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engine,wheels and spoiler.What a car.Ihope these
are good cars.Ive read your message board before i
got the car and most problems seem minor.This is
the first V6 that feels like a V8.I cant wait to
drive it more,its a nice car to drive.I hope im
this happy a year from now.Talk to you people
some time soon.
As for transportation , that is something between the dealer and customer. When you buy a fridge or stove or any other product for that matter and a part breaks and you have to wait for it to be fixed , does GE or Maytag bring you a appliance
to use while yours is being repaired.I think not.
One more thing its OTTOWRKR not OttAwrkr !!
Here's a slight diversion from the posted topic but a fun story to relate nonetheless. I just purchased a pre-owned '99 Intrepid 2.7, loaded. After adding a K&N air filter (I notice a difference) I was driving home from my girlfriend's when I saw a very old looking muscle car in front of me at a red light. No idea what it was but it looked like it was from the early seventies or very late sixties. Anyway, it had the big decal numbers '442' on the right back trunk lid. (Maybe an old Olds' -- I don't know) Dual exhaust and sounded mean as hell too! The young guy driver had his blonde girlfriend (by my guess) next to him. I decided to pull up next to him at the next red light and maybe try to outpace him at the next green...
Without looking at them and just staring straight ahead, I hit the gas at the green signal. He accelerated fast and hard, and loud too, and I didn't think I'd pull ahead. Then my speedo shot up to 85+ km/h (in a 60 km/h zone - Canada) and I pulled way ahead just as the lane converged into one! Then of course I braked and just proceeded slowly onwards. Yes it was fun! I'm not into racing and will not anymore as I like to take care of my vehicles but that was MY day. (Or so I like to think!) I'm sure he and his girlfriend will remember being beaten by a 'boat' of an Intrepid!
Still have no idea what that old car was though, but after having looked it up on the Net, the 442 most likely did not mean the CID, but the configuration like 4 barrel, 2 exhaust etc. Regardless, I bet that guy was surprised! I know I was!
Costen M.
Oakville, Ontario
If that 4-4-2 was a late '60's, on up to maybe a '72, and running correctly, there's no way in hell a base Intrepid would beat it, unless the guy just stomped the pedal and just wasted a lot of time burning rubber, or just wasn't trying (or just didn't know how to drive ;-). My '00 Intrepid wouldn't even beat my '89 Gran Fury from 0-60, which only has a 175 hp 318-4bbl! It'll pull away at higher speeds, but not in a stoplight race.
I think the 4-4-2 was just a graphics package by '73, so I'm sure one of those would be easy to dust, unless it had a 455 in it, and by the late '70's, they were down to about 160-170 hp.
Of course, to attain such perfect customer satisfaction levels would require everything to cost just a little bit more. It's like when the government fines a company for something; the company just raises its prices a little bit to compensate. The company rarely suffers as a result, and the people, or the customers, always end up paying in the end. Nothing is free.
The day I went and picked it up, I walked to get it, as the dealer is about the same distance from my home.
When I asked for a loaner for my appointment this Thursday, the service manager said he would put me on the list, but said he could re-schedule my appointment for when they had a loaner as one of the loaners was stolen, and another was smacked up by a customer, leaving them with only 2 cars.
When he asked what kind of job I'm having done, he assured me the job is about 1 hour to do, and that he would have a tech do it the first job the day I come, and I can just wait.
PS...The part I need is in, I go Thursday, will let you know how it comes out.
on Dodge Intrepid ES 97 (alpx29 from Edmunds.com .Town Hall). SEE MY MESSAGE 1226.
I have gone through tremendous service problems with this car only in relation to the brakes, and the problem is still not fixed.
I am on the brink of nervous breakdown and almost
ready to go to court or/and call Consumer Affairs.
I went to three shops recently, two of them Dodge
dealers, and they could not fix my car, although I
paid so far ~ $4,000.
The First said : brake fluid contaminated, and master cylinder leaking, plus front rotors blue from overheating; so they recommended change master cyl, resurface disks, new pads, new br fluid .
After taking back the car from them the car was in
incredible bad shape: slow to accelerate, lost power, huge gas mileage, very poor braking ; the brake pedal was very hard to push down and very unresponsive. In order to upshift at normal low speeds the engine had to rev-up to 2,500- 3,000 rev/min just to overcome the friction or the opposing forces. The front wheels got
very very hot and soon the new semimetallic pads were smoking.
