[Dodge Intrepid 1996]

Hey im about to purchase a 3.5l 2001 intrepid. Ive had a first gen for 3 years and I am very familiar with them. The lady says there's a small mi ss in the engine due to spark plugs. Is there anything else I should be aware of when purchasing this model.

[300maximilien]

Major service needed at 7 yrs/100K includes but not limited to water pump, timing belt and hydraulic tensioner pully

[Dodge Intrepid 1996]

It has 160k on it. What are the signs for these going bad?

[98IntrepidTan]

Symptoms: Leaking water pump, slow coolant loss, bad cam timing, timing belt noise. Maybe that "miss" is a symptom of a slipped timing belt. I'd try to do a compression test and/or ask for positive proof that the timing belt and water pump have been changed.

Don't wait or assume anything about this required maintenance. If you lose the timing belt, you'll have crashed valves.

[peva]

The signs are that the belt and/or watrer pump is more than 7 years old *or* have more than 105k miles on them. You lose on both counts! Seriously - The belt will give no warning before it breaks or slips - it just suddenly does it. If the belt breaks, you will likely bend some valves ($$). You could ask her if they've been done before and see what she says - would be good to see a receipt if yes.

I'd be skeptical that she would know *why* the engine is missing - unless she can be very convincing that she has had it secifically diagnosed for that. Or does it have a miss, and it's too easy to say "Oh - it just needs new plugs" without really knowing that to make the sale? Might be worth spending $30-40 on new plugs to see if the miss goes away before shaking hands on it.

(oops - didn't see 98 IntredpidTan's post until after I posted)

Find out if the a.c. works. Very common for the evaporator to leak - people often miss that detail when buying a car in the winter - several hundred $$ to replace.

[98IntrepidTan]

I'm with Peva on the diagnosis. If it's really a simple fix, then they would fix it, and then sell the car.

Buy plugs, (check compression???), install plugs.

Fixes miss? Pay for car.

Doesn't fix miss? Deduct $200 (or more).

I see 2.7's all the time here with "needs water pump"

[beeblebrox82]

like the others say, plan on doing a TB/WP right away, use it as a negotiating point. Does she have a diagnosis from the shop saying its the plugs? If not look at it yourself od deduct more. Check for suspension wear, lose steering, oil burn on start up.

[95intrepid99kid]

He said its a 3.5, not a 2.7. Just saying. If you want the specs on that engine I have them.

[2ToneR/T]

if nothing else do the test for codes and see what comes up....if anything...but ya, plan on doing a water pump, timing belt, plugs, perhaps a radiator....my 00 R/T has about 124000 miles on it, I'm on my 5th radiator....lol.....they suck and break alot....serpentine belt, belt tensioner....the usual suspects...also that tranny fluid may have never been changed....check the color of it and smell for burning....check the car over for typical rust and stuff....I'd turn on the A/C and see if u get a funky smelling odor coming from the vents....could be evaporator going bad.....

[peva]

Won't even get that if the charge is so low that the compressor won't come on. Better visually check for compressor running.

[95intrepid99kid]

Any LH that still has working A/C makes me jealous

[Intrepticon]

Mine's an 04 and it still works lol....Hey question I have a 2.7, I just replaced the upper rad hose and by-pass tube I'm noticing a small coolant loss any suggestions? (checked hoses and all is good there...

also any suggestions on replacing the valve cover gaskets? don't really want to have to pull the plenum off...

[Adpros]

My '01 with 273K still has great A/C. I really needed it last summer!

[98IntrepidTan]

<to flesh out the my post some more>

"needs water pump", which isn't untrue, it's just not complete.

We, however, know how to read that correctly:

"Needs water pump and a complete rebuild, because I have abused my vehicle."

[peva]

Most common cause of mystery coolant loss on our cars is hairline cracks in the coolant reservoir. If it's never been replaced (or even if it has several years ago), it's almost 100% certainty to be the problem. Don't get any aftermarket reservoirs - all are made by Dorman even if third-party labeled (like the NAPA Balkamp-branded one). You'll pay a little more from an on-line discount dealer, but it will last a lot longer.

It could also be the cap leaking - but, again, if the reservoir is old, it's likely the problem, and they come with a new cap.

Also, check for seeping around the coolant outlet housing and bleeder - they also are famous for failing - usually seep for a while, then suddenly are a huge leak. Sometimes the bleeder seat separates from the housing top, sometimes the housing top separates from the housing. (Yours is an '04, so the bleeder is probably the later design in which the bleeder was moved to the metal pipe, but even on those, the top of the plastic housing top can separate from the housing.)