On May 1, 10:04=A0am, "Percival P. Cassidy" <nob...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> On 04/30/08 09:49 pm Bill Putney wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Percival P. Cassidy wrote:
> >> Our '96 Stratus ES (approx. 85K miles) "just died" several months ago
> >> when our son was driving it, and we just got around having the
problem
> >> investigated.
>
> >> Verdict: broken timing belt. This despite my having requested and
paid
> >> for a timing belt replacement about 25K miles and 5 years ago when
the
> >> water pump was being replaced.
>
> >> Estimated repair cost: $2000 -- and I don't recall whether that even
> >> covers valve replacements if necessary.
>
> >> Is it worth fixing? The repair guy said that this model has also
> >> suffered from main bearing wear, resulting in low oil pressure, which
> >> leads to other problems. And the oil pressure light on this car has
> >> occasionally come on when the engine is idling.
>
> >> Perce
>
> > Most likely the oil light is a worn out (possibly leaking) low oil
> > pressure switch - very common in the Chryslers. =A0The pressure is
likel=
y
> > not low.
>
> > Not sure if the car is worth $2000+.
>
> We've pretty much decided not to spend the money. Kelly Blue Book
> estimates private-party sale value as $2500. The repairer says he'll
> give us $200 for it, and we're inclined to accept -- or perhaps try to
> push him up $100.
>
> I am still very puzzled why the belt broke. Even if the people who
> replaced the water pump did not in fact replace the timing belt at
> approx. 60K miles, I don't think it was due for replacement yet.
>
> A family member had a Sebring ('98, I think), probably with a similar
> power train, and he simply walked away from it -- but his had a major
> transmission problem rather than an engine problem.
>
> Perce- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Since your Stratus is the ES model, I am guessing that you have the
MMC 2.5L-6. I don't know what the belt change interval is for the 6,
but I would think it would have lasted longer than 25,000 miles. I
have a 1998 w/ a 2.4L-4. The manual recommends a belt change at
101,000 miles. I will probably do it at 95,000 miles. It has 87,000
miles on it now.
When I had my 1990 Dodge Spirit w/ a 2.5L-4, the recommended change
was for 50,000 miles. I had just put on the third belt when the
headgasket went soon after. I donated it to the kidney foundation.
-KM
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