This was the service from a Dodge 5 star dealer in New Jersey! Cost $725.
The next day I took the car to a STS car service near my home.The Dodge dealer was closed on Saturdays.
They found that the front calipers were stuck, with their sliders not working. They also recommended to replace the front rotors by being to thin. (* previoulsy just resurfaced at the first dealer). The new pads installed a day before were aready cracked. They replaced front calipers, rotors and pads. Cost $436.
At this point it is incredible that the 5 star Dodge dealer did not check or observe the worn and stuck calipers.
But the car was still with the brakes applying,
overheating the front wheels really hard. (*even
after this service at STS).
Monday I went to another Dodge dealer in Metuchen, NJ.
After looking at the car they said that:
- the whole system was contaminated by a contaminated brake fluid (they suggested at Lube express facility where I had an oil change three days prior to these problems)
- they said they found swollen hoses, and that the ABS pump and the main hydraulic control unit has to be replaced; basically with all the prior replacements and repairs now they were actually suggesting to continue to put a new brake system on: new ABS puMp, new hydraulic control unit, new hoses, and new rear calipers (although the problem was with the front wheels).
Cost 2,865 (parts: $1,600 and they claimed 13.5 hrs of labor).
- I made a case against Lube express and tried to recover damage from my insurance company; the
insurance covered almost everything for this latter work except the full rate of labor. (paid from my pocket $800).
Finally, yesterday I went to pick-up my repaired car with the new brake system installed.
Unbelievably, the car has the same problem: brake
drag, applying brakes all the time, overheating
wheels, poor acceleration (since it it obviously
running against opposing friction forces, the engine makes extra effort to push the car).
Moreover, it seeemed that the brakes were not again working properly, 2-3 inches down of pushing the brake pedal: no response from the brakes! only if pushed to the floor really hard then the car was eventually stoppping at a much longer braking distance.
Now, they say it might be from some air trapped in the system... and they took the car to re-bleed the brakes.
But I think they actually did not diagnose nor correct the initial problem which is still there.
What do you think and what should I do?
Thanks.
That being said, I only go to dealers for warranty work, or things that are unusual that my "corner garage" cannot handle. They are under too much pressure to turn the cars around as quickly as possible.
With three garages and one lube plae involved, look for a lot of finger pointing at each other.
PS...alpx29 which Dodge dealer do you use for service? Who gave all the problems? I am from Central NJ and wonder if we are dealing with the same shop?
I have a 2000 ES with the big V6 (3.2). The finish work is terrible, after about 2 months it sounded like I was riding in a can of marbles. The window molding decided that of didn't like being actaully attached to the window frame (replaced under warranty). The auto-stick is kinda cool but the car shifts roughly when I don't use it, especially in the upper range (trying to pass). Very disappointed with the gas milage, had a 4.6L Cougar XR7 that did better. A full size sedan should sound like I am riding in a full sized sedan, not like a can of marbles in a wind tunnel.
Recently went to trade it on the new Marauder, but turns out the thing has depreciated to the point that I need 8K to get out of it. Some of that is my fault, rolled some negative equity into the financing.
Well, it's not all bad, I could fit probably 6 or 7 bodies in the trunk, maybe some DC engineers/designers would like to ride back there?
Here's to good luck for at least the next 5700 miles.
i was just over at car-truck.com and they are giving some production dates for brampton. they say the LH production will end august 29th '03 and then LX production will begin feb 2nd '04.
those number don't jive! there is no way that dc would have the plant down for changeover for more than 4 months! can you clarify any of this info?
btw, i did read on the dc media site that production of the mercedes 5 speed for the LX cars starts in nov '03...
I'm looking for the paint colour code on my 1999 Intrepid. Does anyone know where it is located?
And has anyone experienced any loosening of the driver's side door material on the inside of the door? I noticed it sounded loose when closing and then I located some screws that required tightening...
---Costen
Oakville, ON
Now, I'm no mechanic, but I've owned several different makes of cars, and I've never experienced problems like I have with my 99 Intrepid.
In the past, I have owned a Toyota Camry, Nissan Pathfinder (Lease), Oldsmobile Cutlas Ciera, Honda Civic, amongst other vehicles.
