[Loghead]

I'm new here, and I'm considering an Intrepid. I've rented a few ES Intrepids, I like the way they run and handle, and personally, I think Intrepids are the best looking Dodges since they stopped building Chargers.
The one thing I hear about that worries me is that the trannys are crap, even from other Mopar people!
I own a Chrysler minivan, and I've not had serious trouble with the transmission, but because of the transmissions bad(if undeserved) reputation, I tend to baby it.
I'd like your honest appraisals about the Intrepid transmissions , and whether or not engine size seems to make any difference.
That should help me make up my mind. Thanks.

 

[tdauria]

If you look on carpoint for used Intrepid's there Transmission & Driveline have all perfect green check marks all the way back to 1993. Although I wouldn't be surprised that autostick aficionados probably have a lot of transmission problems ... I have autostick which is a novelty that I never use.

 

[Warlord187]

Well, I haven't had any tranny problems with about 25k miles on her. The major gripe about these trannys is that it robs power. I heard figures that your lose about 30% power through the tranny.

I use Autostick a lot!

 

[rich00es]

IMHO, I believe even if a person performs the proper maintenance and the proper interval, there still MAY be a problem that develops. Now having said that, I have not personally experienced any transmission problems but have read a number of complaints/queries concerning mini-van transmissions. Does this mean there is an endimic problem with the tranny's, probably not. I'd have to have a peek at some stats that Chrysler maintains to have a meaninful/quantifiable answer.
Go out and get yourself one. Maintain it. Enjoy it. Treat it as it's supposed to be treated. If a problem is going to deveop, there isn't a thing you can do about it. Don't worry about the tranny robbing power; are you going to race it? You've said you've rented them so you should have a feel how the car performs.
The brand new ES's don't have the autostick standard. One way to look at it...one thing less likely to go wrong on it
Good luck with your decision. If you get one, odds are you'll like it long after you've bought it. I know I like mine.


HTH

 

[1mz-fe]

my 97 has autostick which is used sparingly. the tranny has never had a single problem. regular maintainence and driving technique are all you have to do to keep your tranny from blowing up. this means only have it serviced at the dealer or at a tranny shop that knows their stuff, where they won't put anything but Mopar ATF +3 or ATF +4 in it. this also means you don't do a lot of neutral drops. also means if you have an autostick you don't drop it into 2nd or 1st at speed.

yes, the mopar tranny is pretty weak, but for a daily driver it is perfectly adequate.

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Had 60K Miles on my 98 ES (didn't use autostick too often) and had no problems.

Have 40K Miles on my 99 ES (don't use autostick too often) and have no problems yet.

Just some info

 

[moparman]

93 Eagle Vision - 141,000 no problems - tranny as crisp as the day we bought it.

95 Intrepid - 50k - no problems

98 Intrepid - 27k - no problems

01 R/T - 2.5 k - no problems and I don't anticipate any. Service them properly and they'll perform fine. I know way too many people who have gotten 100K+ with no tranny problems. They all do the proper maintenance. Thses tranny's do use different fluids so be careful about Jiffy Lube etc.

Now, I'd like to it be tighter, so I can cut 0-60 40-60 times by .5 to 1.0 sec but hey, you can do that about any make of car.

 

[Candyman]

Now everyone talks about perfect maintenance and such. Does this mean just changing the oil and filters on a regular schedule, maintaing good fluid levels as well as only beating on the motor when you need to. Are there other daily things you should do or check? I too have heard the whole Chrysler tranny bit and only had a problem with a '95 Avenger ES with 95k on it. Other than that my Stratus or Intrepid have shown no signs, I am just hitting 70k on my '98 ES. All I know is this baby will have to last at least another 60k+!

 

[1mz-fe]

candyman, that's how i keep my tranny running smooth. i don't stomp my car on a regular basis, and i always make sure the fluid is topped off. only have the tranny serviced at the dealer. i'm hesitant to even change the filter myself on this car because i know the fluid level is so exacting that i'm afraid to screw it up. let the dealer take care of maintenance and no neutral drops should keep you just fine.

 

[Candyman]

I very rarely punch my car unless:

1) I am mad and need to get out some frustration and /or get home ASAP.

or

2) traffic (mostly rush hour) makes me pass or sqeeze-in to fight for an open spot.

The first happens more-so than the second. I am one who always keeps with my maintenance checks on a regular basis. I change the oil and filters, check fluid levels, and tire pressure (very important!)

I still believe American made cars will last equally as long as imports if given the proper treatment and attention. They may lack some in quality, but with regualar scheduled maintenance and care, you'll have yourself a nice, quality machine as well as knowing you are keeping American workers employed! Thanks to people like ottowrkr!

 

[Warlord187]

I've been doing some ragging on my car this weekend. Why? Well, because I'm visiting my parents' who live between Grand Rapids and good ole country roads. Being that I live in Detroit, I don't have very many opportunities to let my car "fly". So I took her on some country roads and floored it! I love doing over 100mph!!!!

P.S. Si - I would of told I was visiting so we could hook up for a beer, but I had too many other things to do. Maybe next time?

 

[RapidTransit]

Only thing I've noticed is that the tranny is sluggish and wants to bog down when cold... just like every other car I've driven.

 

[GlennAustin]

Well, I do race mine on occasion (Solo II and one open track day at PIR). I use the Autostick extensively on those days, and occasionally when I have to negotiate traffic on the freeways.
I've had no problems with our Intrepid, but then I don't tend to use the tranny to slow the car down - I use the brakes for that.
However, the track day was probably harder on the tranny than any other driving I've done -- 5 sessions of 15 minutes each (about 6-8 laps) with 10 gear shifts per lap, with 4 of them as full throttle upshifts (sorry tranny, I should have lifted, but didn't). I was more concerned about that than any other driving I've done, but this last week the car doesn't seem any worse for the experience -- the tranny still shifts as smoothly as ever, and there are no new noises from either the engine or transmission. I did notice that the computer turned off the traction control when I forgot one time. I was extremely careful to not get a lot of wheelspin on the inside front wheel, but I guess that when you break 100 MPH, the computer says "OK, that's enough for the traction control."
Of course, if it did break, I would be really upset, because it should be able to handle it.

 

[01Intrepid]

Ok with all of the problems with the Intrepids trannys. Is there an after market Tranny we could have installed when the warranty goes out and something go wrong????


[ November 04, 2001: Message edited by: 01Intrepid ]

 

[00ChryslerIntrepid]

What tranny problems? What some people don't realize (still) is that you cannot just use any ol' tranny fluid in them. Don't take your car to a Jiffy lube for an oil change and let them do the tranny fluid flush too. They won't put the right stuff in, and if they say it's some universal tranny fluid.. LEAVE. You'd be better off driving to a Chrysler dealer with a low level of the right fluid (Chrysler type 7176 ATF3+) than the proper level of the wrong fluid.

Just like you would never put Mercon in a GM car or Dextron in a Ford car, don't put anything but Chrysler 7176 in a Chrysler!

 

[Don Hardy]

hey Glenn - the traction control on my R/T only works at and below 35 mph, bet yours is the same. That's what the manual says and that's what I've seen.