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I have also looked for a good Dodge web site to ask questions and technical advice, opinions, etc. The best site I have found is www.moparchat.com This site is clearly the best in quality, with over 60,000 posts! Good luck either way Trevor!
I'm on my second Chrysler vehicle (specifically, a 1996 Dodge Intrepid), which I bought here in sunny FLAT Florida new with 11 miles on it.
About 3 months after purchase, I began to notice that the body parts and interior materials seemed to make a lot of noise....they squeak, they rattle, the door panels "moan" when you press your leg against them. The dealer had zero resolutions for me other than "try putting some shims under the plastic pieces". Over the years, the problem has gotten worse, and the car now makes more noise than the 75 year old wood floors in my historic old house. I have test driven a new Intrepid (2000 STD), and it was just as loose and poorly-built as my 1996 in regard to fit and finish.
I don't recommend Chrysler for anyone who plans to keep their car for a while and try to resell. Every buyer I've had look at my car has noticed the noise, and I'm pretty sure I'll just have to trade in.
I'm going back to a Buick LeSabre as soon as possible. Sorry, but I'm out of the Chrysler ownership game.
Also if you don't like visiting the dealer all the time for repairs, the LeSabre won't disappoint either!!
fastdriver
NEITHER has my 99 300M!!! FAR from it considering it was car of the year, top 10 best and Chrysler's "flagship" model!
fastdriver
Just want to make sure no one forgets!
fastdriver
It´s a free world,make your best choice,but I don´t think a Lesabre is any better,in fact I agree with emale,I haven´t had your problems with my two Intrepids.
emale.-
I DO AGREE with you with your posts,specially the last ones!
I'll keep telling it in the hopes that I can spare others the grief that I've experienced for the past 28 months! So, if you don't want to hear it or read it, just skip right by!
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/7501/
fastdriver
from all the posts i've seen at edmunds...it appears to me that the kinda grief you've had is rather limited...
mytch,
very informative post...too bad it applies to maybe the 93-through early 95 intrepids. later models are a different breed, having owned three of them gives me the right to say that...
I have a 2000ES with ATC (automatic temperature control). I can't remember if someone else has the same problem I'm facing, so I'll describe it here.
I have the temperature set for anywhere between 74 - 77 degrees. After about 15 minutes of driving, if the overhead console temperature display is anywhere between 50 - 60 degrees, the ATC starts blowing out cold air. If I reset the temperature to 77 degrees, warm air starts to blow, but eventually it leaves everyone in the car with an uncomfortable feeling. Dropping the temperature to 76 degrees immediately starts blowing out cold air again.
Has anyone had this problem before? If so, how was this problem solved. I saw a couple of TSBs on the NHTSA web site, but does that mean the issue was just "recorded" or that it is a problem and is fixable?
I'm in the NY metro. area if that has to do with anything.
Thanks for your help.
I don´t care what you say,I never mention your name in my post.
So, if you don't want to hear it or read it, just skip right by!
Don´t play smart with me! OK?????????
-Andre
PS: this was meant to be a joke...I actually kind of like the new LeSabre
better visit the eye doctor, pronto!
phardy,
tsbs reference specific problems and how to fix them. they aren't just owner reports.
I would have to say that it's "unusual" to have that many sounds emanating from an Intrepid. My mother's 94 and my aunt's 93 have no such discernible cacaphony. On cold mornings you will get a squeak here or there over a bump--but all in all nothing so severe or distracting as reported above... Hmmmm...
i haven't really driven the new truck much. trying to put all the miles on the ranger before it goes back to ford the first of december.
anyway, i already miss the car! last week went home to visit the relatives and drove the ranger. crappy gas mileage and crummy seats for long distance. the supercrew has comfy seats but i'm sure gas mileage won't be any better than the rangers. are u still planning to go to detroit for the autoshow in jan? i hear the new ram is going to be unveiled. if the drawings i've seen of it are even close it should be a knockout! later.
So far, so good, I'm on for the trip to NAIAS in Detroit. Can't wait to see new Ram and any other goodies they have lying about. Did you catch that last "computer enhanced" shot at Car-Truck? Looks great but too much like the current Ram. I really preferred that colored sketch they had several months back with the all red front--as compared to the chrome in the latest one. In any event--happy motoring. Are your SURE I can't convince you to hit Detroit? First rounds on me..
More to come when I come back from the shop on November 2nd.
i would really like to check out the auto show but i have very little vacation time at present and what i do have is already spoken for. maybe one of these years...
as i'm sure you know, trading in is tricky. the supercrew listed for nearly 34k. my trade difference was 10.5k. not too bad, but not great either. the supercrew has only been out since early summer and they seem to be selling well so real effective bargaining just wasn't in the cards...
Man, have to watch you every minute! ;-)) You FELL for this? Go by the schedule in your OWNER'S manual. The dealer will try to sell you THEIR maintenance schedule, not Chrysler's. They all do this! You can change the air filter yourself. Takes 2 seconds. As for the fuel injectors, if you use a name brand fuel I don't think you have to worry about this either. They do sell name brand fuel injector cleaner in any automotive store that you can add to your gas if you're worried about them being clogged. See what the manual says about fuel additives. Maybe this is all the dealer does anyway.
I'm sure others in the know will have a more definitive answer for you.
fastdriver
what year is your trep? if it's a y2k, you don't need a tranny service as y2k models have atf+4 fluid which is supposed to never need changing unless you feel you fit the severe service requirements. i agree with fasdriver about fuel injectors. i usually would just run a tank of 10% ethanol thru my car every 5th tank or so. and, changing the fuel filter on schedule will probably negate the need for any fuel injector service. btw, did you ever get your auto climate control working properly??
