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Whazzup, how ya all doing? I'm new to this group. I was wondering if anyone had some info or ideas in regard to what I have gone through with this car and what I am going through. I have also had adverse results contrary to most others with the K&N Air Filter in my Dodge Intrepid. You may even find some of this a little interesting. Thanks!
Interesting Information And Issues RE: 1999 Dodge Intrepid ES 3.2L.....
At 31,000 miles 5 Quarts of engine Oil disappeared in 2215 w/never any visual signs of leakage. After purchasing the vehicle in April 2001 w/28,000 miles I checked the engine Oil and all fluids about one month later and I noticed the dispstick for the Oil was down to the very bottom of the dipstick. I figured the Chrysler dealership where I purchased it incorrectly installed the Oil filter or it was generic with a bad seal so I bought a Mopar Oil filter and some Castrol GTX Syntec Blend 5W30 and had the Oil and filter changed. I checked the Oil level about every week and then every two weeks thereafter when everything seemed fine. The vehicle was intermittently idling rough about a month after so I had the dealership check it out and they stated that everything with the engine was fine and that the idle was fine. At 31,000 miles I was driving and the vehicle began to shake violently and the engine began to make a squeaking noise. The engine was making a knocking noise over when driving over 20MPH. I limped it to the dealership where they told me my engine blew. The check engine light or an Oil pressure light never came on. They were going to try and make me pay for the new engine and labor stating that it was down to about 1 quart and accusing me of not changing the Oil. I provided a receipt from the Oil and Oil Filter change 2215 miles previous and they reluctantly gave me a remanufactured shortblock and new heads.
The vehicle also had intermittent transmission bump, surging and hesitation mostly in lower gears, which I also reported to the dealership. They were able to duplicate the condition and replaced my Input/Output Speed Sensor. I had the vehicle back for two days and ironically was brining my mother in law to the same dealership to pick up her Chrysler Town & Country from having to have Transmission service and resealing only after 60,000 miles. On the way back I pressed lightly on the accelerator pedal to take off after the light turned green and my tranny started to shift back in fourth rapidly in lower gears and the vehicle surged back and fourth, I was ready to kill the ignition but I road it out. I got off the accelerator then stomped on it hard trying to investigate the issue. The engine revved hard but the vehicle barely moved indicating tranny slippage. I returned the vehicle to the dealership and they eventually overhauled my transmission, replaced the Input/Output Speed Sensor again, replaced the Torque Converter and Disc. The transmission problems have almost completely gone away since but seem to be slowly returning. One day when taking off from a traffic light and lightly pressing the accelerator in Automatic the tranny seemed to lock down real hard and the vehicle took off really fast from the stop and I almost crashed in to the person in front of me. It has only done that twice since owning the vehicle. I really don't like the fact that when it's in Automatic and it's floored or the gas is stomped going as slow as 30MPH or even 25MPH that the tranny does not kick down hard or sometimes seem to kick down at all. It's these intermittent type of problems that the dealers can almost never duplicate.
After the above occurred my steering wheel went about an eight of a turn limp to the left after I let go of it and I was slowing to a stop. The vehicle's steering felt really awkward after and the front end seemed to almost pivot or roll funny. The steering became even more flimsy than usual and there was a slight vibration felt in the steering wheel during braking or driving over some roads. I am not sure if the was directly related to the above described issue or if it was purely coincidental. The dealership stated that it drove normal but that there was a missing washer from the left lower strut arm, which they replaced. The vehicle drove great after then about 2 weeks later the vehicle started going limp, just falling to the left every once and a while intermittently and the vehicle would usually steer funny. I have had two other people drive it when the steering has acted up and they both tell me that it does not feel normal. I have test driven two similar Dodge Intrepids to verify that this is not normal. I had the steering and suspension completely checked by the Chrysler dealership where I bought it. I asked the Chrysler dealer also inspect for weak Strut Mounts and inspect the CV Joints. I have taken my vehicle to another Chrysler/Dodge dealership which states that the steering and suspension is fine. I asked the Dodge dealership to also check the Body Controller. Both dealerships have test driven my vehicle and all state that there is nothing wrong. The steering has lately been intermittently tightening up with more resistance in the steering wheel w/less play then intermittently becoming loose and flimsy with. I have had the tires and tire pressure checked by a Chrysler Dealership. I have checked and adjusted the tire pressure myself. I am sick and tired of the steering attitude intermittently changing on it's own. I am concerned that something may break or fail.
