On 05/01/08 03:01 pm kmath50@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
> On May 1, 10:04 am, "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. The pressure is
likely
>>> 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.
We thought of donating ours to the local Rescue Mission, but I think
they take cars only if the needed repairs are minor. I don't think a
major engine overhaul counts.
Perce
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