3 power each time the ignition is turned on. No other modification is done to the car's electrical system, i.e., wipers on for 10 sec. will result in full head lamp power and auto lamp operation is normal. Be sure to keep your headlight switch on "auto".
Our 300M pics
The fix for the weather stripping is to replace it. There was a new stock of them put out in '98 and may have been replaced again. Problem was improperly made product. Chrysler advised that the producer messed up. Stock numbers at that time are in the archives (if you have trouble locating them, yell, and I'll dig up my own archives.
Buzzes & creaks were repaired by installing a new windshield. My LHS was so stressed out that the glass broke in the first few months. The next glass was installed by a dealer of my choice and done properly at Chrysler's expense.
I had some HVAC problems in that the blend doors were either out of sync or not installed properly.
Once fixed, all is fine.
The slipping transmission on my '94 needed to be replaced simply because it quit working in the shift from 3d to 4th gear. That happened just after 36K but Chrysler honored the warrenty which had just expired.
Lesson to be learned -- don't buy an early version of any car, especially Chryslers. Someone please kick me you-know-where when I buy the next one, whatever.
About dealers and hard to find/fix rattles, etc. I hate to see them blamed for what is an assembly problem. We all need to insist that better quality is put into auto production. By that I meant that we must be vocal, refuse to accept cars and drive them well before accepting. But even then we will get screwed.
Comment about the LHS and its lack of sales -- IMHO it is all Chrysler's problem due to lack of advertising. The intro models of the '94 and '99 set off gang-busters in sales, but Chrysler's lack of product quality soured people on the car (and not only the LHS).
On the 300M board there is a member whose screen name is ottowrkr and he just happens to work in the factory that builds the LH-cars in Canada. He has been very helpful on a few occasions and even helped me on where the rattles may be coming from. However, since the dealers cant fix them, I am in no way going to tear anything apart myself. I asked him about the quality of these cars and while he said that each year they get better and better, there will always be a few on the assmebly line that dont really take the time necessary to do their job right. Hence, the creaks and rattles and some poorly fitting panels around the car. Maybe if this car came out of a Toyota factory, it would be a lot better.
I dont think we need a new windshield yet, nor will we need one in the future but thanks for the info. I know that the dealers cant make up for having to fix the manufacturers mess-ups but they could be at least a little nicer and willing to help/fix what is wrong.
Deep Slate y2k 300M
Since I was the only one who had been driving it, no other conclusion about why it cracked could be made. The front and rear glasses are quite large in proportion to the body metal and are bonded into place, contributing in a large way to body integrity, strength and other forces working on the body.
Once it was replaced properly, the creaks and rattles in the dash area disappeared. Maybe the original windshield's bonding and installation was faulty. The installer said that the original windshield had been stressed which caused it to break from body twisting while driving. Also, he saw places where the adhesive was missing from the frame.
In any case, once the new windshield was installed, no more creaks and rattles in the dash area were evident. More than that I cannot say other than the fact that, in this case, IMHO, the auto was not manufactured properly.
I am not an abusive driver; in fact, the LHS even now has only 34K on it after almost 36 months in service.
Not suggesting that you replace your windshield, just advising what occurred in my case and perhaps you may want to alert your dealer to investigate whether or not your windshield is bonded fully to the body. That lack of bonding apparently was the cause of my rattles and creaks.
Regarding dealers being more willing to assume manufacturers problems, would you be willing and funded to pick up and repair all the mistakes of your product supplier if in such a position? Once in a while is one thing, but constantly fixing sloppy work soon gives one the "willys" of doing business and makes you want to seek a better supplier.
Unfortunately, all the suppliers slip up, even Toyota. My experience with DC has been abysmal, even with the Benz side. I understand that the dealer should be reimbursed for such work, but isn't always or fully so. Yet the dealer wants you to return for future business, so they eat too much of those expenses and lose money. Also, customers become very unhappy to have such problems constantly repaired at the dealer level.
My '99 LHS just about lived at the dealer for the first two months while putting right manufacturer's build problems. It ain't right!!
We just went out to get some flowers today and when I heard one of the rattles, I tried to find where it was coming from this time. My wife just said "Don't even bother, I'm so used to it, I just turn the radio way up and wait for the damn thing to shake itself apart around me." She's not very happy with her $30 grand investment anymore. We'll just have to get used to it I guess because we have a 5-year loan on this thing. Maybe if we keep complaining, the dealer or Chrysler can help fix something.
What colors are your LHS? Noise is an ongoing issue with these cars, especially early models. How is your car in this regard? Have you checked out our pics yet?
Rattly 300M
I specicically didn't like the cheezy black plastic rear view mirrors, so I took them off, took them apart and refinished them in body color. Other than that, the only other mod to the car was to add DRL's, using the Chrysler module to add that feature as used on all Canadian auto. It works well and the mirrors add needed class. My auto came with gold metallic stripes added just below the horizontal crease and has the 5 chrome 17" wheels.
My Goodyear OEM tires died at 32K when one blew out at 65mph on a freeway. Strangely, the auto did not swerve; I was able to pull over safely. But my next stop after changing the tire/wheel was to the local Michelin dealer where MSX's were installed... A great improvement to the LHS's driving capabilities.
I just looked at your pics; they look great and illustrate the problems well. BTW, I had early failure of the windows to retract and found that the problem was not the window motors, but was the fact that all windows were sticking fast to the door window seals. Those seals also were replaced. I figure Chrysler has spent a small fortune rebuilding my auto via the dealer. Go figger!
The car only has 2,500 miles so I haven't brought
this up with the dealer yet, waiting for 3,000
mile check-up. This problem is quite disconcerting
is this fixable ? Is anyone else having this problem ? will this get worse ?
feedback please !
I absolutely agree with you about lack of sales. I think Chrysler sacrificed the LHS for the 300M. As proud as we are of our LHS we always scrutinize Chrysler ads on TV looking for the LHS. You just never see it. I know the 300M guys love their cars - their town hall is extremely active - but I could have gone either way and chose the LHS because I thought it was the classier of the two. I still do. And the fact that there seem to be fewer LHS's out there just makes our feel that much more distinctive.
I hope things go better for you in the future.
LH autos all have this problem to some degree. The fix, I have found, is to drive more smoothly and anticipate this problem.
Yes, the xmsn could be smoother; maybe one of these days. If your car, in fact has too much "slop", it can be fixed by the dealer.
After 2 LHS's, mine did not get worse but on my '94, the xmsn died in shifting between 3d and 4th, requiring a new xmsn in my case after 36000 miles. Chrysler bore the 3k expense even though it was out of warranty. This was before Benz was involved, though.