An Experiment: I removed my K&N Air Filter and replaced it with a stock paper type Mopar Air Filter. The transmission hesitation, bumping and surging was drastically reduced and performance seemed to increase. I assume that the vehicles PCM and/or O2 Sensor will not properly accommodate the K&N Air Filter which usually improves performance. I had driven the vehicle for a while with and without the filter and can honestly say that there was decent performance gain only a little more noise sometimes. I even later tried a tornado air intake device from tornadofuelsaver.com. When I removed the K&N and the other device and replaced the K&N with a stock Mopar Air Filter the performance and attitude was the engine seemed to perform better with the stock Air Filter. I have also had the same type of experience when trying to use BOSCH Platinum 4 Spark Plugs guaranteed to increase performance and fuel mileage. I went back to the stock Mopar/Champion Platium/Copper plugs and had better results. I want to install an intake but I am concerned about not having a decent performance increase or having adverse results.
Every once and a while when in Automatic when pressing the accelerator pedal for medium acceleration the vehicle does not seemed to respond properly so then you press it down a little more and the tranny kicks down hard and the vehicle jerks forward. It seems like a sticky throttle, failing O2 sensor or something related to the transmission.
I had asked the Chrysler Dealership (Hayward Auto Chrysler-Plymouth-Jeep of Hayward, California) for a PCM and TCM update if a newer revision is available. I figured that this may improve my poor fuel mileage and tranny issues. I even offered to pay for it. They told me twice that no revisions or no updates were found. I had a feeling they were being dishonest with me. I was upset because my fathers 1999 Ford Mustang GT 4.6L 280HP V8 get's way better gas mileage than my 1999 Dodge Intrepid ES 3.2L 225HP V6. I went to Hayward Dodge and they updated both my PCM and TCM, which there were actually TSB's
for regarding some of these issues. They updated both at no cost considering it a warranty issue. This has greatly improved fuel mileage and transmission operation but the problems above as described still continue to exist.
Any Useful Information Or Thoughts Will Be Greatly Appreciated! Please also Email them to [email protected] if possible. Later Everyone!
Interesting Information And Issues RE: 1999 Dodge Intrepid ES 3.2L.....
At 31,000 miles 5 Quarts of engine Oil disappeared in 2215 w/never any visual signs of leakage. After purchasing the vehicle in April 2001 w/28,000 miles I checked the engine Oil and all fluids about one month later and I noticed the dispstick for the Oil was down to the very bottom of the dipstick. I figured the Chrysler dealership where I purchased it incorrectly installed the Oil filter or it was generic with a bad seal so I bought a Mopar Oil filter and some Castrol GTX Syntec Blend 5W30 and had the Oil and filter changed. I checked the Oil level about every week and then every two weeks thereafter when everything seemed fine. The vehicle was intermittently idling rough about a month after so I had the dealership check it out and they stated that everything with the engine was fine and that the idle was fine. At 31,000 miles I was driving and the vehicle began to shake violently and the engine began to make a squeaking noise. The engine was making a knocking noise over when driving over 20MPH. I limped it to the dealership where they told me my engine blew. The check engine light or an Oil pressure light never came on. They were going to try and make me pay for the new engine and labor stating that it was down to about 1 quart and accusing me of not changing the Oil. I provided a receipt from the Oil and Oil Filter change 2215 miles previous and they reluctantly gave me a remanufactured shortblock and new heads.
