Mystery car problem, help!!!

[j-kid]

Re: Mystery car problem, help!!!

The down side is, the dealer will charge you a pin-poing diagnostic fee up front, and you will pay a high labor cost (approx $100/actual working hrs) plus parts cost to fix. The diagnostic cost will usually be deducted from the final bill. Press dem fi fix it quick soh dem noh drag it out.

The up side. If dem don't fix di problem, den yuh can hold dem feet tuh di fire, caa yuh shouldn't pay twice fi fix di same problem. Even if yuh haffi talk tuh di service manager, owner, or Chrysler Customer Advocates.

Still cheaper than buying another car!

[Nanook]

Re: Mystery car problem, help!!!

JKid maybe I should give my regular mechanic another chance. He seems very good, is less than 1/2 what the dealer charges. Then go to the dealership for sure after that if I need to do more. I so hate this...

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Mystery car problem, help!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: J kid</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The down side is, the dealer will charge you a pin-poing diagnostic fee up front, and you will pay a high labor cost (approx $100/actual working hrs) plus parts cost to fix. The diagnostic cost will usually be deducted from the final bill. Press dem fi fix it quick soh dem noh drag it out.

The up side. If dem don't fix di problem, den yuh can hold dem feet tuh di fire, caa yuh shouldn't pay twice fi fix di same problem. Even if yuh haffi talk tuh di service manager, owner, or Chrysler Customer Advocates.

Still cheaper than buying another car! </div></div> The dealer will fix it but eill do other replacements so as to have you going back to your independent shop. Whst type of car is it?

[j-kid]

Re: Mystery car problem, help!!!

Only if him kno whe him ah duh, an can guarantee him wuk, an noh nickle and dime yuh.

If yuh goh tuh di dealer mek sure dem read back tuh yuh exactly wha dem ah type into di system. Yuh noh waa dem fi put it in deh vague. Dem wi use di vagueness as dem loophole, fi claim ah suppen else if yuh bring it back. Also, noh fraid fi tell dem noh fix nutten whe noh bruk!

Doc, shi hav a 2004 Chrysler Intriped. She told us uppa top already.

[Nanook]

Re: Mystery car problem, help!!!

I have an appointment on Friday at the dealer for a diagnosis. I asked what the top $$ will be for this and they said it is 69.95 plus tax. Right now it is a small price to pay. It did it yesterday on a cold start for the 4th time, so I think whatever it is, is getting worse. sigh..thanks again JKid and Dr. Dudd. I will be back with a report.

Meanwhile, I am still entertaining the idea of getting rid of this car. I don't know that I will ever fully trust it again.When I look back on the history of me and this car...

I bought it with 53,000 miles. The first week, the engine light came on, the left catalytic converter was bad. Thankfully, it was under warranty for the cost to repair was over 1,500. The second week the right side catalytic converter was bad, which was a 900.00 deal, also under warranty.

A few months later, the engine light kept coming on, and the code read gas cap. The dealer put a gas cap on and all was well for the most part..but now and then the light would come on still. I wold spin the gas cap and later the light would go out. The thing is, by this time the car had me well trained to ALWAYS spin the gas cap excessively each time I added gas, so the spin cap/gas light thing was worrisome.

It is starting to seem that there was a problem all the while..though I have put 50,000 miles on it, I have always felt like I was treading on eggshells with it from the catalytic converter problems. It just might give me peace of mind to cut my losses and done..though I really can't afford to. But...can I afford NOT to? This is my only vehicle and I live in the middle of nowhere so I need to have a reliable way in and out.
<span style="font-style: italic">
sigh...</span>

[schultz]

Re: Mystery car problem, help!!!

Hi Nooks, my gal friend down here has the same kind of car and it has been nothing but a money pit. She is always and forever having car trouble. She has even replaced the engine and trnasmission. I would get rid of that sucker and get a a Honda brand.

This is off subject: I passed through Little Bay the other day and called your name. I hope you are doing ok.

[j-kid]

Re: Mystery car problem, help!!!

Nanook, yuh should hav suppen as ah second transportation back-up (4x4 utility, motercycle, scooter, small used car)! Too risky if yuh one cyar bruck dung.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> This is my only vehicle and I live in the middle of nowhere so I need to have a reliable way in and out.
<span style="font-style: italic">
sigh...</span> </div></div>

[Nanook]

Re: Mystery car problem, help!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: J kid</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nanook, yuh should hav suppen as ah second transportation back-up (4x4 utility, motercycle, scooter, small used car)! Too risky if yuh one cyar bruck dung.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> This is my only vehicle and I live in the middle of nowhere so I need to have a reliable way in and out.
<span style="font-style: italic">
sigh...</span> </div></div>
</div></div>

JKid I have two Honda scooters, a 250 helix and a 150. But they don't do me any good in the middle of Winter! I know I need something more, and it is a huge concern but 2 vehicles in running shape is a lot to maintain and trust me, if I could manage it, I would. If only I could just win the lottery and done.

Well, hence the reason I am here with this thread. trying to keep the one I have running, or just throw in the towel and dump it. <span style="font-style: italic">can ya hear me bawl</span>

[Nanook]

Re: Mystery car problem, help!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: schultz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hi Nooks, my gal friend down here has the same kind of car and it has been nothing but a money pit. She is always and forever having car trouble. She has even replaced the engine and trnasmission. I would get rid of that sucker and get a a Honda brand.