Not only is the quality of the intrepid obviously suspect, the service (both at the dealership and at Chrysler customer service) suck as well. The trembling of the front end and failure of the a/c system are just two of the problems I've experienced. I'm too frustrated right now to even go into the specifics. All I will say for now is that I will never purchase another Chrysler product. I should have listened to my brother when he warned my not to buy a Dodge. As soon as I can, you better believe I'm gonna dump this car and buy myself another Toyota Camry or Honda Accord.
Thanks,
Raven
You might be able to find a wrecked Intrepid in the junkyard. Last time I was in our local junkyard, which specializes in Mopar, they had about 20 LH cars. Most of them were the first generation though, only a few '98+ models. If it's any consolation though, every single one was in there because of an accident. i.e.: none of them were there because of any catastrophic mechanical failure.
I've got almost 66,000 miles on my '00, so I hope they don't have faulty engines!!
This is our 5th LH car since 1993. All five have been flawless.
93 Eagle Vision - 153,000.
95 Intrepid - 50k when traded.
98 Intrepid - 28k when traded.
01 Intrepid R/T - 12k (current milage)
02 Concorde - just got it.
The Eagle still runs great, been hit 3 times,
and keeps on ticking. AC was repaired under warranty. Water pump, too. Front end pieces replaced only after 2nd accident repair.
The other LH cars, nothing but routine maintenance.
I'd buy another in a minute.
Thanks, Otto !!!
a faulty engine would show up long before 60k miles...i'd bet you are completely safe!!
btw, you thinkin' about those upcoming LX cars? i'd simply love to have a 2 door coupe with the hemi!! that would rock!
I got a chance to drive an '02 Ram while I was up there. I need a truck like I need a hole in the head, but I have to admit that I kinda want one! Who was it earlier mentioning they were thinking about one? Jason5, was that you? It's hard to describe, but there was something cool about piloting that mammoth thing around a show field full of puny little Imperials, DeSotos, New Yorkers, etc!
here is what happened. we went in on sunday to purchase a Dodge Intrepid. we made an offer and they came back with a very close counter. we said no thank you and left. the next day, the salesman called me back and said his manager approved it. i said great, we will be back tomorrow. the deal was a 2000 intrepid, still under factory warrenty, with an extended warrenty for an additional 3/36 with NO DEDUCTABLE, out the door for an agreed upon price. when we got there to make the deal, and i looked over the warrentee, i found that each incident of repair would have a 100 dollar deductable. well, after discussing it with the salesman and the manager, they agreed that the salesman miscommunicated (not with us)with his manager and finance guy. then they told me that it would cost several hundred more than we agreed upon. the GM was brought in, and he said "show it to me in writing", i told him i couldnt because we hadnt bought the car. we are here to buy the car based on the agreement we had with your salesman. the told me "the salesman miscommunicated with the manager and basically blew it". i agreed, and said, if it was his mistake and his miscommunication, you should honor what we agreed upon. and again, he said, "it doesnt matter what he said, show it to me in writing". i told him it was not a matter of legality and i wasnt trying to force them to do anything, it was a simple matter of integrity. he was totally adament, and even though he agreed it was there mistake, he would not come off the 300 dollars to fix their mistake and maintain their integrity. he even went on to say later and this is an exact quote "i guess this is good, because i dont want you as a customer. something will break and you will come in to have it fixed, and i won't do it"
i know we all throw ourselves into the lions den when we go to buy a car, but this was way beyond what i had ever experienced.
my advice, stay away from WestOaks C D of Thousand Oaks CA.
mathew
Any chance the Autostick will re-appear in the '03 ES as option or standard as in '01? I like that idea that the ES is now available with cloth (package 2DM, per Dodge "Build Your Own") as well as leather.
Thank you
Yes, many dealers do suck, but the cars have to be assembled correctly and of proper quality in the first place before the dealer even has to get involved!
Oh, and I'm not talking like computer failures or anything supplier-related (but they should work to a high quality standard too!). But, things like misaligned panels, rattles, improperly installed components, etc., etc.
In today's day and age, there should be virtually no "learning time". So, in essence, the first car out of the factory should have the same high quality as they last car that comes out. Chrysler is getting monumentally better lately, but there's always room for improvement!
