Hey my name is Jesse, I'm all about Dodge, I own a 97 Dakota V6 4x4 5speed and love it to death and I'm in the works of buying a 03 Stratus R/T 5 speed. I just wanted some hints or tips that I can look out for when I get this car next week. This is only my second car, and honestly my first 'car' so to speak. I know its essentially a Mitsubishi but I'm gonna give it a shot and let my truck take a break while I work on some stuff with it.

This is the car I bought
http://www.carsforsale.com/vehicle/details/4861620

Thanks again

 

Looks really clean for the mileage. Only thing Id look for is service records; make sure the timing belt and water pump have been changed.

 

Same engine as my eclipse. Timing belt is every 60 k. If you don't know if has ever been changed, do that first. Interference engines. You don't want to snap a timing belt.

 

great that's good to know, I understand the timing belt but what's the story with the water pump?

 

They recommend it while your in there, change the water pump, and the tensioners. Precautionary mostly and does not add that much to the cost. It's mostly labor cost unless you can do it yourself.

 

Water Pump is hidden behind the timing belt. May as well replace it while youre 90% there.

 

So serpentine belt, tensiors and idler pulleys, water pump timing belt, anything else? I gotta talk to the guy I'm buying it from. It was his personal car for years before selling it at the dealer. For 3 grand though, 500 shipping, I know I have to do an O2 sensor on it. I still think it will be a nice car for the summer while i work on my truck's PCM issue

 

Accessory drive belts. Spark plugs. You gotta take the intake off to do them. A pain in the ****. I paid just about $1000 for timing belt, water pump and drive belts. I had a dealer do it. They were actually cheaper than anywhere else. They quoted me $300 for plugs. Have not done them yet.

 

No I'd be doing all the work myself, I'll have to speak with the previous owner to see if he did any of that, I'm yet to drive it yet so I have to see how it does

 

Timing belt is probably not that difficult. I just leave stuff like that up to the professionals. Lol. I've read enough horror stories about things going wrong.