This is off subject: I passed through Little Bay the other day and called your name. I hope you are doing ok. </div></div>

Schultzie!!! Long time I since I last seen you, I took you for dead! That is what Sammy used to say to long missed peeps...great to see you and thanks for the heads up. If you can find out if she has a 3.5 engine or the 2.7. I think this might be important to know. My usual mechanic said he has one 2.7 in pieces in his yard and it is a piece of crap. He said the 3.5 engine cars were good and that if it was him he would keep this car &amp; fix it. sigh... He doesn't have all the equipment to test this like the dealer does but maybe once I find out I will bring it to him. OR...I will just dump it and go into more debt which I don't wanna do, <span style="font-style: italic">can you hear me bawling from there?
</span>
Say hi to Jmaica for me!

[sistacaf]

Re: Mystery car problem, help!!!

good lord Nanook - quit buying used American cars! they're only good when brand new.... is planned obsolescence nahman - it's done on <span style="font-style: italic">purpose</span> - they're not meant to last many many years, the industry wants to keep encourage the &quot;new every two&quot; buying plan...... after a couple years they all start this nickel-and-diming downward slide chit, it's just one thing after another, til yuh wanna tek dem out to the back-40 with the shotgun, and put them outta your misery.

my vote is get ridda de dyam thing, and get you a used Toyota - they'll run, and run WELL, until 200-K<span style="font-weight: bold">+</span> miles, and start every time even at 20-below. Honda's are good too but <span style="font-style: italic">nothing</span> is as reliable, and lasts as long as a Toyota. - if yuh keep doing this dance with these used Fords and Dodges it's only gonna stress and vex you.

[Wahalla]

Re: Mystery car problem, help!!!

to quote misslou . .

when cyar trouble tek u
is wos dan obeah.

[Nanook]

Re: Mystery car problem, help!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sistacaf</div><div class="ubbcode-body">good lord Nanook - quit buying used American cars! they're only good when brand new.... is planned obsolescence nahman - it's done on <span style="font-style: italic">purpose</span> - they're not meant to last many many years, the industry wants to keep encourage the &quot;new every two&quot; buying plan...... after a couple years they all start this nickel-and-diming downward slide chit, it's just one thing after another, til yuh wanna tek dem out to the back-40 with the shotgun, and put them outta your misery.

my vote is get ridda de dyam thing, and get you a used Toyota - they'll run, and run WELL, until 200-K<span style="font-weight: bold">+</span> miles, and start every time even at 20-below. Honda's are good too but <span style="font-style: italic">nothing</span> is as reliable, and lasts as long as a Toyota. - if yuh keep doing this dance with these used Fords and Dodges it's only gonna stress and vex you.

</div></div>

Hey sistacaf I am leaning in this direction. I got 200,000 miles on my last Intrepid (1997 year), and I went with another one for that reason. I will decide after my appointment tomorrow for sure. I don't love Toyota atall, and though I do not have any Honda experience, that is a possibility. I can't do small car in any model, is the biggest hurdle. That, and I love the way this car rides &amp; handles &amp; is tall enough in pretty deep snow so no getting stuck in a snowbank. <span style="font-style: italic">sigh...</span>

[Nanook]

Re: Mystery car problem, help!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wahalla</div><div class="ubbcode-body">to quote misslou . .

when cyar trouble tek u
is wos dan obeah. </div></div>

You got that right Wahalla!!!

[Nanook]

Re: Dealer diagnosis

The dealer mechanic (after $70.00+) said the likely problem is the new cam sensor being faulty. That would be the best news, I guess, but it still has me sitting here in limbo. I'm waiting on a call from my regular mechanic to see if he will replace the one he put in. It was in November when he installed the sensor, but he knew right away it still wasn't fixed. I have only really started to drive the car again recently, after being home mostly since Christmas.

If he can't/won't replace said cam sensor then I will take it to the dealer, it's about 150.00 which is a whole lot less than what I was expecting to have to pull outa my butt or somewhere. I mean really, you can't replace a fuel filter in this car, the filter is in the pump which is in the gas tank. I was worried about injectors. If this was all over a bad new cam sensor it won't be the worst thing but it cost me stress sleep and worry. This car doesn't have long before it's paid for. I think I will get it paid off sooner, rather than later during busy season, and look into a small truck or something else and make sure I have 2 dependable cars because just having one is stressful as hell when crap starts to go wrong.

I have a 1984 Pontiac Fiero in the yard with around 83,000 miles on it. Maybe I should put a few bucks into it and get it back on the road and either sell it or use it for a summer beater. It was a fun zippy little 4 speed thing and got great mileage.

[j-kid]

Re: Dealer diagnosis

Did you ask the dealer about deducting the diagnostic fee from the $150?

Also, every car has TWO fuel filtering point, an internal tank mesh one, and an external fine fiber one. We are talking about you first replacing the external, because that is simpler, and the one that does most of the filtering work.

M is scratching mi head fi figure out, why yuh mechanic neva did test di old and new sensors fi si if dem was good, way back in November? Unless him neva know how?

By di way, noh let people who dont know bout cars tell yuh nonsense. All cars have sensors dem days yah, an dem pretty much all use ah lota di same suppliers. Some sensors eventually goh bad, noh matter which cyar companies manufacture yuh cyars. However, yuh will si ah big difference in di replacement parts price between di imports and di domestics wen dem components goh bad. Di imports will soak yuh.