New with Caliber issues!
#1
New with Caliber issues!
Purchased a 2007 Dodge Caliber R/T fully loaded in Feb of this year when our 2001 Saturn got smashed into by a guy backing out of his driveway, which totaled our car.
Here we are 8 months later and just over 100, 000 miles and have a motherload of issues.
1) Radiator Filter (? ) broke in half had to replace it
2) Cylinder 6 misfires we replaced all spark plugs
Car drove fine after that no problems. We started to use the heat.. but only half the car heats up and only well moving. When idle everything goes cold. I stopped into an Advanced Auto and the guy opened up the hood. He found the antifreeze sitting to the top and not moving. He suggested I get the thermostat replaced.
My husband replaced the thermostat after some issues ... for the first couple of days heat seemed to work fine. He burped the car incase there was air in the line as well. Now 5 days later I am back to the same issue.
PLUS.. my ETC light flashes when the car is turned on and warming up. You have to shut the car off, pop the hood wiggle the sensor (or remove and replace) and then the car is fine. I drive 20 miles to and from work no problem after this initial start. Seems to happen only when sitting in idle after a few minutes. Example.. just pulled into my driveway.. been sitting here about 5 minutes with the car in drive. . Put it in park.. sat here another 2-3 minutes and ETC light came on.
So here I am about ready to sledge hammer this POS but I am still obligated with a 3 year car loan and another $6000 to pay off. I am sure we are already upside down on this car as its only been 6 months.
I am hoping that someone can shine a little light on my rainy day here with some other alternative to paying $1000s to take it to a shop.
Here we are 8 months later and just over 100, 000 miles and have a motherload of issues.
1) Radiator Filter (? ) broke in half had to replace it
2) Cylinder 6 misfires we replaced all spark plugs
Car drove fine after that no problems. We started to use the heat.. but only half the car heats up and only well moving. When idle everything goes cold. I stopped into an Advanced Auto and the guy opened up the hood. He found the antifreeze sitting to the top and not moving. He suggested I get the thermostat replaced.
My husband replaced the thermostat after some issues ... for the first couple of days heat seemed to work fine. He burped the car incase there was air in the line as well. Now 5 days later I am back to the same issue.
PLUS.. my ETC light flashes when the car is turned on and warming up. You have to shut the car off, pop the hood wiggle the sensor (or remove and replace) and then the car is fine. I drive 20 miles to and from work no problem after this initial start. Seems to happen only when sitting in idle after a few minutes. Example.. just pulled into my driveway.. been sitting here about 5 minutes with the car in drive. . Put it in park.. sat here another 2-3 minutes and ETC light came on.
So here I am about ready to sledge hammer this POS but I am still obligated with a 3 year car loan and another $6000 to pay off. I am sure we are already upside down on this car as its only been 6 months.
I am hoping that someone can shine a little light on my rainy day here with some other alternative to paying $1000s to take it to a shop.
#2
A diagnosis is $100 or little less. Not thousands. Go get it looked at before you damage it.
And stop letting auto parts store people diagnose your car.
Cylinder #6 on a Caliber? The most common problem on the world engine (4 cylinder) at around 100K miles is the electronic throttle body. If you go for a long time with it malfunctioning, it's very likely the PCM will get damaged. There were also problems around the same mileage with the intake short runner valve getting stuck. Both sort of expensive things, but otherwise that engine has proved itself to be a good one.
And stop letting auto parts store people diagnose your car.
Cylinder #6 on a Caliber? The most common problem on the world engine (4 cylinder) at around 100K miles is the electronic throttle body. If you go for a long time with it malfunctioning, it's very likely the PCM will get damaged. There were also problems around the same mileage with the intake short runner valve getting stuck. Both sort of expensive things, but otherwise that engine has proved itself to be a good one.
Last edited by TNtech; 12-11-2013 at 08:31 PM.