How Many Miles On Your Stratus???
Amateur
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: PA
Wow that's really cool... I hope my Stratus makes it that far! I'm always curious as to what is considered 'basic maintenance' though. Do you mean that you've only ever had to change the oil, tires, brake pads, etc? What about the timing belt or suspension work? I'm new here so I'm just trying to get an idea of what should be considered normal wear and tear on a Stratus and what would be considered unusual. Thanks for any replies from anyone.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Wow that's really cool... I hope my Stratus makes it that far! I'm always curious as to what is considered 'basic maintenance' though. Do you mean that you've only ever had to change the oil, tires, brake pads, etc? What about the timing belt or suspension work? I'm new here so I'm just trying to get an idea of what should be considered normal wear and tear on a Stratus and what would be considered unusual. Thanks for any replies from anyone.
I purchased my Stratus 3 years ago from a gentleman that was a
professor or something here at USC. It had 116,000 miles on it at that time and very well kept and garaged. I had the oil changed and the transmission flushed at that time. Since then I have changed all the tires twice. ( I love new tires). Had the brake pads changed. And always check all my fluids every 2 weeks, and change the oil every 3000 miles. That is all I have done to it so far! With the high miles I expect i will have to have some things changed.
I do not hot rod it, but I don't baby it either! Good Luck with yours, just keep on top of the basics.
Amateur
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: PA
^^^ Thanks taz, that's good to hear. I knew when I bought it that my Stratus was a fixer-upper, and to be honest when I stop to think about it the things that need replaced probably ARE just regular maintenance items on a 2000 Stratus with 108K on it.... timing belt, cv axle, etc. I just happened to buy it when those things were coming due. It's a good strong runner though and if I can keep the rest of it intact, I know the engine's got a lot of years left on her.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Hazleton PA
137,000 and I need your help, PLEASE!
2002 Stratus R/T Sedan, 5SP
in 2008, 91,000 miles I snapped a connecting rod and spun a main crank bearing. I had changed my own oil religiously at 3K miles and engine had NO sludge at all - mechanics marvelled at it. Wrote a letter to Chrysler, complaining that my '02 had a 7/70 warranty and asked was I a fool to buy an American car; or was Dodge going to stand by their product as by then Dodge had a 5/100,000 warranty.
Dodge bought me a new engine - almost $8,000.
Fast forward; never thought to do the clutch while the engine was out and at about 110,000, found it hard to get into reverse. Went somewhere other than the dealer to have the clutch replaced, and the guy FUBAR'ed it. Bolts missing between engine and tranny, suspension bolts missing/loose, ground strap in the wrong place (losing batteries every three months) - etc. Looked up guy on Angee's list (which we didn't have then) and he's trashed universally as a loser and a bad mechanic.
Been fixing things ever since.
Recently, car has "sounds" coming from the front that to me sound like universal joints going bad; Put the clutch in and leave it in gear, it sounds like there's gravel in the tranny. Put the car in first gear and the shifter lever has over an inch of free play in any direction. Crunchy sometimes going into gear. Feels bad; feels like I'm goign to put it in gear and leave it all on the pavements.
There are a LOT of bad potholes where i live. I have replaced more suspension parts on this car in ten years than I have in my previous 3 cars over 20 years. Even replaced the steering rack. Have replaced the two plates at the top of the struts in rear TWICE already; just replaced the two in the front last year. Now front ball joints going bad; rear tie rods broken.
Took to dodge...remember engine has only 40,000 miles on it. Clutch has only 20K.
Dodge tech says throwout bearing is bad - do I sue the guy who did the clutch?
Worse still, a Dodge Tech thinks I should sell the car because it has "too many problems"
This is my baby. I love this car. it still gets 24 MPG or more on the highway. It still thrills me, and it always looks good.
I want to drive it forever. They want $1500 for new shifter cables, $500 for throwout bearing, $300 for rear suspension -
The car has perfect paint, waxed twice a year; interior is perfect (leather) and the only other thing that I hate is that the sunroof is stuck closed.
How can the Dodge tech say the car should be sold - does he know something I dont' know?
Can I hope to get 200,000 miles out of this car - the engine then having only 110K?
Please help with suggestions - I don't want to sell my baby. This is my hotrod.
in 2008, 91,000 miles I snapped a connecting rod and spun a main crank bearing. I had changed my own oil religiously at 3K miles and engine had NO sludge at all - mechanics marvelled at it. Wrote a letter to Chrysler, complaining that my '02 had a 7/70 warranty and asked was I a fool to buy an American car; or was Dodge going to stand by their product as by then Dodge had a 5/100,000 warranty.
Dodge bought me a new engine - almost $8,000.
Fast forward; never thought to do the clutch while the engine was out and at about 110,000, found it hard to get into reverse. Went somewhere other than the dealer to have the clutch replaced, and the guy FUBAR'ed it. Bolts missing between engine and tranny, suspension bolts missing/loose, ground strap in the wrong place (losing batteries every three months) - etc. Looked up guy on Angee's list (which we didn't have then) and he's trashed universally as a loser and a bad mechanic.
Been fixing things ever since.
Recently, car has "sounds" coming from the front that to me sound like universal joints going bad; Put the clutch in and leave it in gear, it sounds like there's gravel in the tranny. Put the car in first gear and the shifter lever has over an inch of free play in any direction. Crunchy sometimes going into gear. Feels bad; feels like I'm goign to put it in gear and leave it all on the pavements.
There are a LOT of bad potholes where i live. I have replaced more suspension parts on this car in ten years than I have in my previous 3 cars over 20 years. Even replaced the steering rack. Have replaced the two plates at the top of the struts in rear TWICE already; just replaced the two in the front last year. Now front ball joints going bad; rear tie rods broken.
Took to dodge...remember engine has only 40,000 miles on it. Clutch has only 20K.
Dodge tech says throwout bearing is bad - do I sue the guy who did the clutch?
Worse still, a Dodge Tech thinks I should sell the car because it has "too many problems"
This is my baby. I love this car. it still gets 24 MPG or more on the highway. It still thrills me, and it always looks good.
I want to drive it forever. They want $1500 for new shifter cables, $500 for throwout bearing, $300 for rear suspension -
The car has perfect paint, waxed twice a year; interior is perfect (leather) and the only other thing that I hate is that the sunroof is stuck closed.
How can the Dodge tech say the car should be sold - does he know something I dont' know?
Can I hope to get 200,000 miles out of this car - the engine then having only 110K?
Please help with suggestions - I don't want to sell my baby. This is my hotrod.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
99 Stratus 2.4, 186k
Changed the timing belt, water pump, head gasket, starter, alternator and front suspension. Transmission never touched. Still drives like zoom zoom and look brand new except for some rust on the lip of the hood.
Changed the timing belt, water pump, head gasket, starter, alternator and front suspension. Transmission never touched. Still drives like zoom zoom and look brand new except for some rust on the lip of the hood.
