Now that the Dodge Caliber has been out of production for a couple years and the older units are going on 6 or 7 years old now, we are seeing more and more of them turn up in the used car market. Fortunately for new-to-them car shoppers, the lack of popularity around the Caliber has caused the resale value to be relatively low so as these cars arrive in used car lots and online for-sale posts – those looking for an affordable used small car with lots of passenger and cargo space might find themselves considering a Caliber.
In addition to all of the “normal” wear and tear items in a used vehicle that a buyer needs to beware of, the Dodge Caliber had an alternator pulley that required regular maintenance and replacement just like brake pads or tires. In some cases, Caliber owners might be lead to believe (by a money grubbing mechanic or dealership) that they need to replace the entire alternator to address the pulley issue but we have a thread here on DodgeForum that details how you can replace the pulley without replacing the alternator – a move which can save owners quite a bit of money. Best of all, this short thread also has a quick DIY post explaining how you can replace the pulley on your own so if you have some mechanical know how, you can save yourself even more money by doing the work on your own!
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
