12th Aug 2004, 20:56

To the person who posted on 1 January, 2004.

I have some terrible news for you. I'm afraid the engine block is cracked, and the only way to fix that, is with a complete rebuild.

But, on the other hand, it just goes to show you what great little cars these are. A cracked engine block, and still running. Wow!

I would readily recommend these cars to any-one; they knew what they were doing, when they called them, "Reliant".

---Joe.

29th Mar 2005, 13:28

I Have an 88 dodge aries and I love it 33 mpg 2.5 power 100 HP and it was from orlando FL Very good little car only has 62,000 on it plus I have a reliant with 374,000 now that car has kicked ass..

15th Apr 2005, 00:08

Just to let all the brilliant people out there who have or are looking to buy a Dodge Aries: the odometer only goes up to 99,999 kilometers (I'm from Canada... maybe its different with the ones in the States). I've noticed that everyone is so impressed that "it only had 32,000 miles on it" or "it only had 95k on it". That's because the odometer has been around a couple of times... think about it.

7th Aug 2005, 14:54

Why would you send a car to the junk yard due to a defective water pump? That doesn't make sense!

16th Oct 2005, 17:12

To the person that has a water pump problem and wants to junk her Aries should really think of just replacing the water pump and water hoses at the same time. The car will thank you for it in giving you many years of good service and good mileage.

My '88 Aries LE Station wagon is a work horse and a "race car." I put a K&N high flow Air Filter and plan to put "MSD CD" Ignition Part #909927 that will increase HP, Mileage and Speed as a result. It's a race car in sheep's clothing.

Also I plan to put air shocks that will keep the car stiff on the corners and stabilize the car at higher speeds. I already have oversize tires...225x60x14 and wished the wheel wells would accommodate even larger ones, but it scrapes the inside well.

It is fun to experiment and find ways to soup up the car.

I have light aluminium wheels, (very expensive though) and try to put special mufflers (Magna flows?) and if it can be adapted, perhaps something like Brembo Brakes and inter-cooler Super chargers. It is such a cheap car to upkeep.

I would buy another for parts or just let me have your car before you junk it?

17th Oct 2005, 11:05

Sorry, Bub, but your K-car station wagon ain't never gonna be no "race car" no matter what you do to it. It's a disposable car. The one who junked hers over the water pump had the right idea.

27th Nov 2005, 00:30

Since when were K-cars "disposable cars"? Many of the Aries and Reliant reviews seem to be very positive, not what I'd expect for a "disposable car". I guess some people are too short-sighted to realize the K-cars are actually pretty good...

5th Jan 2006, 22:50

My 88 K car is gone to K car heaven. We owned it for 8 wonderful years. CV joint recently went and after being replaced went again. Turned out the new one was a rebuilt and built wrong. It caused some extensive damage that the company said it was better off a write off. We will really miss the old girl.

15th Oct 2006, 23:37

I live in England and have 2 K cars, A 1987 estate car or as I think you call them a station wagon, and a 1989 rag top or convertible. Parts over here are not easily found, so the fact that both are used regularly both around town and on long runs must tell the knockers what a good car they are. They both go out over here to Classic car shows along with my old Jaguars Fords Austins and Mercedes and create just as much interest. In some cases more, partly due to the fact that we live in Norfolk close to three US bases. Cheers. Jim.

26th Mar 2007, 22:20

I really enjoy driving my 84 2-door Dodge Aries around town and seeing the looks and stares I get. No, I'm not paranoid! She is all original and in mint condition. Blue paint with white half v top that the hot South Carolina sun cannot peel. The door open alarm still works as does the cig. lighter and am radio. The heater will blow you out of the car, but unfortunately the ac went last summer. The little old lady that owned it for 22 years kept it garaged and I paid $900 for it. I have put close to $2000 into it for mechanical repairs the last two years, but that beats a monthly car payment any day. She now has 125,000 miles on it and that is after driving it to Boston once and Orlando 10 times and to work everyday. In fact it has never ever stalled on me. I think that says a lot! I plan to buy sport rims and repaint it a less little old lady blue. I also plan to enter her into local car shows. Thanks for letting me share my aries with y'all.

12th Oct 2007, 11:41

I own 2 K- cars. An 85,88 (both wagons) and believe me it's fun to stomp honda's and mustangs and still get great gas mileage. Oh, did I mention they both have a 3.0 v6 instead of the stock 2.2's :)

24th Jul 2008, 12:49

I recently gave my son a recycled 88 dodge aires K car as his first car. We drove it fine and then let it sit for about 3 months. Now we can't start it. Got a new battery and replaced the coil. The spark plugs aren't getting fire. It cranks great but doesn't start. HELP! My son just started his first job and needs it to drive.

7th Aug 2008, 17:51

I don't know of any Aries with V6 engines... the 84 came with a 2.2 or 2.6 which you probably had... and the 88 most likely had a 2.5.

15th Sep 2009, 18:52

2 things.

I'm considering buying a 87 Aries with original 7,500 miles.

It was bought at an estate sale and had sat for years. The person that bought it had to drop the gas tank, change fuel pump and fuel filter.

He drove it a couple thousand miles. I just looked at it and the body looks real clean. I noticed that the red Engine power loss light comes on. The owner said it comes on and off once in awhile and goes off.

The other thing was that when I shifted to park or reverse, the trans bumped a little.

Suggestions or solution for these problems. Thanks.

17th Sep 2009, 06:53

I had a 1986 Plymouth Reliant, which is the same car, for 16 years. The car was 20 years old when I got rid of it.

The car thumping from the transmission is kind of normal. Check the motor mount in the middle of the engine.

The power loss light coming on - check to see if your voltage regulator is at normal on the dashboard. This car is equipped to do a self test.

Turn the key on off on off and the power loss light should flash 5 times. Pause then 5 times. If not then it will flash and tell you what the problem could be??