Faults:
Weird noise from the camshaft at 2800rpm.
Power steering went out at 140k.
Thermostat went buggy at 150k.
The transmission slipped a lot.
Fuel filter went at 140k.
All for cylinders leaked oil (every spark plug was always covered).
Lost nearly a quart of oil every week out of the back of the engine.
Both ball joints went out.
The only things I had fixed were the fuel filter, because the car wouldn't start, and the ball joint, because I couldn't drive it if I didn't.
General Comments:
I had this car for 4 years, bought it for 2k, and abused the hell out of it.
Everything that went bad or buggy, as long as the car started, I ignored.
I replaced the oil filter 4 times in the 4 years I had it, and just added oil to replace the stuff that had leaked out of the back of the engine.
I literally did not care about this car, I wanted everyday for it not to start or to die on the road.
When it had 160k miles on it, I drove from Metro Detroit to Yellowstone National Park (1800 miles one way), I worked there for the summer, and rented the car out and drove it back to Metro Detroit. In those 5 months over 15k miles were put on the car.
The point of this horror story of abuse to a car is to prove a point.
Chrysler can build a car that lasts!
Every mechanic I talked to about his car laughed and couldn't believe the trans lasted past 180k, let alone with this kind of abuse.
If you want a cheap car that will hold up through literal hell, this is the car for you.
15th Apr 2010, 18:10
I'm also having an oil leak problem; been told it's the rear main seal, which is a $500+ job for the transmission removal to get to it. Does yours leak from the same place?