Anyway, I truly was not sure if placing fuel injector cleaner in the tank was the same procedure as the "pros" use (as in 5-star dealers, yuk, yuk).
Yes, I can certainly change my own air filter, but fuel filters can sometimes be placed in the most awkward places.
To answer, since it cooled down, my A/C problem is hardly there (what else is new?) so it may have to wait until next season, which is annoying. While I do not need the air in winter, it annoys me to have something malfunctioning when the SOB's could have done something already.
Maybe, my financial picture will improve by spring, the Nasdaq will be down to 1250, as I predict, the Dow will be down to 3500, as I predict, and P/E ratios will approach normal, Amazon will file Chapter 7 along with all the other Internet companies that rose on hype without substance, never had anything worthwhile to sell, and Bill Shatner will be back on Star Trek because Priceline will sell for 10 cents a share.
Either way, Bush or Gore (Gore scares the daylights out of me, Bush not as much, would really like to see Buchanan or Browne win) I believe Greenspan will raise rates right after the election, so as not to be accused of "influencing" the election. Last note: the country may not be ready for him yet, for reasons that are obvious, but keep an eye on Alan Keyes. If you want to see a spirited debate, put Pat Buchanan and Alan Keyes in it and watch the sparks fly.
Sorry to ramble.
When you get to me my age, the mind does wither. As I have often described, I can remember what happened 30 years ago, I just can't remember what happened 30 MINUTES ago. LOL :):):):)
I contacted my dealer a few months ago about a 30K mile service, and they told me a whole BS list of things that it would need...spark plugs, coolant change, belts/hoses, lube the chassis, service the transmission, change the points in the distributor.
Ok, I made that last one up ;-), but they seriously said "lube the chassis", which I couldn't believe. Now I believe the spark plugs and coolant should be good for about 100K miles, and, at the worst, the serpentine belt should be good for around 50K.
I'm getting the tranny serviced, though, because the way I drive I know it's going to need it. There's a local shop that's always done good by me, who's going to do it. The car also needs new tires, which I ordered from Discount Tire, and as soon as they come in, I'm taking the car to the garage and having them do it all.
Oh yeah, the dealer wanted something like $500.00 for their 30K mile "service".
So, depending on how you drive, you probably don't need anything done at 25K miles. It might be a good idea to have a trustworthy mechanic check things over, but just as a precaution. As for the air filter, you can get one from a parts store for about $10.00, and it takes 2 minutes to put in. It's actually a fairly rare part, though, so you may have to order it. Our local Trak Auto does not stock it, but can order it. I ended up buying one at Yates Auto Parts, which had it in stock (but has since closed down, at least in our area) :-(.
Anyway, good luck with your Intrepid...hope the dealer doesn't take advantage of you!
-Andre
My recommendation would be to use good quality fuel and use a good quality gas treatment/fuel injector cleaner twice a year in your tank. That has consistently worked for our other vehicles. You are correct in that several of us have SUGGESTED and discussed changing the filter and fluid in our new Intrepids as a precaution. Think I'll have that done around 20-25K--I"m only at 15K now.
Good luck and keep us appraised. Always remember to get the estimate up front, go with the standard schedule in your owner's manual, and feel free to say "I'd like to check with another dealer on the price of service, then I'll let you know"..
if your intrepid isn't a y2k than by all means change your tranny fluid and filter. however, if it is a y2k, then you can stretch it out some. a chrysler service told me he'd change the new fluid out at about 60k...even though the owner's manual says you never have to change it...my two cents.
P.S. Andre, it would be strange if they recommended points and condenser, considering Chrysler was the first (I believe) to convert to a (crude) electronic ignition system in 1972 (Watergate, anyone?)
Bob
I have a 1998 Intrepid and 1998 Intrepid ES--both iterations (which puts me in an interesting position to compare!
I am planning on keeping the base Intrepid and selling the ES, but I would like to do two things before I do.
Firsst I do like the alloys on the ES. I am sure they will mount no problem on my base sedan. BUT will the 15" wheels fit my ES? Bolt pattern? Brakes?
If not, where can I find 1 set of 16" steel wheels and hubcaps that were optional in 98 and standard to present. I am sure they will fit my 1998 ES. Right?
Second I would like to swap the Infinity CD system in the ES for the base Cassette Unit in my base model. DOes anyonehave any experience with such a swap? Do not want to fry the radio.
The dealer has been indifferent to my requests. Think they would appreciate my two purchases, but....
ANy help appreciated, especially where I might find parts!
Thanks!
why don't you make it easy on yourself and just keep the es model? looks to me like you are trying to turn your base model into an es anyway...
And it was very easy to perform it,the radio has just 4 screws,and that´s it!
what size is run on the "regular" 300m? that would probably work good...
I must say that this past year has shown about the most uneventful, trouble-free 30K miles I've ever put on a car! Down-time has been minimal...a few days back in Feb when the car got a flat tire in my grandmother's driveway and was basically buried in the snow. I left it and drove another car until it thawed out. One day back in May when I dropped it off at the dealer to have the tranny checked out because of it's occasional refusal to engage. A few days in July after some knucklehead broke into it at 6-Flags America, and it was laid up in the body shop, and then Circuit City for an alarm system. And finally one day last week, to have the tranny serviced and new tires put on. Total time out...maybe 9 days.
Now, let's just pray the next 365 days are as uneventful and worry-free!
-Andre