The vehicle also had intermittent transmission bump, surging and hesitation mostly in lower gears, which I also reported to the dealership. They were able to duplicate the condition and replaced my Input/Output Speed Sensor. I had the vehicle back for two days and ironically was brining my mother in law to the same dealership to pick up her Chrysler Town & Country from having to have Transmission service and resealing only after 60,000 miles. On the way back I pressed lightly on the accelerator pedal to take off after the light turned green and my tranny started to shift back in fourth rapidly in lower gears and the vehicle surged back and fourth, I was ready to kill the ignition but I road it out. I got off the accelerator then stomped on it hard trying to investigate the issue. The engine revved hard but the vehicle barely moved indicating tranny slippage. I returned the vehicle to the dealership and they eventually overhauled my transmission, replaced the Input/Output Speed Sensor again, replaced the Torque Converter and Disc. The transmission problems have almost completely gone away since but seem to be slowly returning. One day when taking off from a traffic light and lightly pressing the accelerator in Automatic the tranny seemed to lock down real hard and the vehicle took off really fast from the stop and I almost crashed in to the person in front of me. It has only done that twice since owning the vehicle. I really don't like the fact that when it's in Automatic and it's floored or the gas is stomped going as slow as 30MPH or even 25MPH that the tranny does not kick down hard or sometimes seem to kick down at all. It's these intermittent type of problems that the dealers can almost never duplicate.
After the above occurred my steering wheel went about an eight of a turn limp to the left after I let go of it and I was slowing to a stop. The vehicle's steering felt really awkward after and the front end seemed to almost pivot or roll funny. The steering became even more flimsy than usual and there was a slight vibration felt in the steering wheel during braking or driving over some roads. I am not sure if the was directly related to the above described issue or if it was purely coincidental. The dealership stated that it drove normal but that there was a missing washer from the left lower strut arm, which they replaced. The vehicle drove great after then about 2 weeks later the vehicle started going limp, just falling to the left every once and a while intermittently and the vehicle would usually steer funny. I have had two other people drive it when the steering has acted up and they both tell me that it does not feel normal. I have test driven two similar Dodge Intrepids to verify that this is not normal. I had the steering and suspension completely checked by the Chrysler dealership where I bought it. I asked the Chrysler dealer also inspect for weak Strut Mounts and inspect the CV Joints. I have taken my vehicle to another Chrysler/Dodge dealership which states that the steering and suspension is fine. I asked the Dodge dealership to also check the Body Controller. Both dealerships have test driven my vehicle and all state that there is nothing wrong. The steering has lately been intermittently tightening up with more resistance in the steering wheel w/less play then intermittently becoming loose and flimsy with. I have had the tires and tire pressure checked by a Chrysler Dealership. I have checked and adjusted the tire pressure myself. I am sick and tired of the steering attitude intermittently changing on it's own. I am concerned that something may break or fail.
An Experiment: I removed my K&N Air Filter and replaced it with a stock paper type Mopar Air Filter. The transmission hesitation, bumping and surging was drastically reduced and performance seemed to increase. I assume that the vehicles PCM and/or O2 Sensor will not properly accommodate the K&N Air Filter which usually improves performance. I had driven the vehicle for a while with and without the filter and can honestly say that there was decent performance gain only a little more noise sometimes. I even later tried a tornado air intake device from tornadofuelsaver.com. When I removed the K&N and the other device and replaced the K&N with a stock Mopar Air Filter the performance and attitude was the engine seemed to perform better with the stock Air Filter. I have also had the same type of experience when trying to use BOSCH Platinum 4 Spark Plugs guaranteed to increase performance and fuel mileage. I went back to the stock Mopar/Champion Platium/Copper plugs and had better results. I want to install an intake but I am concerned about not having a decent performance increase or having adverse results.
Every once and a while when in Automatic when pressing the accelerator pedal for medium acceleration the vehicle does not seemed to respond properly so then you press it down a little more and the tranny kicks down hard and the vehicle jerks forward. It seems like a sticky throttle, failing O2 sensor or something related to the transmission.
I had asked the Chrysler Dealership (Hayward Auto Chrysler-Plymouth-Jeep of Hayward, California) for a PCM and TCM update if a newer revision is available. I figured that this may improve my poor fuel mileage and tranny issues. I even offered to pay for it. They told me twice that no revisions or no updates were found. I had a feeling they were being dishonest with me. I was upset because my fathers 1999 Ford Mustang GT 4.6L 280HP V8 get's way better gas mileage than my 1999 Dodge Intrepid ES 3.2L 225HP V6. I went to Hayward Dodge and they updated both my PCM and TCM, which there were actually TSB's
for regarding some of these issues. They updated both at no cost considering it a warranty issue. This has greatly improved fuel mileage and transmission operation but the problems above as described still continue to exist.
Any Useful Information Or Thoughts Will Be Greatly Appreciated! Please also Email them to [email protected] if possible. Later Everyone!