That, and another weird thing. While some MB's were often a little sterile and hard-edged, and Chrysler was softer, more flowing, and had more seductive shapes, the roles now seem to be reversed. Look in a new SL500 at the more cushioned, easy flowing, warm interior, along with the more seductive outside. Then, go look at a new Chrysler Pacifica. More chrome, more metal, more German-like shapes and engineering.
It's a little weird, but just something I've noticed...
personally i think the latest mercedes cars have lost that sort of germanic...solid as a rock look. i much prefer the bmws over the mercedes.
anyhoo, i also agree about the pacifica. when i saw the first pictures of the interior (especially dash) i was instantly reminded of what i consider a good mercedes interior to look like...
You can put most of any bad quality blame on the people who are at top... the management. They are the ones who decide to cut corners with poor design, substandard parts, last minute changes without time for testing (Ford). They are the ones who hire the workers as well..aren't they? So they are responsible for picking quality people and training them properly. The management should also be responsible for having a decent Quality Control and assurance program to make sure that the workers are doing their job. I once saw a "turbo" sticker placed upside down on a new Dodge Shadow at a dealer! Makes you wonder how much of an inspection these cars got as they left the factory!
I don't like hearing people blame the average hard worker for for a lousy product. It's ultimately the people on top.
Also... if you replace everyone with a robot, who is going to have a job anymore? People need jobs to buy cars.
i wouldn't get too uptight about what so and so said...he is likely a teenager anyway and what do they know!!!
btw, anyone see the latest '03 accord pictures? what a disappointment! motortrend's sketches earlier this year held some promise, but the end result isn't that desirable, imo...
That being said, the often delayed new Intrepid will probably not have very impressive EPA figures if it is RWD and packing a v-8 under the hood. Of course, I don't consider them direct competitors.
Has this problem happed to anybody else? What can I do to make sure this is covered with the warranty? Thank You!
btw, you could prolly buy a new engine for much less than 5k...
I would think you'd start seeing the warning light for the oil long before it actually ran dry. And then, it would start to make all sorts off hideous noises, giving you ample warning as it burned itself up.
As for the price of a used engine, well hell, the dealer only offered me $6500 trade in on my '00 Trep back in February, when I was briefly considering a new Altima! If they want $5000 for a used engine, then I think I'm going to go ahead and start parting my car out! If anybody needs any parts, just email me with your requests! :-P
Seriously, I'd think you could get a good used engine put in for around $2500-3000. Just a wild guess, though. There's a junkyard local to me that specializes in Mopars, and the last time I was in there, they had a few of the curent-generation LH cars, and about 15-20 of the first-gen. Every single one was in there because of an accident. Which means, every single one most likely still had a good engine and tranny. Even the supposedly-awful '93-95 models. Not a one was in the junkyard due to a bum tranny or engine. So there should be a pretty good supply of wrecked ones around.
Call around to a few local wreckers and see if you can find an engine at a reasonable price...it'll be a lot less than the dealer. For instance, I have a friend who has a '98 Tracker, with a tranny that was about to die. Dealer estimated between $1000-3000 for it, which means, probably, closer to $3000. Well, I found him a used one and found a place to put it in, all for just under $1100. An Intrepid engine will be much more than a simple 3-speed RWD automatic, but that's just an example to show how expensive the dealer can be.
i doubt dc would pay for personal negligence...which is what i suspect this is...or it's just a troll post!
Has anyone encountered or heard any engine knocking sounds from under the hood? I've got the '99 2.7L and notice it knocking or pinging after I shut it off. I have the K&N air filter installed also. I've tried higher octane gas to no avail. Should it be tuned up? It still has another year on the extended warranty. Should I be worried?
I've read that excessive engine knock can hurt the engine over the long-term. Any advice? Thanks.
And I agree with others, you can do better than $5K for the engine. Good luck.
5000.00 for a used engine is a rip off, perhaps you could get the address of the salvage dealer that has all of the perfectly mechanically sound Intrepids in his inventory (post 1293) and he might be interested in buying yours if the body is good. After you do get the auto repaired the best move is to dispose of the lemon, trade it for a foreign model even if finances dictate that you have to buy one a few years older. An older Toyota or Honda will give you many more trouble free miles then a newer Chrysler product. On a recent trip I got stuck with a Stratus as a rental vehicle ( nothing else available ) what a disappointment! I hope the new Intrepid will be better, if not Daimler will have their hands full keeping the Chrysler ship afloat.